Magic Missile vrs. Displacement

[Hypersmurf]

Fair enough, but the magic missile isn't being targeted at the displacee, it's being targeted at his image.

Nope. Because Displacement explicitly does not interfere with targetting.

-Hyp.

 

[Vurt]

Displacement just bends lignt slightly to make your image appear nearby. This doesn't fool the magic missile because it finds the "magic imprint" of the target the mage points at. not the image.

There you go, problem solved. After all, magic is meant to be a lot more arcane than is specified in the rules, that's why wizards study for years to understand why certain effects do what they do.

Wizards need to study this effect a bit more to figure out how to make their fireballs behave the same way! The physicist in me shudders.

Vurt

 

[Vurt]

Nope. Because Displacement explicitly does not interfere with targetting.

All right, you won me over with the ruling, but that doesn't mean I gotta like it!

Vurt

 

[Destil]

I guess my problem is I want this to somehow make sense, when really all it is is a bunch of stats in a book interacting with one another. But that's no fun!

I want my magic system to be consistent and make sense, darn it! A first level sacred cow should not trump a third level spell!

(And thanks for debating this with me Destil. )

Vurt

Require a touch attack roll for MM, then. Energy Missile sub-type (we sure could use a few more of thoes, anyway). Then all the consistancy problems just go away. And your low level wizards may hate you for it

 

[Hypersmurf]

Require a touch attack roll for MM, then. Energy Missile sub-type (we sure could use a few more of thoes, anyway). Then all the consistancy problems just go away. And your low level wizards may hate you for it

Although Wizard/Rogues won't be complaining - Sneak Attack vs Ethereal Creatures with a 1st level spell!

-Hyp.

 

[LokiDR]

Although Wizard/Rogues won't be complaining - Sneak Attack vs Ethereal Creatures with a 1st level spell!

-Hyp.

Like lesser sonic orb?

Now all we need is Energy Sub - Force and we'll be set!

 

[Hypersmurf]

Like lesser sonic orb?

Lesser Sonic Orb doesn't affect Ethereal creatures...

Now all we need is Energy Sub - Force and we'll be set!

... and if that feat existed, you could SA Ethereals with a cantrip. Ray of Force.

-Hyp.

 

[Dr.Dan]

So MM is truely broken

Well, Destil & Hypersmurf have convinced me, and I'm not sure that I appreciate it at all. MM is clearly a targeted spell, and Displacement clearly doesn't prevent targeting. You've done a good job of clarifying the argument my players made, and now I'm forced to change my recent ruling. Damn you both and damn Magic Missile!

Thanks for helping me clear this up.

 

[LokiDR]

Ah, the broken Magic Missle strikes again.

I would be happy if there was any 1st level spell that is more than half as effective as this.

 

[GakToid]

Unerringly!

Ah, the broken Magic Missle strikes again.

Doesn't it always? Unerringly, even.

-Toid