How exactly does the will-o-wisp work?
Link to AoN: https://2e.aonprd.com/Monsters.aspx?ID=414
How does this creature work?
It has the innate ability of glow, which states that it's invisible, but glows and makes it visible. So which is it?
It also has the ability "feed on fear" which it can use on creatures "under a fear effect". Does this mean frightened, or literaly the spell "Fear"?
It also has the "Go Dark" ability allowing it become invisible, unless it attacks and then becomes hidden.
I guess my question is...when is it glowing? Only before the first time it ever uses Go Dark?
Posted Aug 26, 2021, 3:17 PM UTC
310
1: It’s visible so long as it’s light is active. By using Go Dark, it becomes invisible, which makes it automatically Hidden, and allows it to Sneak to become Undetected, but using its shock Strike makes it automatically drop back down to Hidden. The reason it’d ever not want to be dark is so it can pull its classic maneuver: Acting like a lantern’s light and leading creatures deeper into the darkness to meet their doom.
2: “Fear effect” refers to effects with the Fear. The majority of the time they will apply Frightened, yes, but when in doubt look at the Traits
Becoming Invisible usually automatically makes you undetected, which changes of course depending on the Circumstances.
Ah, right, thanks. For maximum clarity: Becoming Invisible causes you to be Undetected to all creatures unless the creature could see you when you turned invisible, in which case you only become Hidden. If the wisp is Hidden while being invisible, either due to using its shock or due to a creature watching it Go Dark, they can Sneak to get back to Undetected
Yep! Invisibility is an interesting condition depending on the Circumstances. It really highlights the solid Observation rules.
but because shock doesn't dispel invisibility, can't they just step to go back from hidden (the condition after using shock) to invisible (assuming they're not glowing)
Nah, once downgraded to Hidden you have to intentionally use the Sneak action to get Undetected again- I believe other methods of movement are assumed loud enough that a creature who knows where you are can follow your movement