D&D 5E Wish: additional 9th level slot

[Olrox17]

Since there is no such thing as “9th level spell slots” in the game narrative, I would give the player some strange, noisy, useless contraption covered in weird runes. Finding out what the heck the contraption and why they got it could be the basis for an adventure.

Perhaps the contraption is the missing piece of an old illithid machine, and it is literally called “a 9th level spell slot” in their alien language.

 

[Coroc]

And what if he makes the same wish AGAIN?

He gets a slot machine Las Vegas Style

 

[Fanaelialae]

For me, 5E only slot one per spell, whatever they like however many they like with the standard 1 in 3 chance of losing the spell. Worst case scenario, maytbe they get 6 or 7 slots. Whatever

A few extras spell slots isn't going to matter given the kind of magic items 17th and up casters probably have access too.

One of the things I've noticed is the reluctance lately for DM's to hand out items and loot. Sometimes, sarcasm here I get the impression DM's are terrified of handing out a cheap club or dagger lest it break their precious game world.

Beyond that the lack of experience most people have with high level play, me included makes DM fun at this level a lot harder

The thing is high level people are world breakers at the get go, living legends and back in BECMI they could become gods with enough experience.

If you don't like that and I get the reluctance, than set a level cap. B/X was 14, 1st edition Castles and Crusades had 10 and there are others even lower.

Otherwise be generous and let your guys be powerful.

You should absolutely be generous and let PCs be powerful at high levels, but there's a big difference between that and letting them get away with anything and everything.

I mean, why stop at an extra 9th level slot? Why not let the wizard wish to have infinite spell slots? Or let them wish to become the most powerful being in the multiverse?

Wish is described as the most powerful MORTAL magic. Meaning that its power is not unlimited (if it weren't, why have other 9th level spells, or even other player characters). There are plenty of examples of what it can do in the description, which are plenty powerful. I see nothing wrong, however, with saying that there are things beyond the scope of a mortal wish, or within scope but risky and unreliable due to forcing the wish to the absolute extremes it is capable of.

 

[Quartz]

What would be your ruling if a Wizard wished to have an additional 9th level slot?

No. This is an Epic Boon so beyond the power of a Wish.

 

[Coroc]

You should absolutely be generous and let PCs be powerful at high levels, but there's a big difference between that and letting them get away with anything and everything.

I mean, why stop at an extra 9th level slot? Why not let the wizard wish to have infinite spell slots? Or let them wish to become the most powerful being in the multiverse?

Wish is described as the most powerful MORTAL magic. Meaning that its power is not unlimited (if it weren't, why have other 9th level spells, or even other player characters). There are plenty of examples of what it can do in the description, which are plenty powerful. I see nothing wrong, however, with saying that there are things beyond the scope of a mortal wish, or within scope but risky and unreliable due to forcing the wish to the absolute extremes it is capable of.

Wish is normally intended to be a plot device rather imho, even if the wish is worded to gain a powerful item. A wish should be viewed at most benevolent the less personal power gain is involved with it.
E.g. the party cleric died, no one can cast a resurrection, so the wizard casts a wish for that purpose.
A powerful weapon is needed for a unque opponent who can only be overcome with e.g a +3 weapon of disruption (think demon lord or whatever), although it makes the character wielding it quite powerful the purpose in this example justifies the means.
Abuse otoh should be punished by the DM in a humorous way.
E.g. The party mage is risking his 33% chance to become the party outfitter, he starts with wishing for a +3 plate armor, next a +3 shield , a +3 ring of protection, a +3 cloak of protection etc etc.
He is just one of these people with lucky dice (they exist, blime). At some point the wish should produce e.g. a shield and 3 other shields instead (unless the DM is fine with that kind of gaming)
A wish like the OP stated, for a permanent additional spellslot of the highest level is a clear abuse, and I think the intention of the PC wishing for that slot was to get it permanently. This is working around checks and balances of 5e, if it were not like that the number of spells of 6th or higher would not be limited to 1 no matter what.
As some above pointed out this could be an epic boon for a level 21+ player as a reward by a god or so, but never just by casting a wish.

 

[Maxperson]

Sure, but the player may not have read the spell in its entirety or may not have read it recently. It's fine if everyone is familiar with how the table handles this, to just assume that they're aware.

If you have new players or just players who aren't familiar with how the spell is handled, I personally consider it good table manners to verify that the player is aware of the consequences. I've never had a player get upset about the consequences of a wish if I gave them fair warning it could go wrong, but I've seen plenty of players get angry when they used a wish and the DM twisted it without warning. IMO, the former is an informed choice to which the player has consented, whereas the latter feels like a heavy handed "gotcha".

I really don't care if a player is new or old. If that player has not only chosen a spell for his PC, but is actively casting it, I have an expectation that the player has read the spell and know it. If they haven't read it recently and don't remember it, they really ought to have looked it up before they cast it.

 

[Maxperson]

With respect to the OP, my answer would be that it doesn't work. You see, 12,000 year ago the great and powerful Styck Itooyu used his first wish to get an extras 9th level spell slot, and his second to wish that wish could no longer be used to get extra 9th level spell slots.

 

[Umbran]

Sure, but the player may not have read the spell in its entirety or may not have read it recently.

The character is trying to tell reality to sit down, shut up, and do what they say... and they cannot be bothered to read the spell description first?

I am normally a pretty lenient GM, but there's limits.

 

[Umbran]

So what level of Extra Spell Slot would this august body allow be granted with Wish, without perverting the result?

As noted, in my games "spell slot" is not a thing the character knows about, so they couldn't ask for it.

"I wish I could cast {specific spell already known and castable} once per day above and beyond my normal spellcasting abilities," has a high chance of working so long as the specific spell isn't Wish.

 

[Fanaelialae]

I really don't care if a player is new or old. If that player has not only chosen a spell for his PC, but is actively casting it, I have an expectation that the player has read the spell and know it. If they haven't read it recently and don't remember it, they really ought to have looked it up before they cast it.

That's fine if that is the table culture and everyone is familiar with that culture. For a player who isn't familiar with the table culture, it could lead to culture shock and assumptions that the DM is a "gotcha" DM.

I, personally, have found in the past that it engenders an atmosphere that doesn't match the way I or my friends like to game. We prefer a friendlier atmosphere.

Hence, I will typically give them reminders and warnings if they forget a pertinent detail of a spell. Some of these guys, including myself, have been playing since 1e or 2e and have multiple versions of spells rattling around in their skulls. Others are complete newbs, for whom this is their first RPG. It's something the character (who has studied magic) should be aware of, but the player (who only pretends to be a mage for a few hours a week) might have made a mistake regarding.

I'm not suggesting those who do it differently are wrong. Just stating how I do things, and why.