Magic Missile

[UngeheuerLich]

Can someone give Draco some xp... i can´t...

 

[RigaMortus2]

Re: New Magic Missile now "auto-hitting"...

When we first tried 4e, the party Wizard took Magic Missile and didn't like that he now had to roll to hit with it, because he missed more times then hit. For this reason, we called it Magic MISSile

Maybe call the new one Arcane Arrow or Arcane Bolt...

 

[Jack99]

Can someone give Draco some xp... i can´t...

Tried but failed. Maybe someone can help us both out.

 

[ExploderWizard]

That's the Holmes edition. The rulebook was certainly (monochrome) blue, but the box cover was all sorts of colors. The dragon was red and the background was kind of blue-grey. I never called it "the blue box" myself, just Basic Set.

I suppose I should find the book and check MM there as well... or open another cold beer...

Decisions, decisions.

[From Supplement I GREYHAWK 9th printing, May 1978-page 22]

Magic Missile: This is a conjured missile equivalent to a magic arrow, and it does
full damage (2-7 points) to any creature it strikes. For every five levels the magic-user has
attained he may add an additional two missiles when employing this spell, so a 6th level
magic-user may cast three magic missiles at his target, an 11th level magic-user casts
five, and so-on. Range 15".​

[END TEXT]



[From Holmes Basic 3rd Edition December 1979 -page 15]

Magic Missile-Level 1; Range: 150 feet
A conjured missile equal to a magic arrow, and it does 1 die roll plus 1 point (2-7) to any creature it strikes. Roll the missile fire like a long bow arrow (Missile Fire Table). Higher level magic-users fire more than one missile.

[END TEXT]

[ From Moldvay Basic First Printing-January, 1981- page B16]

Magic Missile Range: 150'
Duration: 1 turn

A magic missile is a glowing arrow, created and shot by magic,which does 2-7 (1d6+1) points of damage to any creature it strikes. It will automatically hit any visible target. For every 5 levels the caster has gained,he or shee may shoot two more missiles when casting the spell. EXAMPLE: a 6th level magic-user may cast three missiles. These may be shot at one target,or the caster may choose to cast the missiles at different targets.

[END TEXT]

Interestingly, the original presentation of magic missile was not explicit on the matter of requiring a to-hit roll. The Holmes rules were quite clear that such a roll was required and the Moldvay rules were quite clear that a roll was not required. You could interpret a logical reasoning for either treatment based on the original description.

Also note the duration of the Moldvay version. We interpreted that and played it so that a caster could summon the missiles then discharge them as desired over the course of the combat provided that the action lasted less than a full turn of course.

 

[Aulirophile]

Failing to read

It isn't the "initial use of the power." I'm not interpreting this strangely, that is the effect of a literal reading of the FAQ. Just like it is the effect that using the movement portion of a Monk Full Discipline technique is an attack, because the power has an attack and/or target line.

It isn't like I'm saying this makes sense, I'm merely pointing out that the FAQ broke more things then it fixed.