[Alson]

Neither of them is superior to the other - they're just different.

A general overview....

Project Image and Simulacrum in General:

• Both have their own set of spells, so they're a great way of conserving spells and/or multiplying your spells arsenal. Neither can enjoy the benefits of Contingencies and/or Spell Sequencers type spells.
• Both can use their own copies of the caster's items. Duplicate the Pro-Magic scrolls for some cheese fiesta, use your precious Time Stop scrolls without actually wasting them, conjure Summons that will last sooo much longer than the clones who summoned them, etc, etc. This is perhaps the most powerful aspect of the Clone spells, due to the fact the many one-use items are immensely powerful.
• Both ignore the summoning limit of 5. A clone can raise armies of fodder in less than a turn using their own copies of the Wand of Monster Summoning. In additions, they also ignore the traps limit of 7. Carpet monster lairs with traps this way.

Now, to the specifics...

Project Image:

• The better spellcaster out of the two clones spells. It will hold the original caster (so don't cast one during Time Stop), but the clone has *everything* the original caster had - items and spells.
• The Image will vanish if the original caster takes any damage.
• The Image is vulnerable to both [Dispel, Remove] Magic and True Sight. Thus, casting the appropriate Spell Immunities (Abjuration and Divination, respectively) is a mandatory tactic after the Image is created.
• Casting Project Image causes to the caster to count as Helpless (due to the Hold effect). This leads to the over-the-top-powerful tactic of placing 3 Images in a Chain Contingency, and casting Project Image. Voila! 4 Images, the ultimate BG2 firepower army.
• Shapechanged Images can attack. Bash thy's enemies with Iron Golems!

Simulacrum:

• Not such a good spellcaster as Project Image, but it won't hold the caster.
• Simulacrum isn't dispellable by any means, nor will it vanish if the caster takes any damage. It's rock solid!
• A Simulacrum is implemented as a level drained clone. Its level is not 60% of the caster's, but is determined as follows:
  --Single-classed mages: Original caster's level - (caster's level / 2)
  --Multiclassed mages: Original caster's level - (caster's level / 2) for each class
  --Dual classed mages: Original caster's level - (caster's total levels / 4)
  
  Rounding is unclear for multiclassed mages, sometimes up, sometimes down. Dual classed mages have a clear advantage here. The bigger the difference between their classes, the less levels the clone loses.
• Due to the way the Simulacrum's level is determined, "second generation" clones are level drained less than their creators. A Simulacrum has a lower level than the original caster, so it imposes less level drain on subsequent Simulacrums. Example: A level 32 wizard (you need an XP Cap remover to get this far) produces a level (32 - 32 / 2) 16 Simulacrum. That Simulacrum would produce a level (32 - 16 / 2) 24 Simulacrum. Later generation clones still inherit their caster's more limited selection of spells and abilities, if any.
• Simulacra of people with warrior levels (created by Fighter/Mages or warriors using Vhailor's Helm) become much more effective after someone casts Lesser Restoration on them to restore their "lost" levels.

That's about it. [img]smile.gif[/img]