Mirror Image vs. Finger of Death

[godfear]

What do you think? Should there be a check to see if you target the images or the creature?

 

[Virgil Sagecaster]

I would go with a dice roll to see if you the caster or the image.

 

[Plane Sailing]

No, it shouldn't. Finger of Death isn't a ranged touch attack, so no attack roll is needed to aim it a victim. You just say "that person over there dies". Mirror Image will only protect against spells that have to be aimed.

Regards

 

[Numion]

I would go with a dice roll to see if you the caster or the image.

That would make mirror image better than spell turning..

 

[AuraSeer]

The spell description doesn't distinguish between ranged-touch spells and any other kind of spell. From the SRD:

Enemies attempting to attack the character or cast spells at the character must select from among indistinguishable targets.

It doesn't say 'touch spells', and doesn't refer to attack rolls. Maybe it should, for balance reasons (since it's just 1st-level), but it doesn't.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

(since it's just 1st-level), but it doesn't.

It's 2nd-level.


The general consensus, and the intention of the spell, is that it only protects from attacks made with an attack roll. Call it rule-0. Call it vague description by WotC. But if you allow it to stop Finger of Death (or similar things) it becomes to powerful.

 

[AuraSeer]

Right, second level. I gotta stop taking those drugs.

 

[KarinsDad]

The general consensus, and the intention of the spell, is that it only protects from attacks made with an attack roll. Call it rule-0. Call it vague description by WotC. But if you allow it to stop Finger of Death (or similar things) it becomes to powerful.

Page 47 of FAQ:

"Area spells don't destroy the figments created by the mirror image spell, but targeted spells do. To determine if a spell is "targeted" look at the information that proceeds each spell description. If there is a Target or Targets entry, the spell is targeted."

Finger of Death:
Target: One living creature

Magic Missile:
Targets: Up to five creatures, no two of which can be more than 15 ft. apart

Shocking Grasp:
Target: Creature or object touched

I fail to see the difference.

 

[Dr_Rictus]

That would make mirror image better than spell turning..

Aside from the shorter duration, the random chance that mirror image will offer no defense whatsoever, and the fact that it doesn't turn the spell back on its caster, I suppose that's true.

Oh, and the fact that things like blindfighting and true seeing don't help you against spell turning. Forgot about those.

 

[KarinsDad]

One other note on Mirror Image.

Yes, it is a good defensive spell. But, unlike some defensive spells, opponents always know that it is there and typically know what it's about.

So, it takes little effort to pick one "image" (or possibly the caster) and do a Targeted Dispel on it. If it is the caster, great. You get to attempt to dispel all his magic, including the Mirror Image. If it is an image, you get to attempt to dispel the Mirror Image spell.

Or, if you do not have Dispel Magic, fine. Fire some arrows or have allies assist in that or whatever.

In fact, some of my NPC evil organizations target Mirror Image images as their first action if possible. Scares the crap out of the arcane spell caster PCs when virtually everyone is trying to take them out and ignoring everyone else.