Magic missile

[Plane Sailing]

But I would certainly be disappointed if it's not an instant-hit anymore. I mean, if they add an attack roll for every possible good design reasons, then it's not the same concept anymore so let's call it Arcane Strike or something else, but not Magic Missile.

The original Magic Missile spell made a single attack at +1 to hit for 1d6+1 damage (in Greyhawk, supplement 1).

No, I never saw anyone prepare the spell in those days either

 

[Horacio]

I bet somebody will take this thread seriously and begin to complain of how D&D won't be D&D anymore because of the changes to Magic Missile...

 

[Geron Raveneye]

So, fireball no longer does 1d6/level.

What if magic missile no longer did (1d4+1)/2 levels? What if it was 1d6?

What would YOUR reaction be?

Depends on if they also increase the duration during which you can fire it to 10 minutes. Would feel right back at home with the Red Box.

 

[mhensley]

So, fireball no longer does 1d6/level.

What if magic missile no longer did (1d4+1)/2 levels? What if it was 1d6?

What would YOUR reaction be?

Tell you that it's done different damage in other versions before, so no big deal.

 

[an_idol_mind]

So, fireball no longer does 1d6/level.

What if magic missile no longer did (1d4+1)/2 levels? What if it was 1d6?

What would YOUR reaction be?

I'd say, "Wow...they made this game closer to what it was when I started to play."

 

[hong]

Aw mang, way to kill the thread.

 

[Elf Witch]

Yeah, magic missile already sucks. Let's make it worse!

Honestly, I wouldn't care about any kind of damage change, and I expect it to be replaced with a "Magic Blast" at will type ability.

I don't think it sucks at all. The ability to not miss has saved many a first level's party backside.

 

[Gloombunny]

I would love it if it were removed from the game. I hate the spell from its auto-hit to its name.

What he said. I don't think they could've come up with a less evocative name if they'd tried.

 

[Reaper Steve]

What he said. I don't think they could've come up with a less evocative name if they'd tried.

What she said, and what he said before her.
The name is horrible (it should actually be a category__any arcane projectile is a 'magic missile') and I hate the auto-hit. If a wizard can figure out how to make somthing autohit at 1st level, why haven't they applied that bit of arcane knowledge to more powerful spells?

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

I like the "Arcane Bolt" variant from the WoTC site - they modified MM so that it was 1d6+1 with a ranged touch attack, or reflex save, I can't recall which.