Mirror Image & Polymorph Self

[kengar]

Hopefully a simple question: If a wizard casts Mirror Image on himself, then polymorphs, does the new form have mirror images?

 

[Mort]

Nothing in the spell (mirror image) says otherwise and since it has a set durration (not dependent on concentration etc.), I don't see why the images would go away.

Another question, though, is: Do the images change shape? The spell certainly doesn't address the issue though it does say the images react - appearing burned, etc.

Thoughts? (Sorry if this is a thread hijack)

 

[kengar]

Another question, though, is: Do the images change shape?

Not a hijack at all, IMHO. A good question to ask!

My situation is working out the escape of a bad guy. My idea was to have him cast MI on himself then change into a bird. The PCs would have a harder time picking the right bird out of the air to aid in his escape. If the what they saw were 4 or 5 wizards and a a pigeon flapping away, then it might make it a bit simpler for them.

 

[Mort]

Examining the spell:

"The figments mimic the character's actions, pretending to cast spells when the character casts a spell, drink potions when the character drinks a potion, levitate when the character levitates, and so on"

That somewhat supports the fact that they change, but do you really want a 2nd level spell to be that powerfull? Not to mention, I love the visualization of a bird and a bunch of casters flapping away - the characters should make a save or be so busy laughing that they don't get any shots off.

 

[kengar]

That somewhat supports the fact that they change, but do you really want a 2nd level spell to be that powerfull? Not to mention, I love the visualization of a bird and a bunch of casters flapping away - the characters should make a save or be so busy laughing that they don't get any shots off.

Is that really all that unbalancing for MI's power? I mean, you need to have the more powerful spell (Polymorph) available for it to matter.

As humorous as the mental picture of the synchronized flapping wizards is (and it IS funny ); I'd like to see this guy get away to harrass them another day.

Total aside, but one of my favorite in-game "mental pictures" has to do with this NPC. He is an evil gnome wizard. The party had broken into his home after he had fled a battle. The rogue forgets to check for traps ONE time (and this is after finding several). A pit opens in the floor, the female half-orc barbarian makes her save and avoids falling, the rogue blows his roll and falls. When he hits, it triggers an acid flask to fall from the ceiling above the pit onto his head.

The 8 INT half orc's player RPs this beautifully and says to the rogue (still in pit and sizzling) completely deadpan:

"Everything OK?"

Needless to say, the group really hates this guy.

 

[Murrdox]

Ummm.... look at the NAME of the spell! "Mirror Image".

The images act like mirrors. They always look exactly like the caster does, and they do everything that the caster does. If a fighter figures out who the real wizard is, and cuts the wizard's face with his sword, all the images now have cuts on their faces. If a fireball goes off, the images don't disappear, but all of them mimic the exact same injuries, burnt clothing, etc... that the real wizard does.

They are MIRRORS. So what does a wizard see if he stands in front of a mirror and polymorphs himself into a pigeon? He sees a freaking pigeon staring back at him.

To sum up - yes, your wizard can mirror image himself and then polymorph into a pigeon and fly away, and the mirrors will be right there with him the whole time.

Mirror Image is a great spell.

 

[Hypersmurf]

If a fireball goes off, the images don't disappear, but all of them mimic the exact same injuries, burnt clothing, etc... that the real wizard does.

Not quite.

The figures "seem to react normally to area spells". Given that a figment could be up to forty feet away from the caster, it's entirely possible for a/ the caster to be in the fireball but not the figment, or b/ a figment to be in the fireball but not the caster.

By the wording of the spell, in case a/, the figment would not react, and in case b/, the figment would react even though the caster was not burned.

However, when the caster moves through and splits off from an image, the image would then show the same burns (or lack thereof) that the caster does, since when they split off they are indistinguishable. For consistency, when two images merge and split, they should also homogenise with each other.

-Hyp.

 

[kengar]

I think that -unless there is something relatively "official" that says otherwise- I will Rule Zero this one to say it will work.

Using the "merge & split" idea. Perhaps when he first Polymorphs, there are several wizards & a bird. Then, when the M&S occurs, they all look like birds. So maybe the first round is un-alike, then after that identical.

Fair enough?

 

[Hypersmurf]

Using the "merge & split" idea. Perhaps when he first Polymorphs, there are several wizards & a bird. Then, when the M&S occurs, they all look like birds. So maybe the first round is un-alike, then after that identical.

I think that's how I'd do it. It has an elegant feel to it

Remember that he can cast and move in the same round, and M&S occurs "while moving". So if he's sensible, he won't have any problems unless people have readied actions or AoOs going on, because by the time anyone else gets to act, all his figments will be birds already...

-Hyp.

 

[Mort]

I think that -unless there is something relatively "official" that says otherwise- I will Rule Zero this one to say it will work.

Using the "merge & split" idea. Perhaps when he first Polymorphs, there are several wizards & a bird. Then, when the M&S occurs, they all look like birds. So maybe the first round is un-alike, then after that identical.

Fair enough?

This does seem like a sensible way to do it. If it comes up in my game (and there's actually a good chance it will as soon as next session) that's how I'll do it.