A Mirror Image Question

[Saeviomagy]

My recomendation:
The caster and his images all fit in one square.
Each attack rolls to see if it hits caster or image.

It's a very effective defense against high powered spells, or one-off attacks. It's generally a single round of acting in safety against high level warriors and the like.

It's by no means unbalanced.

 

[Quidam]

cloakers

I recently dm'd a few cloakers who happen to have a spell-like ability which mimics mirror image. I'd considered having them all be in the same square, but decided against it because while you're unlikely to mistake several images of a wizard for several wizards, with them spread out like that, the party thought there were a lot more cloakers than there were.

More difficult mechanically, but much more effective play wise. YMMV.

 

[Gizzard]

It's generally a single round of acting in safety against high level warriors and the like.

Well, if you follow the FAQ, part of it suggests that Cleave, Great Cleave and Whirlwind attack all work on Images. That means that Great Cleave negates Mirror Image; the warrior will just keep Cleaving images without losing attacks and he'll unload on the caster eventually.

I wondered if that FAQ answer was given before the suggestion to put all the Images in the same square; their wording seemed to be at odds. (Ie, the Cleave answer implied that Whirlwind would be a good answer to Mirror Image while not mentioning Great Cleave at all.)

...the party thought there were a lot more cloakers than there were.

Oddly, the Rogue was not deterred when I said that there must be nearly 20 Vrocks in the room he was scouting. I can't explain his ultimately fatal overconfidence. ;-)

 

[Saeviomagy]

Well, if you follow the FAQ, part of it suggests that Cleave, Great Cleave and Whirlwind attack all work on Images. That means that Great Cleave negates Mirror Image; the warrior will just keep Cleaving images without losing attacks and he'll unload on the caster eventually.

And? Not that many warriors bother getting great cleave, and with good reason - it typically has only a minimal effect over cleave. They deserve to get SOMETHING.

 

[myradale]

but taking it to the extreme

If the NPC who hit the correct image can tell that he did not hit an image (because it didn't evaporate) obviouslly everyone else who can see the situation can tell as well...it's not like a mage vanishing into thin air is subtle. If the NPC can tell which is the correct image until the casters turn when the caster can move, then all of them can.
So, if the casters initiative happens to be first, and the next initiative happens to hit the correct image, EVERYONE gets their chance to wail on the poor sap until his initiative comes around again? Not much of a spell I'd say.

Or, you could assume that in the SEVERAL minor movements one makes within their 5' "footprint" during the round that occur outside your initiative allow you to blend with the images again.

If you don't move at all when it's not your initiative, I'd imagine a battle would look pretty silly. You move frantically for 6 seconds, then freeze in place for the next minute or so while the remaining 10 combatants each take their turn at unfreezing.

 

[Hypersmurf]

So, if the casters initiative happens to be first, and the next initiative happens to hit the correct image, EVERYONE gets their chance to wail on the poor sap until his initiative comes around again?

That's exactly how I read Mirror Image.

-Hyp.

 

[Ranes]

Not that I relish disagreement with Hyp but there is ambiguity in the language used to describe the spell and Malin Genie has a point. Out of turn movement (as in dodging, ducking, weaving and actually moving a foot or two in your space) is implicit in the abstraction of combat in D&D. I've always ruled that every attack has the potential to be absorbed by mirror image, even if the previous attack successfully targeted the caster. I make this ruling on the basis that the figments are busy merging with and separating from the caster.

 

[Baronovan]

I put all the images in the same space. Imagine a mirror-on-mirror effect, where you have mutliple images of the caster sorta lined up behind/above/around him or her. So long as that character isn't paralyzed or otherwise immobilized, those images are constantly shuffling around with the real caster, so each attack made is a: made in the same square (no more "deciphering" the true caster because you play on a grid) and b: have the same chance of missing (unless your last attack shaved off an image).
Even if an opponent hits the caster with his first of, say, four attacks, his other three are going to have to roll to get through this spell.

 

[MerakSpielman]

I put all the images in the same space. Imagine a mirror-on-mirror effect, where you have mutliple images of the caster sorta lined up behind/above/around him or her. So long as that character isn't paralyzed or otherwise immobilized, those images are constantly shuffling around with the real caster, so each attack made is a: made in the same square (no more "deciphering" the true caster because you play on a grid) and b: have the same chance of missing (unless your last attack shaved off an image).
Even if an opponent hits the caster with his first of, say, four attacks, his other three are going to have to roll to get through this spell.

This is the way I do it, too. It's just simpler, IMHO.

 

[DaveStebbins]

So, if the casters initiative happens to be first, and the next initiative happens to hit the correct image, EVERYONE gets their chance to wail on the poor sap until his initiative comes around again? Not much of a spell I'd say.

It is, after all, only a second level spell. As much as I'd like it to work the other way (I usually play wizards) I think this interpretation is more in line with a second level spell's power.