Mirror Image and Dispelling

[Hypersmurf]

One of the reasons I like simple 1st level spells like FR-Scatterspray, toss a bag of marbles next to the cast the spell to spray marbles in a 10ft radius.

Area spells don't dispel figments. The caster will take damage, but all his figments will still exist (and react appropriately, so you can't tell which one is real).

-Hyp.

 

[two]

Sure, it's good. But there are other 2nd level spells that are good too. If you're fighting ground-pounders Levitation means you can't even be hit (barring ranged weapons naturally), Scorching Ray is pretty darn good, Melf's Acid Arrow and it's penetration of SR is pretty good, Rope Trick is an almost must have 2nd lvl spell, etc., the list goes on.



If every other spell cast is a Mirror Image to keep them up (and a party of four should be easily doing 4-6 attacks per round) that's alot of spells for defense (and rightly so). A caster typically doesn't have this many to burn unless they be a Sorc or a higher level Wizard. There are more useful spells the caster could likely be casting: such as levitate from melee folk and protection from arrows for ranged. Only two spells and nigh untouchable at only 3-5th level. More bang for your buck there, then they cast spells that are actually offensive in nature. :\



Yes but the look on the caster's face when his mirror image is dispeled with the barbarian nearby...

One of the reasons I like simple 1st level spells like FR-Scatterspray, toss a bag of marbles next to the cast the spell to spray marbles in a 10ft radius. Or better yet just take a bag of marbles and throw them in a wide swath, think the bag of flour to find the invisible guy.

Er --

That's why I said best "defensive 2nd level spell" bar none. Not best 2nd level spell for incinerating enemies, or whatever.

You can come up with scenarios where mirror image is sub-par to certain other "defensive" 2nd level spells, but they are quite rare. Even "levitation" has drawbacks (ranged combat suffers, still can be targeted by enemy spells, etc). Mirror Image is so much better than "blur" it's not funny; I suppose if you are attacked by 50+ low-level rogue kobolds, blur would be better. That's about all I can come up with.

The true power of the spell is the ability to nullify both a critical hit and a finger of death. Personally, I hate my PC's being targeted by save-or-be-screwed spells. Plus the spell lasts a comparatively long time.

I didn't even mention a related beenie: if an enemy spellcaster, or archer, or melee combatant has to pick a target bewteen a mirror imaged mage, a mirror imaged bard, or a barbarian -- who is going to be selected? The barbarian of course, simply because smart NPC's don't want to risk the miss chance; leading to Mirror Image spells sticking around longer (in general).

Now, you might feel bad for the barbarian here, but -- hey, he's built to handle it, right?

Most of this comes my my own experience, in more than one long campaign vs a variety of opponents. Until "True Sight" came onto the scene, Mirror Image almost always got you through 2-3 rounds safe and sound -- and that's really all you can ask of a 2nd level spell. In fact, it's probably too good.

 

[Thanee]

What all this means to me, and my character, is that Mirror Image is, and has been, the pre-eminant 2nd level defensive spell, bar none.

Cast it at the start of a battle, and you are safe for a round or two (usually far longer) vs. anything except area effect damage...

...or opponents with Blind-Fight and a rank in Spellcraft!

Bye
Thanee

 

[two]

...or opponents with Blind-Fight and a rank in Spellcraft!

Bye
Thanee

I try to avoid those types, numerous as they are...

 

[Thanee]

Hey, a buddy with a rank in Spellcraft works, too.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Hypersmurf]

Even "levitation" has drawbacks (ranged combat suffers, still can be targeted by enemy spells, etc).

Plus the fact that it doesn't "fail gracefully" like Fly...

"The wizard levitates thirty feet up, well above the reach of even Fred's spiked chain, and lets off a volley of Magic Missiles!"
"Dispel Magic."
"... oh."

-Hyp.

 

[Liquidsabre]

Area spells don't dispel figments. The caster will take damage, but all his figments will still exist (and react appropriately, so you can't tell which one is real).
-Hyp.

Scatterspray isn't an area spell. As far as I can tell the spell only produces an area effect by causing several objects to fly out in a 10ft radius. Fireball has Area: 20ft radius, Scatterspray has Target: several small objects. There appears to be a difference here. Sorry, but am I way off base with this Hyper?

Images for MI disappear when struck and this includes objects, as an arrow is certainly an object and can cause an image to disappear. By the reading of the spell it's easy to make an argument that the small objects that spray outwards in a 10ft radius would cause any images they came into contact with to wink out. You can find the original spell in the FRCS and I haven't seen any reprints yet, anyone?

 

[Liquidsabre]

That's why I said best "defensive 2nd level spell" bar none. Not best 2nd level spell for incinerating enemies, or whatever.

In fact, it's probably too good.

This is why I posted the other examples of 2nd level spells. Your assertion that MI is too good, by comparison to other 2nd spells MI measures up fairly well.

 

[Hypersmurf]

As far as I can tell the spell only produces an area effect by causing several objects to fly out in a 10ft radius. Fireball has Area: 20ft radius, Scatterspray has Target: several small objects. There appears to be a difference here. Sorry, but am I way off base with this Hyper?

I don't have access to the FRCS, but if it causes an effect that deals damage to every creature in a 10' radius burst, say, it won't dispel a figment.

If it allows the caster to make an attack roll against every target in a 10' radius, that's more like a Whirlwind Attack, and would dispel a figment (if the attack roll hits).

-Hyp.