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Concerning the wizard and her spells
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<blockquote data-quote="Edena_of_Neith" data-source="post: 2452343" data-attributes="member: 2020"><p>A sincere thank you, Soel. I REALLY appreciate the compliment. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p> Notice that the Crunch and the Fluff (as they call them nowadays) are sorta blurred in definition above: some Fluff affects the Crunch as if it were Crunch itself, for example. Some Crunch is also Fluff. It can sorta get messy at times. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big grin :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /></p><p></p><p> The nice thing about the internet and online downloads is that the amount of text is not a problem. Conceivably, an Online Player's Handbook could have very long and detailed descriptions of each spell. (That doesn't mean the player wouldn't get a headache trying to read all that text, but it does mean it would cost WOTC less money per page of spell descriptions.)</p><p> With the fantastically escalating cost of paper and tight profit margins in the gaming industry, and page space thus being worth it's weight in gold, spell supplements (and spells in books like the Player's Handbook) in hard copy have to present only the bare bones of the spell, as it were. Just the crunch (as people call it nowadays) and not nearly as much detail concerning the crunch as many DMs and players would want. But, that is the economic reality of the times.</p><p> </p><p> I was trying to bring back the sense of magic, in the spells. The sense of anything can happen, the wonder of it all. That's the kind of thing that enticed me to play Dungeons and Dragons in the first place, back in the 1970s.</p><p> So you can believe that I appreciate your compliment, that I brought back the magic for you! I do appreciate your words. Thank you!</p><p></p><p> Yours Sincerely</p><p> Edena_of_Neith</p><p> </p><p> -</p><p></p><p> Hey there, Jester.</p><p></p><p> I tried to present the spells in their 'maximum' possible stature: that is to say, at their most powerful theoretically; based on the most favorable extrapolations from earlier editions, using the strongest versions of the spells from the older editions.</p><p> Obviously, no DM is required to allow these spells in the forms shown above. And I doubt most DMs would allow the spells as described above in their campaigns.</p><p></p><p> In my case, I do allow these spells as shown above. </p><p> My way of 'balancing' the overwhelming power of the spells above is to give the same spells to NPCs and monsters. Also, the mage has to actually acquire the spells, which is oftentimes quite hard to do (Rule: Just because it exists, doesn't automatically mean You Can Have It. Hehe <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big grin :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /> )</p><p> So yeah, a mage could have that nifty Prismatic Blade that autokilled anything in existence on one hit. Unfortunately for her, so could the dragon. The dragon could simply shapeshift to elven form, create her own Prismatic Blade, and the battle would be on (of course, the dragon - being a dragon - would have plenty of OTHER spells ready, plus allies, plus traps, plus insundry other things baneful to the party.)</p><p> Also, the casting of spells of such power attracted attention. When you go around blasting entire towns and great champions (and villains) out of existence, the authorities take offense. And when King Azoun sends the War Wizards of Cormyr after you, or Manshoon and Fzoul send the full might of the Zhentarim after you, you have a bit of a problem. This does not mean you are dead, but it does mean you have a major military conflict on your hands. Ah, the Joys of Consequences ...</p><p></p><p> In short, I as a DM did not say No. But oftentimes my campaign world said No, or tried to say No.</p><p> And sometimes, the lady mage conquered all her foes, and then informed the world that the answer was Yes. And the world had to live with that answer ... for awhile, at least! <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p> Actually, campaigns above 9th level were rare. Campaigns above 21st level were unique: I only played in one, in my gaming career.</p><p> So most mages were stuck with spells of 4th level and below (no autokill on Chromatic Orb for them, since they were below 10th level!) The powerful spells of 6th level and higher were a rare sight, as far as the characters casting them. I almost never saw player characters hurling around 8th and 9th level spells.</p><p> We did encounter NPCs quite often who attacked us with spells of 6th level and higher. This led to quite a few fried characters, quite a few Run for your Life situations, and a lot of intense brainstorming as to how we would defeat the enemy wizard with our combined powers (they never listened when I said: Leave the nice lich alone, and he'll leave us alone ... or do we really want to spend the rest of eternity serving him as faithful zombie slaves?)</p><p></p><p> The term archmagistress comes from Ed Greenwood. You will find this term used repeatedly in his spells, which can be found in all manner of Forgotten Realms supplements and articles in Dragon Magazine (and if I may say so, I thought his spells were very creative, ingenious, and oftentimes downright diabolical! <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> )</p><p> I realize that archmage is the generic term. But since archmagistress has so often been used by an author I respect, and seems to have been the usual colloqualism for the Forgotten Realms for many years, I use the term now. I personally think archmagistress is a nice word, to describe a lady of eloquent and lofty stature and power, learning and wisdom.