| 2 people marked this as FAQ candidate. |
Magic Missile States:
The missile strikes unerringly, even if the target is in melee combat, so long as it has less than total cover or total concealment. Specific parts of a creature can't be singled out. Objects are not damaged by the spell.
Tower Shield:
As a standard action, however, you can use a tower shield to grant you total cover until the beginning of your next turn.
but... it also says:
The shield does not, however, provide cover against targeted spells; a spellcaster can cast a spell on you by targeting the shield you are holding.
If you read the boldface of magic missile, it looks like the tower shield stops magic missiles, if it is positioned to provide total cover. Yet, under the tower shield it says it cannot be used to provide total cover against spells since the shield can be targets.
But again... the magic missiles to not effect objects and specific parts cannot be targeted...
I would say that in this case, tower shield would stop a magic missile since there is no "to hit roll", but I would allow rays since they do have a chance to beat the armor class.
What do you guys think?
I think the magic missile would still land.
But why? I see this as a viable way to negate that spell. You have to see the target and you cannot attack someone with total cover.
I don't see the difference. I want to even adjust my original post and say ray attacks wouldn't work either.
By targeting the tower shield I'm targeting you since you are a valid target I can hit you with the magic missile.
Tower shield = you = valid target = OUCH, magic missiles hurt!
I'm with Abraham on this one.
Interesting.. the part about total cover would have been pretty important if it didn't say this cover did not apply to targeted spells.
Magic missile clearly targets creatures - so unfortunately the total cover bonus does not apply in this instance.
But, I understand what you're saying targeting the shield wouldn't damage it. Unfortunately again, the missiles are magic and unerringly strike their target and their target is you and not the shield.
"a spellcaster can cast a spell on you by targeting the shield you are holding" The spell is still affecting you, it does not say the caster must declare the shield as the target of the spell.
+1 to the above. You can target the wielder of the shield. The missile will avoid the shield and hit the wielder.
Looks like they closed that loophole with the additional text describing the tower shield.
But if the magic missile doesn't effect object then it would just fizzle.
You are not targeting the person, but the shield. What would be the difference if you stood behind a door? You wouldn't be able to hit the person.
How is a tower shield any different than a door? Unless it has a window to see through...
I do see what you guys are saying... but still... lol
How is a tower shield any different than a door? Unless it has a window to see through...
A door provides total cover regardless of circumstance which negates the missile.. a tower shield has a very particular circumstance in which its cover bonus does not apply. Again the target is you and not your shield.
Look into this shield enhancement:
Reflecting: This shield seems like a highly polished mirror. Its surface is completely reflective. Once per day, it can be called on to reflect a spell back at its caster exactly like the spell turning spell.
Strong abjuration; CL 14th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, spell turning; Price +5 bonus.
What's funnier still is that shield used to work like a tower shield in 3.0 — and that negates magic missile.
Just to be different, I'm going to say that the tower shield does prevent you from targeting an enemy who is currently using it as full cover. Makes sense to me. Full cover is full cover.
What's funnier still is that shield used to work like a tower shield in 3.0 — and that negates magic missile.
Just to be different, I'm going to say that the tower shield does prevent you from targeting an enemy who is currently using it as full cover. Makes sense to me. Full cover is full cover.
Except that it DOESN'T grant full cover when concerning targeted spells.
What's funnier still is that shield used to work like a tower shield in 3.0 — and that negates magic missile.
Shield potected from magic missiles long before there were cover or something rules. It is just innate effect of interaction between those two spells and not as a result of cover.
But if the magic missile doesn't effect object then it would just fizzle.
You are not targeting the person, but the shield. What would be the difference if you stood behind a door? You wouldn't be able to hit the person.
How is a tower shield any different than a door? Unless it has a window to see through...
A tower shield isn't as big as a door. That's why you specifically need to spend actions to hide behind it -- basically put you're actively using it for cover -- instead of just having something that is actually big enough to hide behind.
After all if the tower shield was actually big enough to block you from everyone else then it would do so all the time since you know it's huge.
The use of the tower shield as a means of total cover is more a case of you hunkering down behind it and placing it between you and everything around you.
It's the difference between having a boulder big enough to hide behind and having one that is so big you can't be seen behind it no matter what you do.
Owner - D20 Hobbies
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Specific parts of a creature can't be singled out. Objects are not damaged by the spell
]The shield does not, however, provide cover against targeted spells; a spellcaster can cast a spell on you by targeting the shield you are holding.
Magic Missile is a targeted spell and that line in MM doesn't mean what you think it means ;-)