New Spell: Staggered Magic Missile

[gamecat]

Staggered Magic Missile
Evocation
Level: Sor/Wiz 2

As magic missile, only you may fire your missiles one at a time, seeing how each missile resolves. This spell still only takes one action to cast, and firing a missile requires as much effort as a finger-snap.

 

[Phaedrus]

How long can you wait? Must you fire all on your turn, or can you hold them across rounds?

I like the idea. Maybe even extend it. Duration is 5 rounds or until all missiles fired, whichever comes first. You can fire as many or as few missiles per round as desired, until all are expended (or until 5 rounds passes). Firing is a free action, freeing you to cast other spells (this breaks the rules, though, doesn't it... "holding a charge" while casting something else?)

 

[MarauderX]

Seems kinda weak for a 2nd level spell until you get up there in levels. I would want some motivation for a 3rd level wizard to choose this as a 2nd level spell, say 1d6+2 per missle with a long duration.

I am assuming this would also defeat the shield spell with the first missle, then leave the opponent open to the rest of the magic missles the next round, which is pretty clever.

 

[gamecat]

I figured that it lasts one round, but you get to survey the destruction each missile causes before you discharge another. A d6+1 sounds good for damage, btw.

 

[gamecat]

Cometathinkofit, this was a good idea.

Should it be staggered over rounds? I think they should all be discharged over the round they were cast.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I'd go for all missiles fired during the same round, but with two additional benefits - the one which you mention (check the results before the next missile is launched) and secondly a removal of the "within 15ft of each other" limitation.

Cheers

 

[Merlion]

Hmmm....I'd say give it a duration and either increase the damage a tad, or the cap on the number of missiles. Perhaps a 5 round duration and a d6+1 damage, with of course the option to see how each missile lands before firing another one.

 

[FireLance]

I am assuming this would also defeat the shield spell with the first missle, then leave the opponent open to the rest of the magic missles the next round, which is pretty clever.

Um, I'm quite sure that while a Shield negates Magic Missiles fired from the half of the battlefield it is protecting against, Magic Missile does not negate Shield.

I'd go for all missiles fired during the same round, but with two additional benefits - the one which you mention (check the results before the next missile is launched) and secondly a removal of the "within 15ft of each other" limitation.

I agree with Plane Sailing. Magic Missile is about the top-end of what a 1st-level spell can do. It doesn't need much enhancement to make it 2nd-level.