Illusionist

Information

Type	Townsfolk
Designer	GrayPockets
Example	JSON

"No one cares about the man in the box, the man who disappears."

Appears in

Related Jinxes

Summary

"You have the ability of the character most recently chosen by the Demon."

The Illusionist duplicates powers as the Demon targets them.

When a Demon chooses a player, the Illusionist gains that character's ability. It doesn't matter whether that player is good, evil, or even a traveller.
Each time the Demon chooses a player, the Illusionist loses the ability of the previous player.
The Illusionist does not get abilities that the Demon's target has gained, only the ability of the character.
If the Demon chooses a dead, drunk, poisoned, or protected player, the Illusionist still gains the ability.
If the Demon chooses a player that has lost their ability, or if the Demon's target is redirected, the Illusionist still gains the ability.
If the Demon chooses a player using a different ability than their own (such as one granted by a Boffin), the Illusionist still gains the ability.
The Illusionist is not told which ability they have gained. They must figure that out for themselves.
If the Illusionist has an "even if dead" ability, such as the Recluse, or an ability that implies it works while dead, such as the Ravenkeeper or Sweetheart, the Illusionist keeps that ability when they die, but loses their Illusionist ability.

Some characters, such as the Ojo, choose a character directly instead of a player.

How to Run

When the Demon chooses a player, mark that player with the HAS ABILITY reminder. The Illusionist now has this ability (do not say which), and will wake at night when this character would normally wake. Use the Illusionist's ? reminders if you need to.

If the Demon chooses multiple players in a night, the Illusionist gains each ability in turn.

Examples

The Waif is targeted by the Demon at night. The Illusionist doesn't learn anything at night, because a Waif would not wake.

The Dogkeeper is chosen by the Demon at night, but the Doxie is targeted instead because a sober Chimneysweep is in play. The Illusionist gains the Dogkeeper ability.

The Bezzerit chooses the Undertaker, Investigator, and Driver. The Illusionist gains each ability in turn. The Illusionist does not wake from the Undertaker ability, learns two Minions from the Investigator ability, before finally gaining the Driver ability for the rest of the game.

Tips & Tricks

Try to stay alive! As the game progresses, you may amass a ton of information about who the Demon is choosing, and can verify other player's stories.
Remember you're not told which ability you have at any time! You may be able to figure it out based on things happening at night - being woken up and asked if you want to use your ability means you're probably the Chimneysweep for example.
If you find another player claiming to have the ability you just received, they were probably chosen by the Demon. But are they poisoned, dead, or turned evil?
Try everything! Ask the Storyteller for a fact, make an Alsaahir guess, get yourself executed, target a player when a neighbor dies, and guess who you are making drunk!
If you think the Demon was crazy enough to choose a Traveller, try to nominate an extra target or attempt to kill a neighbour. You never know.

Bluffing as the Illusionist

When bluffing as the Illusionist, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

Listen to what other players are claiming, and suggest you got their ability last night. It's a great way to make players think they are dead or poisoned while spreading your own misinformation.
Try to figure out your "ability." Talk to the Storyteller or attempt to make an Alsaahir guess. Ask other players what the "information" you got means.
Bluff as an outsider, such as the Lothario. Outsiders can get chosen by Demons, too.