Balance this spell: Improved Magic Missle

[Cake Mage]

So my player wants to make a new more powerful version of magic missle for his character. So I says "sure, type it up for me and I work with you to create it and balance it. Below is what he came up with. I'm still unsure if its balanced or not after looking at it and comparing it to ther spells of same and diffrent levels. So I go to the experts. What do you guys think? Is this balanced as is, or does it need some tweakage?

Spell level: 4
Type: Evocation,(force)
Components: V, S.
Range: medium
Target: up to 5 creatures.
Duration: Instantaneous.
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes

The missile strikes unerringly, even if the target is in melee combat or has less than total cover or total concealment. Specific parts of a creature can’t be singled out.

For every two caster levels beyond 1st, you gain an additional missile—two at 3rd level, three at 5th, four at 7th, and the maximum of five missiles at 9th level or higher. If you shoot multiple missiles, you can have them strike a single creature or several creatures. A single missile can strike only one creature. You must designate targets before you check for spell resistance or roll damage.

The spell takes shape in the form of Great Swords forming out of the air and into the target(s). Each Sword does 2d6 points of damage plus 1 for every 3 caster levels.

 

[BlueBlackRed]

Each Sword does 2d6 points of damage plus 1 for every 3 caster levels.

Clarify please: 2d6 + 1 per 3 levels or 2d6 + 1d6 per 3 levels?

 

[maggot]

At 7th level, this creates 5 missiles that do 2d6+2 each. That's 14d6+14 to one target without a save. That's way too much by a factor of 2.

Edit: Never mind, I can't do math. It does 8d6+8 at 7th, and 10d6+15 at 9th. I think these numbers are over the top, but not by a factor of 2. This is no save force damage, so even d6/level is quite good.

 

[BlueBlackRed]

I would have to agree.
The Orb line of spells aren't even close to that powerful, and I already think they're a bit too much.

 

[pallandrome]

At 7th level, this creates 5 missiles that do 2d6+2 each. That's 14d6+14 to one target without a save. That's way too much by a factor of 2.

Wait, I'm confused... 5 missiles X 2d6+2 should = 10d6+10

What am I missing?

 

[Cake Mage]

For every two caster levels beyond 1st, you gain an additional missile—two at 3rd level, three at 5th, four at 7th, and the maximum of five missiles at 9th level or higher.

The spell takes shape in the form of Great Swords forming out of the air and into the target(s). Each Sword does 2d6 points of damage plus 1 for every 3 caster levels.

Its supposed to be You gain 1 missle for every two caster lvls beyond the first. So at 7th lvl you have 4 missles with a max of 5 missles at 9th lvl. And each missle is 2d6 with +1 points of dmg for every 3 lvls. So one missle at 7th lvl will do 2d6 +2.

Is that clearer?

Edit: The man (or lady) above me is correct!

 

[Mort]

At 7th level, this creates 5 missiles that do 2d6+2 each. That's 14d6+14 to one target without a save. That's way too much by a factor of 2.

??

at 7th level you get 4 missles that to one target do 8d6 +8. Max at 9th level is 10d6 +10 to one target (average damage 45)- much less if you split it.

Compare to empowered scorching ray at 11th level - 18d6 (average 63 damage if all hit) to one target or 12d6 and 1 and 6d6 to a second or 6d6 to 3 targets. Scorching ray does quite a bit more damage but requires a touch attack and is subject to fire resistance - so that is a balancing factor.

It doesn't seem that excessive at first glance

Cake Mage, you obviously copied # of missles from magic missle, but it doesn't make sense here (you get 4 missles when you cast the spell and 5 1-2 levels later and that's it). Maybe make the progression 2 missles initially +1 for every 2 levels after 7th level(max missles at 13-14th or so) level.

 

[szilard]

For every two caster levels beyond 1st, you gain an additional missile—two at 3rd level, three at 5th, four at 7th, and the maximum of five missiles at 9th level or higher.

If this is a fourth level spell, does the above line even make sense?

-Stuart

 

[Pyrex]

Having two different level-dependent damage variables is just goofy.

As a level 4 spell, you should be looking at a Maximized Magic Missile for comparison. As such, 2d6+n/missile is just a little too good.

2d6 per missile (or, if you prefer, 2d4+2) with a max of 5 missiles would be just about right.

 

[Cake Mage]

Yeah, I wasn't sure how to reword it, and I'm pretty sure he just copied ot over from magic missle.