D&D 5E Magic Missile vs. Mirror Image

[KarinsDad]

Given that Magic Missile functions like a special AoE spell (one damage roll for all missiles)

Odd. I had never thought of it that way and at our table, we have always rolled for each damage separately. Ditto for spells like Scorching Ray.

Something new to think about. I suspect that my players will not like the "official rule" after years of playing it the other way.

 

[robus]

THAT is how we play it around My table OR If the player wants They can guess which is the real one and go for it. if they hit the real one great, if they Hit a fake one it dispels that fake one. It works well for our group and the player has the power to make the decision

Yep that's cool. I'm just trying to understand the original intent

 

[Arial Black]

If you cant tell which image is the actual caster HOW can you target it with the MM? THAT is My problem with tis situation.

You know that this is one creature, and you can see several images of that one creature, only one of which is real. Every single thing we see is an 'image' BTW; that's how vision works.

When a spell requires a 'target that you can see' (such as hold person, hex and, yes, magic missile), you don't need to know which of the images is real! You can see the creature, so you can target it.

Most spells don't need more precise targetting than that. The one's that do need more precise targetting require an attack roll! Magic missile doesn't need such precise targetting because it's a homing missile; that's the point of it!

 

[robus]

You know that this is one creature, and you can see several images of that one creature, only one of which is real. Every single thing we see is an 'image' BTW; that's how vision works.

When a spell requires a 'target that you can see' (such as hold person, hex and, yes, magic missile), you don't need to know which of the images is real! You can see the creature, so you can target it.

Most spells don't need more precise targetting than that. The one's that do need more precise targetting require an attack roll! Magic missile doesn't need such precise targetting because it's a homing missile; that's the point of it!

Right. The casters brain says to magic missile 'there's a creature over there go kill it.' The magic missile acquires a lock (magically) and whoosh off it goes. This is also why I now think it can't be cast at non-créatures. If it can't target a creature then it can't be launched.

 

[Brandegoris]

They are pretty clear to me. Mirror Image doesn't prevent or make more difficult someone from targeting you. It just makes attacks possibly miss. Magic Missile isn't an attack, it's a spell. It's no different than if someone wanted to cast hex on the MI'd mage (or Cure Wounds or Enlarge or anything else like that). Magic Missile happens to deal damage for an effect, but it's *not* an attack.

Spells can be attacks. Im sorry you don't acknowledge that but someone in this thread already showed the RAW post that Indicates that some spells are considered attacks even if there isn't a roll "to HIT". They are still classified as Attacks.

Mirror image doesn't make it more difficult to target you? LOL
So what do the Images do in your mind? Do they sacrifice themselves by dodging in front of an attack? C'mon.

 

[Brandegoris]

You know that this is one creature, and you can see several images of that one creature, only one of which is real. Every single thing we see is an 'image' BTW; that's how vision works.

When a spell requires a 'target that you can see' (such as hold person, hex and, yes, magic missile), you don't need to know which of the images is real! You can see the creature, so you can target it.

Most spells don't need more precise targetting than that. The one's that do need more precise targetting require an attack roll! Magic missile doesn't need such precise targetting because it's a homing missile; that's the point of it!

I DO know how vision works. I also know that unless the "Real target: suffers damage he isn't hurt. So While you can see several DUPLICATE images only ONE is a VALID target.
You can dance around this to make the rules seem like they were written well if you want, But the rules are unclear to a Great Many people ( Thus we have yet ANOTHER thread about it).
If you want to ask me if I know how vision works I will point out too, that you are being pretty rude.
Insulting ne because your argument isn't Lock tight and doesn't make sense to me isn't really super cool. I mean joking in good fun is one thing dude, but there isn't any need for that

Your " Homing Missile" interpretation is just that. Your Interpretation. Nowhere in the RAW does it refer to the MM as a HOMING MISSLE. So if you are allowed to visualize this in your own way , please respect that Others do not share your vision and have other ways of trying to apply poorly written rules so that they can visualize this in a way that actually makes some sort of sense.
i

 

[discosoc]

Spells can be attacks. Im sorry you don't acknowledge that but someone in this thread already showed the RAW post that Indicates that some spells are considered attacks even if there isn't a roll "to HIT". They are still classified as Attacks.

Only if the spell states that it's an attack... I'm not sure what RAW post you're referencing, and I'm not going to go digging through 24 pages just to try and find it, but feel free to show a link. I'd love to see it.

 

[discosoc]

Your " Homing Missile" interpretation is just that. Your Interpretation. Nowhere in the RAW does it refer to the MM as a HOMING MISSLE. So if you are allowed to visualize this in your own way , please respect that Others do not share your vision and have other ways of trying to apply poorly written rules so that they can visualize this in a way that actually makes some sort of sense.
i

OK, fine, the rules are horribly unclear on how Magic Missile works with Mirror Image for you.

Fortunately for you, this very thing has been cleared up by the "Lead Rules Developer of Dungeons & Dragons!"


https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/status/709558830175092736

 

[Brandegoris]

OK, fine, the rules are horribly unclear on how Magic Missile works with Mirror Image for you.

Fortunately for you, this very thing has been cleared up by the "Lead Rules Developer of Dungeons & Dragons!"


https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/status/709558830175092736

Yep, Someone posted that. Not sure I care who he is. The rules are sh*t and some dev roles out to clarify that "you should do it this way". No Thanks. Rewrite that sh*t and have it reflect that is the actual rule, and put it in the new edition. Until then I have a Rule book at my table and I am not going to Twitter to seek out the latest answer by a random developer while I am at my table. Its ridiculous, and slows the game down.
However, If that suits you and your players that is cool.
I am not a slave to the rules ( which is good because often rules are broken or sh*t), and neither are my players. We just do it the old fashioned and way where we talk about it and decide how we think it should work since its unclear. Once we do that, it works that way for Players and Npc's and we move on.
Never been much of a problem in my game past the first discussion. Problem solved.

 

[Ristamar]

Crawford should amend his resume, replacing "Lead Rules Designer for Dungeons & Dragons" with "Dungeons & Dragons -- Random Developer" so it accurately reflects his role.

Wouldn't want to mislead anyone!