For review:
So the wording is atrocious. Any help improving it would be appreciated.
Other thoughts and comments are welcome as well.
it's higher level than Magic Missile, but less efficient until you break the cap at lvl 12, or 14 since MM does 1d4+1 per two levels (up to 5d4+5)
and it doesn't feel right for a wizard spell since its interesting ability demands multiclassing...
all around, I don't really feel it and would not take it for my own characters/accept it at my tables.
I had to read it three times to understand what you meant. So it's basically a spell that requires a ranged touch attack (like scorching ray), except when it misses, I can declare that it becomes a magic missile that hits automatically?
I think a caster should have to make a choice in advance between magic missile and another spell that may deal more damage but has a risk of failure. Maybe you could rename the spell into force bomb and have it function as a splash weapon.
That being said, to help with the original wording:
"This spell creates a missile of magical energy that requires a ranged touch attack to hit and deals 1d4 points of force damage per two caster levels. If you fail on your attack roll, as a swift action, you may cause the missile to splinter into [a number of] magic missiles that unerringly seek out the spell's original target."
better criricism than mine Amanuensis
It doesn't splinter, but it does hit.
It is basically a magic missile that might be able to deliver sneak attack damage or a critical hit.
In exchange for this very nice ability it takes the following hits:
Slower damage gain compared to other spells of all levels.
A single target instead of being able to multitarget.
Shorter range than magic missile.
And of course higher level.
I realized that the one gap in damage spells was this, an auto hit that could do precision damage.
I do like the rewording and will use it to improve the flow of the spell.
Good to have some free unerring missile stuff out there? ;)
I just saw a gap that wasn't covered with any other spells.