Mirror Image and Magic Missile

I'll vote with Hypersmurf on this one. It's the way our group has played the interplay between magic missile and mirror image since 3e came out (and contrary to the way we played it in 2e). You can fire your multiple magic missiles, one at each image, in order to ensure you get at least one hit on the real wizard, but the other missiles are wasted and don't take down the images. If you want to take down the images, get your trusty archer with rapid shot to pick 'em off (remember, the images' AC is often only 10 or a mite above). An alternative for wizards is to use one of the lesser orb spells from Tome and Blood. Since this spell requires an attack roll, I have ruled that it takes down images - and a wizard gets as many lesser orbs as he does magic missiles.

Cheers, Al'Kelhar.
 

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Al'Kelhar said:
I'll vote with Hypersmurf on this one. It's the way our group has played the interplay between magic missile and mirror image since 3e came out (and contrary to the way we played it in 2e). You can fire your multiple magic missiles, one at each image, in order to ensure you get at least one hit on the real wizard, but the other missiles are wasted and don't take down the images. If you want to take down the images, get your trusty archer with rapid shot to pick 'em off (remember, the images' AC is often only 10 or a mite above). An alternative for wizards is to use one of the lesser orb spells from Tome and Blood. Since this spell requires an attack roll, I have ruled that it takes down images - and a wizard gets as many lesser orbs as he does magic missiles.

Cheers, Al'Kelhar.

See tbe bold part of the abvoe?

You cannot do that. MI specifically states that each target of each attack is randomly selected.

Got 5 missiles? Wizard has 5 figments? Roll 5d6 -- each die indicates what gets hit by the corresponding missile, numbering the figments form 1-5, and the wizard himself as #6. If multiple missiles target the same figment (or the same real thing), that's the way the cookie crumbles -- 'cause the missiles all arc out, and strike, simultaneously and instantaneously -- and per the MI spell, they all have to be targetted (by the caster) randomly ... because the caster can't keep track of which figment was targetted already, and which not.
 

You cannot do that. MI specifically states that each target of each attack is randomly selected.

That's not what it says at all :)

It says to roll randomly to determine whether the selected target is real or a figment.

My selected target with my Acid Arrow is the third one from the left. Is it real or a figment? Random roll.

My selected targets for my three magic missiles are numbers 2, 3, and 5. Are any of them real or are they all figments? Random roll.

-Hyp.
 

Blade Barrier. Effect: a spinning disk of blades.
Melf's Acid Arrow. Effect: one arrow of acid.
Dancing Lights. Effect: Up to four glowing lights.

The word has more than one meaning.

-Hyp.

That's why I said you gotta look at the context that it was used in. =o)
 


Dash Dannigan said:


Did I miss this somewhere? Where in the FAQ does it say this? At least in the FAQ stuff quoted so far in this thread it does not put forward this point of view.

I think this is an extrapolation of the Mirror Image quote in the FAQ. It implies that you could target a mirror image with a spell and if you hit it then it vanishes. It's how they answer how to determine if the spell (like fireball) would disrupt the image or not.

IceBear
 

Well, I'm sortof glad we have information that Magic Missles DO in fact destroy images. That's really how we always played it anyways... it wasn't until this thread I started doubting how we were doing it.

We also always used the rule that you have to pick which images you're targeting with your missles.
 

Hypersmurf said:


That's the same as the cast-the-spell-on-the-leader example in the PHB, though. If you don't know which one he is, you can't target him automatically - you need to pick him out of the crowd and risk being wrong.

After all, it could really be the mage, and four henchmen with potions of Change Self. You can't cast your magic missile at "the real mage" and trust the spell to figure it out - you have to make a decision on your target or targets. It will strike unerringly... if you pick a valid target.

If it's the mage, three henchmen, and a cardboard cutout, and you launch your missiles at the cardboard cutout, the spell simply won't have the effect you hoped.

-Hyp.

Except that they are easily noticed to NOT be a Mage and his henchmen as they are all moving in and out of each other and make the same moves like… well a Mirror :eek:
 


melkoriii said:
Except that they are easily noticed to NOT be a Mage and his henchmen as they are all moving in and out of each other and make the same moves like… well a Mirror :eek:

And except for the fact that neitehr you - nor therefor the MM -- can distinguish WHICH of the wizards doing that very thing, is the REAL wizard.
 

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