Mirror Image and Combat Reflexes

[Nail]

The 5ft per image thing has always bothered me. It raises too many questions .....

excellent points!

I've always house ruled it to be all images in the caster's space. Why do it any other way?

Given they all share the caster's space, they all provide cover for each other. Only the "one in front" can be hit by the AoO provoked by movement.....and whethr that is the caster or an image is determined randomly.

(Admitedly, the "cover" proposal doesn't work with the RAW very well.......)

 

[Dracomeander]

The problem with ruling all the images occupy the same space as the caster is that they won't all even come close to fitting.

I'm only slightly above average in size, and you'd be lucky to fit even three of me in a single 5'-space when I'm perfectly still. When mobile, it becomes a ridiculous concept.

The images are constantly moving around the caster merging and separating into other spaces to confuse observers as to the exact position of the caster.

If the caster and the images occupy the same space, my mage can automatically disrupt the Mirror Image user by Disintegrating the floor under the Mirror Image user. The 10' hole will fully encompass the area the Mirror Image user is in. However, if the images are each in their own 5'-space, my mage will ruin a section of the floor, but has a good chance of not bothering the Mirror Image user at all.

Also, if the images all occupy the caster's space, how do the figments prevent the 5'-long greatsword from connecting with the other images and the caster in that space. I know logic is not usually applied to a fantasy game, but sometimes it should be.

And if the mage is not in a threatened area but some of his images are, I would say he would have to cast defensively or allow his images to provoke AoOs.

 

[dshai527]

But then would the images threaten an area if the caster were acting like he was attacking or allow for flanking. I would rather a high level spell defeat the MI than have the unending questions that arise because of placement. It has worked so far, but I think my group and I will take another look at it. Beside all in one square keeps it simple and speeds up combat. Great point though.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

If the spell targets an invalid target, the whole spell fizzles, doesn't it? Not just 1 effect of the spell.

The closest things I can find regarding spells with multiple targets is:

Targeted Spells: Spell resistance applies if the spell is targeted at the creature. Some individually targeted spells can be directed at several creatures simultaneously. In such cases, a creature’s spell resistance applies only to the portion of the spell actually targeted at that creature. If several different resistant creatures are subjected to such a spell, each checks its spell resistance separately.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

a) Each missile hits a copy of the bad guy, destroying any that are images and damaging the real adept if they hit him. Result: Hurt adept, fewer images

b) Each missile fizzles out if it is sent at an image or hits if its sent at the adept. Result: Hurt adept, same number of images

or c) the magic missiles cannot even target the figments at all (since they are not valid targets of the spell), and the casting mage can ONLY target the real Mage concealed by the Mirror Image. Result: Mage REALLY hurt, no images lost.

d) magic missiles launch, but ignore images and only hits the mage, I think, is not a real option- it doesn't comport with the spell targeting rules (PHB p175).

Looking at those rules, I see nothing that says that a spell fizzles if you choose an invalid target.

In fact, the only WoTC product I know of that explicitly says a spell fizzles (dissipates harmlessly) for lack of a proper target is Magic: The Gathering.

It is a concievable ruling that a spell that requires a specific kind of target does not fizzle, but rather cannot be cast, and the spellcaster does not lose that spell.

Ask yourself this: If a Mage cast Magic Missile at a single illusory Ogre, can it even target the illusion? It isn't a creature. If the spell fizzles or cannot be cast, the mage can immediately tell his allies that he has just targeted an illusion.

The only way to get around this "Magic Missile as illusion detector" because it must target creatures, not illusory creatures is to rule that MM can target what the caster percieves to be a creature...including inanimate objects that he cannot see very well- obscured by shadow, or fog, etc.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Correct, OtM.

Thanks.

 

[Nail]

The problem with ruling all the images occupy the same space as the caster is that they won't all even come close to fitting.

Only if you assume the images can't overlap.

The spell says they move in and out of each other....so why not let them overlap?

 

[dcollins]

I think I commented briefly on my reply to Patryn, but is (2) valid if the targets are figments? If they are indistinguishable from one another do they form a valid target for any spell being both figment and creature at the same time? Or at least that's what I'm reading from your last statement.

Yes, that is my reading. The mirror image spell specifically states that you can target these images with an attack spell. That's the whole way the defense is supposed to work.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I'm away from my 3.5 PHB.

There wa a line in the Magic Overview chapter of the 3E PHB: "If the character casts a targeted spell on the wrong sort of target, the spell has no effect."

Does this line appear in the 3.5 PHB? I can't find it in the SRD...

-Hyp.

 

[Nail]

@Hyper: FWIW, I can't find such a phrase in the 3.5e PHB.

Any idea where such a phrase might appear? You're thinking Chapter 10: Magic, correct?

(EDIT: 'Cause that's where I looked.)