</p><p></p><p> Yours Truly</p><p> Edena_of_Neith</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Edena_of_Neith, post: 2452343, member: 2020"] A sincere thank you, Soel. I REALLY appreciate the compliment. :) Notice that the Crunch and the Fluff (as they call them nowadays) are sorta blurred in definition above: some Fluff affects the Crunch as if it were Crunch itself, for example. Some Crunch is also Fluff. It can sorta get messy at times. :D The nice thing about the internet and online downloads is that the amount of text is not a problem. Conceivably, an Online Player's Handbook could have very long and detailed descriptions of each spell. (That doesn't mean the player wouldn't get a headache trying to read all that text, but it does mean it would cost WOTC less money per page of spell descriptions.) With the fantastically escalating cost of paper and tight profit margins in the gaming industry, and page space thus being worth it's weight in gold, spell supplements (and spells in books like the Player's Handbook) in hard copy have to present only the bare bones of the spell, as it were. Just the crunch (as people call it nowadays) and not nearly as much detail concerning the crunch as many DMs and players would want. But, that is the economic reality of the times. I was trying to bring back the sense of magic, in the spells. The sense of anything can happen, the wonder of it all. That's the kind of thing that enticed me to play Dungeons and Dragons in the first place, back in the 1970s. So you can believe that I appreciate your compliment, that I brought back the magic for you! I do appreciate your words. Thank you! Yours Sincerely Edena_of_Neith - Hey there, Jester. I tried to present the spells in their 'maximum' possible stature: that is to say, at their most powerful theoretically; based on the most favorable extrapolations from earlier editions, using the strongest versions of the spells from the older editions. Obviously, no DM is required to allow these spells in the forms shown above. And I doubt most DMs would allow the spells as described above in their campaigns. In my case, I do allow these spells as shown above. My way of 'balancing' the overwhelming power of the spells above is to give the same spells to NPCs and monsters. Also, the mage has to actually acquire the spells, which is oftentimes quite hard to do (Rule: Just because it exists, doesn't automatically mean You Can Have It. Hehe :D ) So yeah, a mage could have that nifty Prismatic Blade that autokilled anything in existence on one hit. Unfortunately for her, so could the dragon. The dragon could simply shapeshift to elven form, create her own Prismatic Blade, and the battle would be on (of course, the dragon - being a dragon - would have plenty of OTHER spells ready, plus allies, plus traps, plus insundry other things baneful to the party.) Also, the casting of spells of such power attracted attention. When you go around blasting entire towns and great champions (and villains) out of existence, the authorities take offense. And when King Azoun sends the War Wizards of Cormyr after you, or Manshoon and Fzoul send the full might of the Zhentarim after you, you have a bit of a problem. This does not mean you are dead, but it does mean you have a major military conflict on your hands. Ah, the Joys of Consequences ... In short, I as a DM did not say No. But oftentimes my campaign world said No, or tried to say No. And sometimes, the lady mage conquered all her foes, and then informed the world that the answer was Yes. And the world had to live with that answer ... for awhile, at least! :) Actually, campaigns above 9th level were rare. Campaigns above 21st level were unique: I only played in one, in my gaming career. So most mages were stuck with spells of 4th level and below (no autokill on Chromatic Orb for them, since they were below 10th level!) The powerful spells of 6th level and higher were a rare sight, as far as the characters casting them. I almost never saw player characters hurling around 8th and 9th level spells. We did encounter NPCs quite often who attacked us with spells of 6th level and higher. This led to quite a few fried characters, quite a few Run for your Life situations, and a lot of intense brainstorming as to how we would defeat the enemy wizard with our combined powers (they never listened when I said: Leave the nice lich alone, and he'll leave us alone ... or do we really want to spend the rest of eternity serving him as faithful zombie slaves?) The term archmagistress comes from Ed Greenwood. You will find this term used repeatedly in his spells, which can be found in all manner of Forgotten Realms supplements and articles in Dragon Magazine (and if I may say so, I thought his spells were very creative, ingenious, and oftentimes downright diabolical! :) ) I realize that archmage is the generic term. But since archmagistress has so often been used by an author I respect, and seems to have been the usual colloqualism for the Forgotten Realms for many years, I use the term now. I personally think archmagistress is a nice word, to describe a lady of eloquent and lofty stature and power, learning and wisdom. Yours Truly Edena_of_Neith [/QUOTE]
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