A Non-"Alignment Flippy" Version of "Mirror of Opposition"... Thoughts?

[BlueStorm]

I've been thinking, that if the Mirror of Opposition didn't do the whole "Alignment flippy" thing for the copied creature, it would be a much more palatable wondrous item to have around. Both for Good guys and bad guys.

Now, the rules say nothing about a "non-flippy version", but most of the mechanics of it are more... um... fluffy than anything, and the rest can be done by photocopying the character sheet. So it would be easy to just bring up a name for it and run with it.

The Obvious question is... Should I?

Does the possibility of throwing an army of clones at an enemy once one steals the mirror cheapen the campaign?

Does the Enemy having the mirror make it utterly Impossible to win? Or Somehow make the forces seem faceless?

Would it be something so overpowered that it should be kept away from a campaign at all costs?

Aside:...hmm... By all rights, those same problems would still be faced with the normal Mirror of Opposition, if a smart player or GM faced the Mirror to an imprisoned character that was the opposite alignment to the one who imprisoned them...

I think the mirror concept is cool, no matter whether it's a "flippy" mirror or "non-flippy", I've just got the sinking feeling that its a bad idea to actually implement it into a campaign.

Are my fears founded or not? Is there some way to juggle usefulness of the mirror with its over-powered-ness to make it a great addition to a campaign ,Long term, and not just a one time thing?

...Any other Thoughts even?

[darkwarriorkarg]

How about an Intelligent Mirror of opposition?

An archmage imprisoned the "Deamon of Perversity" (self-destructive behaviour)

So... (spitballing...)

NE Mirror of Oppostion
Properties
Telepathy, Speech, senses, blindsense, darkvision, read magic

Powers:
Fly, teleport 1/day

Special purpose: Slay all
Special Power: cast greater scrying at will (which is why no one wants to smash the stupid thing)

It flies into position, party opens doors, clones attack, it uses teleport to GTFO :-)

This is evil cheeze.

[David knott 242]

I could certainly see the Neutral Good Cleric in our campaign using a Mirror of Opposition to clone his Chaotic Neutral allies. He would be able to get along reasonably well with either version of each clone, and all he has to do is send the oppositely aligned clones on different missions to keep them from meeting each other. Total win for him.

[darkwarriorkarg]

He moves them into key positions and gives them General Order 66.

"For the greater good, I must assume control."

[Tacticslion]

Ugh, guys?

Mirror of Opposition

Mirror of Opposition wrote:

This item resembles a normal mirror about 4 feet long and 3 feet wide. It can be hung or placed on a surface and then activated by speaking a command word. The same command word deactivates the mirror. If a creature sees its reflection in the mirror's surface, an exact duplicate of that creature comes into being. This opposite immediately attacks the original. The duplicate has all the possessions and powers of its original (including magic). Upon the defeat or destruction of either the duplicate or the original, the duplicate and its items disappear completely. The mirror functions up to four times per day. Destroying the mirror (Hardness 1, 5 hit points) causes all of the duplicates to immediately vanish.

Or, if you prefer:

Mirror of Opposition (the old version)

Mirror of Opposition (old version) wrote:

Mirror of Opposition

This item resembles a normal mirror about 4 feet long and 3 feet wide. It can be hung or placed on a surface and then activated by speaking a command word. The same command word deactivates the mirror. If a creature sees its reflection in the mirror’s surface, an exact duplicate of that creature comes into being. This opposite immediately attacks the original. The duplicate has all the possessions and powers of its original (including magic). Upon the defeat or destruction of either the duplicate or the original, the duplicate and her items disappear completely. The mirror functions up to four times per day.

Although I could have sworn it did myself before looking it up, it doesn't mention anything about alignment, only that it causes an exact duplicate that immediately attacks the reflected viewer (which is actually a subtle nod to the old clone spells of yore - multiple clones awoken at the same time had an inexplicable compulsion to slay all the others, being the "only one" left).

IF you created a mirror of opposition-only-not, I'd recommend basing it on the spell Simulacrum and price it from that instead of clone (remember, though, that it costs 500 gold per HD of the simulacrum, so, to cover a 15th CL mirror of opposition, I'd suggest either 7,500 gold (for a maximum 15 HD sim; or perhaps for a 7HD sim, since you're creating at half-level "for free" more-or-less at will, or somesuch) or 15,000 gold (for a maximum 30 HD sim - or possibly a 15HD sim, for the same reasons above).

To balance it, you might want to limit a given mirror to only one-lesser-clone-at-a-time, or something.

If you wanted it to be both under your command and of the same power as the original, I'd recommend simply tacking on the price of a 4/day simulacrum (not the normal one, not the lesser version) to the 4/day clone.

Anyhoo, that's what I'd recommend.

Now, to go spend 7,500 gold and create a simulacrum of Tar-Baphon and 4,500 gold and create a simulacrum of Razmir...

(Ah, if only someone had 'ported the Ice Assassin in the same way...)