Mirror Image Sage Advice

[Hypersmurf]

I hear a rumour that the latest Dragon contains a couple of Mirror Image Sage Advice rulings:

1. Cleave can trigger off a figment.
2. All figments are in the same square as the caster.

(OI! WILLIAMS! NO!)

Can someone confirm that?

-Hyp.

 

[kreynolds]

1. Cleave can trigger off a figment.

Confirmed.

2. All figments are in the same square as the caster.

Semi-confirmed.

"Although the spell description says the images from a mirror image spell always stay within 5 feet of either the user or another image, it's easiest to assume that all images occupy the same space the spell user occupies. Any attack that can reach the user's space can affect an image."

(OI! WILLIAMS! NO!)

I assume this cry of desperation is in regards to the second question?

 

[Hypersmurf]

Re: Re: Mirror Image Sage Advice

Confirmed.

Ick.

"Although the spell description says the images from a mirror image spell always stay within 5 feet of either the user or another image, it's easiest to assume that all images occupy the same space the spell user occupies. Any attack that can reach the user's space can affect an image."

Icky-ick.

Although at least he hasn't simply said "It works completely differently to what the spell actually says", he's said "It's easiest to assume it works completely differently to what the spell actually says".

Which is a little bit better than the invis-can't-flank rule.

-Hyp.

 

[kreynolds]

Re: Re: Re: Mirror Image Sage Advice

Ick.

AFAIK, his standpoint isn't new. Is it just the first time it made it into the FAQ?

Icky-ick.

Why?

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Re: Re: Re: Mirror Image Sage Advice

Actually, the spell itself is inconsistent. It explicitly states that each image should have its own square which is the opposite of Skip's advice. However, it also explicitly says that you should roll dice to determine whether a figment or the caster was hit--which is exactly what you should NOT do if they each have their own square (since it's quite possible that a character could threaten several figments but not the caster or threaten the caster but not figments--for instance, try to hit an enlarged, mirror imaged fighter/wizard with a reach weapon who is surrounded by his 10x10 figments: you're unlikely to be able to threaten more than two figments at once). In fact, the only way that "roll randomly to determine which one is hit" works is if the images occupy the same space as the caster.

Skip's advice simply decides which of the two parts of the spell description to take seriously. (And I applaud him on his choice which, incidentally, is consistent with the way the spell worked in previous editions of D&D--unlike the "each figment has its own square" rule).

Although at least he hasn't simply said "It works completely differently to what the spell actually says", he's said "It's easiest to assume it works completely differently to what the spell actually says".

Which is a little bit better than the invis-can't-flank rule.

-Hyp.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Mirror Image Sage Advice

(And I applaud him on his choice which, incidentally, is consistent with the way the spell worked in previous editions of D&D--unlike the "each figment has its own square" rule).

But it doesn't matter how many figments you have, then... if all the figments are in the same square, Mirror Image always provides a 50% miss chance.

Since they're all in the same square, you just close your eyes...

-Hyp.

 

[rhammer2]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Mirror Image Sage Advice

Then you had better have blind fighting or that wizard/rogue is going to take you apart.

But it doesn't matter how many figments you have, then... if all the figments are in the same square, Mirror Image always provides a 50% miss chance.

Since they're all in the same square, you just close your eyes...

-Hyp.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Mirror Image Sage Advice

Then you had better have blind fighting or that wizard/rogue is going to take you apart.

Not at all... since after you've made your full attack, you just open your eyes again...

It means he gets the full benefit against AoOs and targetted spells, but otherwise, it's just a 50/50 miss chance against everything.

At least with Invisibility, people might guess the square you're in incorrectly. With sardine-can Mirror Image, they know what square you're in... you and your eight friends...

-Hyp.

 

[Snipehunt]

Does closing your eyes + blindfighting still eliminate flanking sneak attacks?

 

[Hypersmurf]

Does closing your eyes + blindfighting still eliminate flanking sneak attacks?

As long as they're within five feet. If they've got reach or ranged weapons, you need Uncanny Dodge, or you get sneak attacked for opponent-is-invisible.

There's a note at the top of the new 3.5 FAQ that basically says "All previous FAQ answers are applicable unless we say otherwise".

-Hyp.