D&D 5E Magic Missile vs. Mirror Image

[Brandegoris]

The difference is that the rules are MUCH more clear on the example cited above, so I would agree with you that it is a good rule and that there isn't really a lack of clarity over how that works.
The magic Missile vs Mirror image rule is a little less clear so at the end of the day its not Unreasonable for the DM to propose a house rule and have the other players adopt it if they agree.

 

[robus]

If the DM is unsure how it's supposed to work then he can damn well look it up in the book! It's right there, next to the snacks! It's not on the Moon! It's not unreasonable to look the thing up. The player can look it up. It's not a secret!

And yet slowing the game down to double check everything to make sure we're squeaky clean with the rules is other people's idea of an unfun time. Sometimes we're going to get things wrong. As long as people are having fun, it's ok. It's just a game.

And with that I'm out.

 

[Arial Black]

And yet slowing the game down to double check everything to make sure we're squeaky clean with the rules is other people's idea of an unfun time. Sometimes we're going to get things wrong. As long as people are having fun, it's ok. It's just a game.

Once you've looked it up then you know it. If the DM makes it up then you're forever wondering what it'll do this time!

 

[Brandegoris]

Once you've looked it up then you know it. If the DM makes it up then you're forever wondering what it'll do this time!

I would sympathize with you if this is the case and I would definitely fault the Dm. I don't advocate DmM's being dictators. I think all people at the table have to come to a consensus when the rules are unclear.

 

[Argyle King]

My personal ruling is this:

Magic Missile cannot miss something it has targeted.
The caster chooses the target.
Mirror Image creates targets (illusory targets, but still targets).
As such, while the spell cannot miss, the caster can possibly choose the wrong target.

So, what does this mean to me? It means that both spells do what they say they do. Mirror Image creates extra targets. Magic Missile hits the targets at which it is aimed. My ruling would be that the duplicate images could be hit by missiles.

However, I would not allow the duplicates to be saved by shield. The duplicates would be performing the casting gestures of shield, but they would not actually be casting the spell. As such, only the real caster could benefit from shield.

So, for sake of argument, let's say there are 4 missiles and 4 targets, with one missile per target. My ruling would be that the three illusions would be popped and one missile would hit the real target. If the target were to cast shield, the three illusions would still be popped, but the real target would be saved by shield.

 

[Brandegoris]

My personal ruling is this:

Magic Missile cannot miss something it has targeted.
The caster chooses the target.
Mirror Image creates targets (illusory targets, but still targets).
As such, while the spell cannot miss, the caster can possibly choose the wrong target.

So, what does this mean to me? It means that both spells do what they say they do. Mirror Image creates extra targets. Magic Missile hits the targets at which it is aimed. My ruling would be that the duplicate images could be hit by missiles.

However, I would not allow the duplicates to be saved by shield. The duplicates would be performing the casting gestures of shield, but they would not actually be casting the spell. As such, only the real caster could benefit from shield.

So, for sake of argument, let's say there are 4 missiles and 4 targets, with one missile per target. My ruling would be that the three illusions would be popped and one missile would hit the real target. If the target were to cast shield, the three illusions would still be popped, but the real target would be saved by shield.

This is Exactly how we do it in my games as well

 

[Greenstone.Walker]

Think of magic missile as an area of effect spell (a strange one, because it can affect some targets more than once).

Mirror image doesn't protect you from fireball or cone of cold or thunderwave. It similarly doesn't protect you from magic missile.

 

[Brandegoris]

Think of magic missile as an area of effect spell (a strange one, because it can affect some targets more than once).

Mirror image doesn't protect you from fireball or cone of cold or thunderwave. It similarly doesn't protect you from magic missile.

But Magic Missile specifically is NOT an area of affect spell. It requires a definite "target" Not Any target in an area. Therin lies the dilemma I think

 

[Greenstone.Walker]

But Magic Missile specifically is NOT an area of affect spell. It requires a definite "target" Not Any target in an area. Therin lies the dilemma I think

Like I said, it's a strange one.

AoE spells normally have different "target" and "affected". A fireball is targeted at a point in space but affects creatures and objects. For magic missile, the "target" and "affected" are the same.

Compare magic missile to a higher-slot hold person. Both spells target creatures, rather than a point in space. Neither involve an attack roll.

Would you allow mirror image to protect you from hold person?

 

[Brandegoris]

Like I said, it's a strange one.

AoE spells normally have different "target" and "affected". A fireball is targeted at a point in space but affects creatures and objects. For magic missile, the "target" and "affected" are the same.

Compare magic missile to a higher-slot hold person. Both spells target creatures, rather than a point in space. Neither involve an attack roll.

Would you allow mirror image to protect you from hold person?

If the caster couldn't figure out which target was me then I don't think they could cast it on me effectively.
To be honest In my games when this Hold Person situation happens I house rule that having multiple images gives a Bonus to the saving throw of the Target. +2 for each active extra image.
My players and I discussed and that is what we came up with.