Talk:Magic:Isaacs Greater Missile Storm

Damage Analysis

Avlis IGMS is optimum vs 2 targets (14d6/14d6), a waste on 1 target (14d6), pretty good against 3 (14d6/14d6/12d6)... and after 3 targets the damage dice are in freefall.

For raw damage yes, it is underpowered compared with Chain Lightning, but the attraction of IGMS is: the magic damage and the no saving throw. Though for three targets the two spells are the same total damage dice just in a different spread (CL would be 20d6/10d6/10d6). These two spells behave radically differently when facing evading-types.

The "one missile per 4 caster levels but to a maximum of 7 missiles per target" also means that IGMS isn't full-powered until 28th caster level. And at 20th level (when you are able to evoke all 20 missiles), the optimum would be 4 targets (10d6 each). Any fewer targets and you don't get all your missiles. I'd also say that at 28th level, 3 targets is optimal, because you get all 40d6, leaving 12d6 "on the table" (when attacking 2 targets) isn't really what I call optimal.

In the end, this is spell is suited to small numbers of enemies (4 or less) and enemies that have evasion (or maybe even "just good reflexes"). macma 15:14, 10 July 2007 (PDT)