Wizard Eye and Gaze Attacks

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Hello -

I have a question about the fourth level mage spell Wizard Eye, and a search didn't turn up any discussion of the issue. Both the manual and the spell description state that the caster is subject to the effects of any gaze attacks directed at the eye. Is this actually true? If a basilisk tries to petrify the eye, or a beholder casts some of its nasty mojo at it, will those attacks affect the caster? None of the commentary on mage spells that I've read mentions this when comparing Wizard Eye to Farsight.

Thanks in advance.

 

Shame really. I liked basilisks, but i suppose people would just cheese them and use protection from petrification all the time.

 

Hi -

In terms of the engine's implementation of the spell, I guess that the answer is no. Anything which cannot see the invisible (i.e., most things, including basilisks if they were in the game) couldn't "gaze" at the eye anyway. Of those things which can see the invisible, I'm not sure if any even use gaze attacks? And even if they do, does the BGII engine actually distinguish between spells and gazes? I've been under the impression that everything pseudo-magical falls into the common category of "spell-equivalent action."

Just wondering -- I'm trying to play my character as I would if I were actually there, and although I prefer Wizard Eye, I would certainly favor Farsight if I thought Wizard Eye posed serious risks.

 

Beholders use custom spells to simulate their gaze attacks (that's how the Shield of Balduran works against them). That being said, while gaze attacks against a Wizard Eye are supposed to affect the caster it's not implemented in BG2.

 

Thanks, Cam!

 

Glad to help.