poor rational for "updating" Magic Missile?

[Gradine]

Strictly speaking, the new MM doesn't "Hit" anything, it just damages it. So by RAW Master's Wand of Magic Missile doesn't work any more. Additional errata?

Again, this is such an unnecessarily narrow interpretation of the RAW that it borders on the absurd. Of course Master's Wand of Magic Missile still works; just because WotC can't (or didn't think it needed to) come up with a synonym for the word "hit" doesn't mean a magic item designed to work with a specific power no longer works with the power it was designed for. No DM in their right mind is telling their player their favored magic wand doesn't work any more until WotC produces additional errata to clear up a slight issue with semantics.

 

[keterys]

All the magic missile items were errata-ed so they work with the magic missile change, as part of the same errata. You may need to read to the appropriate parts of the file to see it.

I still don't see the crit errata as being particularly necessary, as it's an extra line of edit that makes literally no (zero, none, zilch) difference in gameplay, at all.

 

[Oldtimer]

Again, this is such an unnecessarily narrow interpretation of the RAW that it borders on the absurd. Of course Master's Wand of Magic Missile still works; just because WotC can't (or didn't think it needed to) come up with a synonym for the word "hit" doesn't mean a magic item designed to work with a specific power no longer works with the power it was designed for. No DM in their right mind is telling their player their favored magic wand doesn't work any more until WotC produces additional errata to clear up a slight issue with semantics.

Considering that WotC found it necessary to errata "hit" to "damage" in the description of Master's Wand of Magic Missile, they don't seem to think that it is absurd either.

And it is not absurd. The thing about exception based design is that those exceptions trigger of specific keywords. "Hit" is such a keyword. Anything that requires you to "hit" your target no longer works with MM. That's neither narrow nor absurd, but just the way the rules work. Of course, you can play it any way you want in your campaign.

 

[Artoomis]

I love it. I'm not so sure about changing it with errata, since it wasn't actually broken, but I (and my players) vastly prefer the new version.

It's not errata. It's a rules update, as such, everything is pretty much fair game.

Personally, I like the change. But that's besides the point, really. Sure, MM was not "broken," but it was pretty lousy and not much fun (well, in my opinion anyway).

Now it's pretty cool.

 

[Klaus]

The good thing about the new MM is that it's now a unique spell in the wizard's repertoire, instead of just being a reskinned arrow (apologies to Oldtimer ).

 

[Bold or Stupid]

I like it particularly as it still works with Inescapable Force which never mentions the word hit...

Also Half Elf Warlocks may like it for getting curse damage on a hard to hit target.

 

[Aulirophile]

Isn't really unique, Cloud of Daggers is auto-damage (and actual damage, and hits).

@Bold: doesn't work, you have to hit to trigger Curse.

 

[Nifft]

Also Half Elf Warlocks may like it for getting curse damage on a hard to hit target.

Warlock extra damage triggers off a hit, not off mere damage, due to an early errata update.

Very sad, I used to love using Hammer Rhythm to get guaranteed curse damage every round.

@Aulirophile: If only Cloud of Daggers was a range 20 basic attack.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Plane Sailing]

I was looking through the July Update, and was frustrated by the reasoning behind the update of Magic Missile. The given reason:
"This update reflects an effort to retore the power to its classical form."

One must wonder whether this means that Fireball might see a similar "effort to restore the power to its classical form".

After all, Fireball was THE iconic wizard spell, above all others. In 4e it is a paltry mess, inferior in pretty much every way to stinking cloud. Stinking cloud! I ask you!

Lets see Fireball restored to its classical form, thats what I say!

 

[ExploderWizard]

One must wonder whether this means that Fireball might see a similar "effort to restore the power to its classical form".

After all, Fireball was THE iconic wizard spell, above all others. In 4e it is a paltry mess, inferior in pretty much every way to stinking cloud. Stinking cloud! I ask you!

Lets see Fireball restored to its classical form, thats what I say!

I certainly hope so!!

While we are at it Sleep needs some love too. Leomund's Lethargic Shuffle just isn't cutting it.