Do displacement, mirror image, and blink all stack?

[KarinsDad]

If the opponent can strike ethereal, there's still a miss chance (just a lessened one) for Blink. The opponent needs to also be able to see invisible to completely circumvent the Blink effect.

Yes there is, but it is a concealment miss chance.

The concealment miss chance for an opponent who can strike an ethereal creature who is Blinking does not stack with the concealment miss chance for Displacement for that same creature as per the rule:

"Multiple concealment conditions do not stack."

But, if the opponent cannot strike an ethereal creature, then the miss chance for Blick does stack with the miss chance for Displacment because the miss chance for Blink in this case is not caused by concealment.

 

[KarinsDad]

Displacement has no game effect on the Mirror Images. The images are displaced by the spell but when the image is hit (per Mirror Image) it disappears.

How can the images be "displaced" (i.e. two feet from their actual location, the definition of displaced with the Displacement spell) and not get the miss chance?

If an image is merely moved 2 feet, then it is not displaced (i.e. it is not 2 feet from it's actual location, it is in it's new actual location).

The real point of this question is: Why would the images move 2 feet away at all? They are not the target of the Displacement spell and they merge with the actual caster, not his image 2 feet away.

 

[Hypersmurf]

For whatever it's worth, the 3.5 Main FAQ says:

"If the user has concealment from her surroundings, the
images have the same concealment. The images also look just
like the caster, and they share purely visual effects such as the
blur or displacement spell. If the mirror image user is also
using either of these effects, an attack aimed at an image has
the same miss chance an attack aimed at the caster has."

-Hyp.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Except that there is no game mechanic called "blurry".

Of course there is! It's right there in the Blur spell.

The subject’s outline appears blurred, shifting and wavering. This distortion grants the subject concealment (20% miss chance).

Blur doesn't grant concealment; it makes you blurry (specifically, "blurred, shifting and wavering").

Being blurry grants concealement.

This is a visual effect.

Mirror Image:

Several illusory duplicates of you pop into being, making it difficult for enemies to know which target to attack.

If you are "blurred, shifting and wavering," then your illusory duplicates are "blurred, shifting and wavering," otherwise they wouldn't be duplicates.

If the distortion grants you concealment, it grants your illusory duplicated concealment.

Therefore, Blur, at least, applies to all images created by a Mirror Image spell.

 

[Lamoni]

Thanks Hyp. I was about to say something to the effect of,
is it too powerful if they stack? (no)
Do the rules prohibit them stacking? (no)

Maybe it doesn't make sense if they stack, but in this case I have a harder time visualizing mirror image by itself especially when the caster is surrounded by enemies. My sorcerer picked up both spells with plans to use them together, but I have not used mirror image yet. I think I'll swap it out for another spell because I hate casting something that I can't visualize well.

Hmm... maybe if it was changed to giving you up to 8 impenetrable force shields surrounding your body milimeters away from your skin or outer clothing. Each force shield can only sustain one hit before being destroyed and they constantly fluxuate to merge with your skin where they are inactive. Roll to see if any attacks on you hit you or destroy a force shield with the chances of hitting you being 1 out of the number of force shields +1.

I think that would function the exact same as mirror image, but would be easier for me to visualize and it would certainly make sense why it should stack with displacement, blur, blink, etc. I just came up with it off the top of my head. Maybe I'll pass it by my DM and try using it instead of trading it for something else.

Edit: I forgot about area effects. There should also be a stipulation in my modified version of the spell that mentions that it provides no protection from area effects.

 

[azmodean]

Spiffy, the FAQ says it plainly. Thanks smurf!

Now if only I had a way to protect figments from that pesky magic missile...

P.S. My players would hate you if I told them you were the one who pointed this out, even if they don't know you.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Now if only I had a way to protect figments from that pesky magic missile...

Well, you could note that Magic Missile targets 'one or more creatures', and that figments aren't creatures...

-Hyp.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Well, you could note that Magic Missile targets 'one or more creatures', and that figments aren't creatures...

-Hyp.

So what IS the effect of mistargeting a spell? It doesn't work.

So hitting all of someone's mirror images with a magic missile would result in a single missile that strikes the caster, right?

 

[azmodean]

Well, you could note that Magic Missile targets 'one or more creatures', and that figments aren't creatures...

-Hyp.

Wow, that's just wrong. It also notes that MM does no damage to inanimate objects... oh wait, these are animate, wether they are technically objects or not.

I'll have to think about that one.

 

[KarinsDad]

For whatever it's worth, the 3.5 Main FAQ says:

"If the user has concealment from her surroundings, the
images have the same concealment. The images also look just
like the caster, and they share purely visual effects such as the
blur or displacement spell. If the mirror image user is also
using either of these effects, an attack aimed at an image has
the same miss chance an attack aimed at the caster has."

Thanks for the quote.

I really have no problem with this for Blur.

I have a big problem with it for Displacement.

What this is saying is that the real mirror image is two feet away from the displaced mirror image and cannot be seen.

Hence, the real image is invisible and cannot be seen (just like the caster) and a displaced image of it is two feet away (just like the caster).

This is not a visual effect on top of the caster like Invisibility or Blur.

This is an illusionary effect moved two feet away.

Unlike Invisibility or Blur, the Mirror Image is not just emulating the visual effect on top of the caster. It is also emulating an illusion two feet away. That sounds like it is way beyond the abilities of the description of Mirror Image. IMO. In this case, the magic of Displacement is applying directly to the images, as opposed to the Blur and Invisibility cases where the magic of Mirror Image is emulating the visual effect of those spells.


In any case, WotC ruled as they did. It does not follow the targeting rules of spells, but c'est la guerre.