Magic Missile Doesn't 'Unerringly' Strike Anything

[Aethene]

We all know that MM should always hit a traget when cast. Thats the big appeal to using it as a spell. Problme is i find it misses quite a bit. The improve forward casting arcs they implemented a while ago did help, but i still find that when I'm running around, and kiting a mob and trying desperatley to kill it before it kills me, alot of my MM's miss.

A possible fix i can think of is speeding up the animation or something, Mkae it TRULY strike its target uneerrringly

[Lorein_Azura_Childs]

I think I noticed this on force missle too, is that working as intended?

[Elfvyra]

There's a problem if the mob is running at right angles to you as well. Speeding it up to 'Instantaneous', might help. Like Deific Vengence....

[dormetheus]

The graphic on this spell should be for flavor only. Cast the spell, roll the dice, assign the damage, then I don't care if this spell hits the wall or not.

[Freeman]

Actually, there are only two ways that MM will miss, from what I've seen and felt. First, the target can run out of range. Second, the target can move behind an obstacle. Unless they've changed it, moving behind an obstacle only works if the missiles don't impact something else before they hit their range limit. In other words, if you see missiles coming and duck around a corner, you will still take damage if the missiles hit a wall behind where you were originally standing. The animation doesn't have to hit the target for them to take damage, so don't rely on what the animation hits to judge whether it is striking the target or not.

[Memnir]

In the Players Handbook - a Magic Missle will hit anything that is within range - or has less than 100% cover. In DDO, this translates into anything that is not "blocked" or becomes blocked before the missles hit. Also - a monster that runs out of the spell range before the hit will avoid them.

I'd like it if the missles themselves were sped up significantly. I don't think it should be instant damage - but it'd feel "right" if the travel speed of magic missles were doubled.

[Missing_Minds]

MM and FM shoot as fast as rocket, not as fast as a feather you can dodge. I swear my fighter could bat them out of the air if he were allowed they come at him so slow.

And because of this misconception of speed, targets are missed too frequently. Between the running away, running side to side, game lag to where it takes your spell points but doesn't actually cast the spell, etc. MM will miss and it really shouldn't.

It should be Instantaneous and as fast as a bolt or arrow. Also notice how it is near impossible for us to dodge behind something or run away from the MM, but they can constantly. I have and it annoys me big time.

[Freeman]

Don't confuse the animation missing with the spell missing. The animation can miss entirely, but the target will still take damage. Check your combat log.

[Cowdenicus]

Yeah, well I cast Magic Missile at the darkness.

(do you have any Mountain Dew)

[Freeman]

Yeah, well I cast Magic Missile at the darkness.

Doesn't count, unless you are also the Sorceror of Light. But if you brought Mountain Dew, then I'll let it slide

[KristovK]

Unless 1 of 3 conditions occurs, MM always hits the target, whether you see them hit via the animation or not, check your combat logs as already suggested.

The 3 conditions are simple and you'll actually be told that you can't cast the spell for the first 2.

1 - target is out of range..gives a warning that you can't cast due to this

2 - target is obstructed..gives a warning that you can't cast due to this

3 - target has the Shield spell up, no warning, but you'll see an animation on the target as the MM strike showing the Shield graphic(also blocks Force Missiles)

Outside of those 3 conditions, if you cast it, it hits the target no matter what you see onscreen.

[Missing_Minds]

Unless 1 of 3 conditions occurs, MM always hits the target, whether you see them hit via the animation or not, check your combat logs as already suggested.

The 3 conditions are simple and you'll actually be told that you can't cast the spell for the first 2.

1 - target is out of range..gives a warning that you can't cast due to this

2 - target is obstructed..gives a warning that you can't cast due to this

3 - target has the Shield spell up, no warning, but you'll see an animation on the target as the MM strike showing the Shield graphic(also blocks Force Missiles)

Outside of those 3 conditions, if you cast it, it hits the target no matter what you see onscreen.

4. Target runs out of range. yes, this is possible and damage NEVER shows up in combat log.

5. Spell casts, target is in range, no damage is done. No dice rolled for damage as damage never shows up in combat log.

You needed to complete your list. Either the mechanics of the spell get you (as is correct) or the game screws you (as is just cheating.)

[chimerasplice]

As a cleric, I encounter 4 and 5 very often with my heals. If the target runs out of range after you have begun casting but before you finish casting, your sp are wasted. Same deal if they run behind a wall. And I also get random casts that just fail to function for no reason that I can determine.

[Freeman]

5. Spell casts, target is in range, no damage is done. No dice rolled for damage as damage never shows up in combat log.

Since this occurs with every single spell in the game, I don't really think it is a Magic Missile issue. I've seen the same thing happen with cure wands, buffs, attack spells, etc. It might even be the same problem that ranged attacks get when no dice rolls occur for attacks.

[Missing_Minds]

Since this occurs with every single spell in the game, I don't really think it is a Magic Missile issue. I've seen the same thing happen with cure wands, buffs, attack spells, etc. It might even be the same problem that ranged attacks get when no dice rolls occur for attacks.

While I do agree with you that this is the probably issue that effects every form of combat in the game, to not include it in the issues that effect MM would be wrong.

[Freeman]

While I do agree with you that this is the probably issue that effects every form of combat in the game, to not include it in the issues that effect MM would be wrong.

Wrong? Not exactly the word I would use. However, attributing this to a problem with MM is somewhat misleading, since it has no bearing on whether MM misses the target. It only affects whether or not a spell is actually cast at all. You can include it if you want, I just wanted to make sure others understood that this was a problem for all spells, not a unique problem with MM.

[PurdueDave]

Don't confuse the animation missing with the spell missing. The animation can miss entirely, but the target will still take damage. Check your combat log.

I was dodging the shamans MMs with cover in WW a couple of weeks ago. Combat log confirmed.

[Freeman]

I was dodging the shamans MMs with cover in WW a couple of weeks ago. Combat log confirmed.

Don't people actually read anymore? From my earlier post: "Second, the target can move behind an obstacle. Unless they've changed it, moving behind an obstacle only works if the missiles don't impact something else before they hit their range limit." So yes, you can dodge behind something. If the missiles impact a wall before they hit their range limit, then you still still take damage. If the missiles hit their range limit, they fizzle out without doing any damage.

I've had many occasions where I would dodge behind a wall, then get hit with the magic missile "glow" after I saw them hit a wall where I had been standing before. However, if they just keep going, I don't take damage.

[llevenbaxx]

I think they simply dont work as in PnP. I have actually managed to get very good at dodging MM when it is cast at me. No wall, pillars or any other obstacle. Just good ol tumble. Timed well, you can simply make them miss. Not every time no, just most of the time.

[PurdueDave]

Don't people actually read anymore? From my earlier post: "Second, the target can move behind an obstacle. Unless they've changed it, moving behind an obstacle only works if the missiles don't impact something else before they hit their range limit." So yes, you can dodge behind something. If the missiles impact a wall before they hit their range limit, then you still still take damage. If the missiles hit their range limit, they fizzle out without doing any damage.

I've had many occasions where I would dodge behind a wall, then get hit with the magic missile "glow" after I saw them hit a wall where I had been standing before. However, if they just keep going, I don't take damage.

I know that. It was whiffing like the acid splash. You know...where you can watch it go by. Very unusual.