SPELLS: Enhanced Magic Missile and Superior Magic Missile

[Pure Puppet]

The current issue of Dragon magazine has a prestige class called The Force Missle Mage, which is essentially centered around Magic Missile. It's five levels, with partial spellcasting, and it offers some interesting abilities. Prereqs are nine ranks in Concentration and Spellcraft and Combat Casting, which is actually fairly easy. You might want to check it out.

 

[Terath Ninir]

What does that mean: mirv? "multiple independent rocket vehicle'? How does that apply here?

The important point is that an ICBM that MIRVs launches as a single missle, then breaks up on reentry, sending multiple warheads at multiple targets. Applying it to magic missile, you fire the missile, which then splits apart when it gets close to the target and hits multiple creatures. Thus, you can get more missiles, but they can't all be directed at one Big Bad Evil Guy. It's a way to get more missiles and not have the spell be overpowering against single strong enemies.

 

[Gez]

There were improved Magic Missiles spells in 2e... IIRC, they were attributed to either Melf or Snilloc.

 

[Terath Ninir]

Snilloc, I think. I think it was like a cone of magic missiles. Hang on, I've got the Wizard's Spell Compendium...

Snilloc's Major Missile. 5th level, does 1d4+1 per level, up to 15d4+15, one target only. Way weak and not much in the multiple targeting spirit of the original spell.

 

[Baronovan]

Think more metamagics.

Chain Magic Missile is a 4th-level spell. It's effectively (from a 20th-level caster) 105 missiles that must be shot at no less than 21 targets. Maximize it for a 7th and it's business time-- 25 pts to a primary target, 12 pts to 20 secondary targets. No save. No attack roll. Not that bad, but not as badass as a chain lightning (one level lower).