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Post by delta on Mar 11, 2023 1:05:10 GMT -6
This came up in my game tonight, and I'm kind of stunned that I didn't have a stock answer for this rather obvious interaction.
Does mirror image protect against targeted spell attacks? (e.g., charm, hold, polymorph, feeblemind, finger of death)
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Post by tombowings on Mar 11, 2023 2:50:05 GMT -6
I don't see why not.
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Post by captainjapan on Mar 11, 2023 7:13:32 GMT -6
If you mean, does it force an attacker to pick the target of his spell from among the 1-4 mirror images, then yes. And then, if the attacker chooses incorrectly, only one double is dispelled. The illusion still holds for any others until they are, likewise, attacked.
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Post by hamurai on Mar 12, 2023 0:43:33 GMT -6
The Basic Sets, the RC and AD&D 1E & 2E PHB mirror (  ) OD&D's spell description. The RC includes the clarification that if an AoE spell hits images and caster, all images are destroyed. AD&D adds a pointless d100-based way to calculate the number of images (why not just use a d4?). The AD&D 2E PHB is the first book where the number of images is increased depending on the caster's level (1d4 + 1 per 3 levels), maximum 8. So, none of these editions clearly clarify the issue, but some point out that even magic melee weapons are affected by the spell. Personally, we played as captainjapan stated: If you have to pick a target creature, Mirror Image will affect that. |
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Post by delta on Mar 12, 2023 2:51:20 GMT -6
The Basic Sets, the RC and AD&D 1E & 2E PHB mirror ( ) OD&D's spell description... Well, mostly. The AD&D text says, "When an image is struck by a weapon, magical or otherwise, it disappears..." |
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Post by Desparil on Mar 12, 2023 3:42:27 GMT -6
It's inconsistent in later editions as well. A quick review:
3.5 it affects attacks and targeted spells, but area spells do not interact with it at all
4th it affects only attacks against AC
5th it affects both weapon attacks and spell attacks, but does not interact with anything that has a saving throw rather than an attack roll
I guess it comes down to how "smart" do you think spells are? For example, magic missile automatically hits - is this superseded by mirror image, or do magic missiles ignore illusions? What about other illusions besides mirror image, is there a chance of missing a human-sized enemy who has used an illusion to appear as a giant?
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Post by delta on Mar 13, 2023 20:54:45 GMT -6
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Post by hamurai on Mar 13, 2023 23:16:29 GMT -6
Good answers! Although I must say, if Charm worked through the sound, it would be an AoE spell centered around the caster, wouldn't it? So, again, I think Mirror Image will protect against Charm. I'd say, usually you'd have to concentrate on the target's aura or something, so you'd need to know where or who your target is.
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Post by chicagowiz on Mar 14, 2023 7:15:38 GMT -6
In my campaign, the person casting the spell would roll for which target their spell went against. If that's an image, it potentially is dispelled, depending on spell. If that's the real person, then the spell takes effect. So it might protect the person, but might not.
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) OD&D's spell description. 
