Magic missile

[Wormwood]

If they *don't* scrape the 1e detritus off of Magic Missile then 4e will have failed to live up to its promise.

And for once, I'm actually kinda serious.

 

[Masquerade]

I agree that magic missile is a very likely candidate for "at will" status.

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.

In 4e, there may be no difference between a ranged touch attack and a reflex save.

 

[Celebrim]

Eh. Who cares.

The automatic hit feature of magic missile has always been somewhat problimatic. The only good thing about it is it cuts down on dice rolling.

I don't expect the 4e spell list to resemble the spell lists of earlier editions anyway. So worrying about the mechanics of individual spells seems pointless.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

My Guess: Magic Missile will be an at-will ability, similar to the current Eldritch Blast, no ranged touch attack, but a "saving throw".

 

[Celebrim]

My Guess: Magic Missile will be an at-will ability, similar to the current Eldritch Blast, no ranged touch attack, but a "saving throw".

There are no saving throws in 4e.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

There are no saving throws in 4e.

Yes, but I don't have a term for the Magical Attack Roll, thus "saving throw" in scare quotes.

 

[Cadfan]

I bet its gone entirely. "Magic missile" is the dumbest name ever, and if casters are getting an every round blast effect, it probably won't auto hit.

I won't miss it. Ever since magic missiles stopped hovering over your shoulder and zapping people, I haven't liked it. The hovering type was silly, but entertained me.

 

[JDJblatherings]

The original Magicmissle spell did 2-7 pts of damage and required a normal attack roll. Basically except for it being a "magic" attack it was a horrible spell choice.


I magic missle becomes "at will" in 4e, I'd be very happy to see it doing 2-5 pts of damage with an attack roll.

 

[reanjr]

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?

Well, considering 1d4+1 and 1d6 are about the same, I don't think it would make much of a difference. Magic Missile is overpowered as it is. The designers have pretty much said it's a 1st level spell for historic reasons only. With 25 levels of spells in the new edition, we might see that bumped up to its appropriate place.

 

[Henry]

So, fireball no longer does 1d6/level.

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

Then the sun would become black as sackcloth, and the moon as of blood.

And I'd break out my books and play, I guess. I just want there to be a magic missile, whether it's autohit or not.