Mirror Image - Need a refresher course in this...

[Particle_Man]

This means that an opponent could be facing a line of three wizards, one to the NW, N, and NE respectively. He cannot use vision or hearing to distinguish the real wizard from the figments, so a Listen check will not tell him which direction the real wizard is.

... unless he closes his eyes. Once the opponent closes his eyes, the spell has no effect on him, and he can make a Listen check to pinpoint the square of the real wizard just as if Mirror Image had not been cast.-Hyp.

That is precisely the part that makes no sense to me. Why does my hearing get so much better when I close my eyes?

 

[Dracorat]

Oh I see where your confusion is. The limitation against using hearing to determine location is only when the images split apart.

A person can use a listen check afterward to locate you. Then, when you move, you can rejoin and resplit off those images in which case they have to do it again.

It matters not whether your eyes are closed or open. That matters only for when images are in the same square.

 

[Michael Silverbane]

Remember that, while we play out the combat in a turn-based manner, that is not really how the combat plays out. Everything is happening nearly simultaneously... So, when the character closes his eyes to defeat the illusion, it seems pretty reasonable to treat him as blinded for the remainder of the round. That makes for a pretty big sacrifice to bypass what is essentially a delaying tactic for the wizard...

Later
silver

 

[Dracorat]

It's not a huge issue. Closing your eyes for a single attack still makes that attack have a 50% chance to miss. And for everyone else, they still have to deal with the images or similarly close their eyes.

Tactically, it's usually better to just chalk up the fact that you might hit an image but after a few image hits, they will be gone.

 

[MarkB]

That is precisely the part that makes no sense to me. Why does my hearing get so much better when I close my eyes?

When you're viewing the images, you're being affected by the spell - it's effectively distorting all your senses, using your visual sense as a point of access. When you close your eyes, you block that access.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Oh I see where your confusion is. The limitation against using hearing to determine location is only when the images split apart.

A person can use a listen check afterward to locate you.

By that logic, he could use vision to distinguish between them afterwards as well.

-Hyp.

 

[Dracorat]

If they are in different squares, the write up seems to indicate so, as long as he previously located the correct one through some other method (such as making a successful strike on him or locating through hearing if they are all in different squares).

Mirror image creates 1d4 images plus one image per three caster levels (maximum eight images total). These figments separate from you and remain in a cluster, each within 5 feet of at least one other figment or you. You can move into and through a mirror image. When you and the mirror image separate, observers can’t use vision or hearing to tell which one is you and which the image. The figments may also move through each other. The figments mimic your actions, pretending to cast spells when you cast a spell, drink potions when you drink a potion, levitate when you levitate, and so on.

Enemies attempting to attack you or cast spells at you must select from among indistinguishable targets. Generally, roll randomly to see whether the selected target is real or a figment. Any successful attack against an image destroys it. An image’s AC is 10 + your size modifier + your Dex modifier. Figments seem to react normally to area spells (such as looking like they’re burned or dead after being hit by a fireball).

While moving, you can merge with and split off from figments so that enemies who have learned which image is real are again confounded.

Emphasis mine for illustration.

 

[Nail]

Which is why in this particular case using the FAQ interpretation is a good idea = keep all the images in the same square as the caster.

 

[Hypersmurf]

If they are in different squares, the write up seems to indicate so, as long as he previously located the correct one through some other method (such as making a successful strike on him or locating through hearing if they are all in different squares).

Making a successful strike - absolutely. Listen check - no joy.

When they separate (such as to move into different squares), you can't use vision or hearing to distinguish.

If you're saying "when they separate" is a single instant in time, and that apart from that instant, you can use hearing to distinguish, then the same must apply to vision - apart from that instant, you can use vision to distinguish.

To me, "when they separate" defines the start of the period during which you can't use vision or hearing to distinguish... not the entirety of the time, otherwise the spell becomes pointless.

-Hyp.

 

[Dracorat]

Making a successful strike - absolutely. Listen check - no joy.

When they separate (such as to move into different squares), you can't use vision or hearing to distinguish.

If you're saying "when they separate" is a single instant in time, and that apart from that instant, you can use hearing to distinguish, then the same must apply to vision - apart from that instant, you can use vision to distinguish.

To me, "when they separate" defines the start of the period during which you can't use vision or hearing to distinguish... not the entirety of the time, otherwise the spell becomes pointless.

-Hyp.

I do use the instant in time analogy, but disagree with your assessment.

The description of the spell states that it creates visual figments, indistunguishable from the original. Thus, senses that rely on vision are fooled. Those that rely on other methods of detection do not. (Such as listen)