D&D 5E What high-level spells could warp society?

[nevin]

The Clone spell means anyone rich enough to pay for the material components every 50 years or so is essentially immortal, and those who can afford it more often won't even show signs of aging.

Transportation is far more advanced than even our world. The Gate spell can move everything from caravans to armies; with good coordination and magical flight, you can move several thousand troops in a single casting.

1 minute worth of people for a veeeery expensive spell. might be good for diplomats and special force and the oddbillionaire , thas about it.

 

[nevin]

Magic, as presented in the rules, still leans toward craftsman-style production models, because magic itself cannot be mass-produced within the rules. The spellcaster cannot be replaced by automation.

Also note: within the (5e) rules, there are no rules for creating new formulae for creating magical items - innovation must be stipulated by GM fiat. Which is fine, but it makes it clear that, however we feel about it, the rules themselves do not actually make real-world-modern-style developments inevitable.



Wish isn't actually all that and a bag of chips any more....

Especially since screwing up can burn out your ability to wish. eAND90 hit ponts of damage from the screw up would kill a lot of non physical non athletic academics. I predict the billionaires and politicians of the world would kill o rburn out most of your 9th level capable academics. and we havent even touched on Divine spells mean gods who might interfere as well.

The stress of casting this spell to produce any effect other than duplicating another spell weakens you. After enduring that stress, each time you cast a spell until you finish a long rest, you take 1d10 necrotic damage per level of that spell. This damage can't be reduced or prevented in any way. In addition, your Strength drops to 3, if it isn't 3 or lower already, for 2d4 days. For each of those days that you spend resting and doing nothing more than light activity, your remaining recovery time decreases by 2 days. Finally, there is a 33 percent chance that you are unable to cast wish ever again if you suffer this stress.

 

[Maxperson]

Of course. I'm just pointing out that the books do not in fact assume any of those exist.

Sure. What it boils down to is how the DM wants to world build. You can't really say D&D would/should be X, because it can be A-ZZZZZZ.

 

[nevin]

So, I'm contemplating a setting idea where 20th level isn't the elite pinnacle of gods and legends. Rather, 20th level just means that someone has arrived into the "real influence" tier of society, where the movers and shakers of society start to take an interest in you. This would be a world crawling with dangerous threats, such that your average farmer is 4th-5th level, and town guards would be 9th-10th level. I don't want it to be crazy over-the-top though, just more of a Forgotten Realms with the volume turned up a bit. Since top-tier 5e magic is pretty restrained compared to AD&D or 3e levels, I think having play demonstrate such a feel is (theoretically) feasible.

So, I'm wondering, if a fair number of people have consistent access to 9th level magic, what sort of implications would that have for how "adventurer society" acts? Off the top of my head, access to resurrection and true resurrection makes death a speedbump; taking out individuals would require capture and probably frequent use of the imprisoment spell. Teleport circles would be common. Simulacra would be routinely deployed for errands. And keeping your true form concealed with liberal use of true polymorph would be extremely common.

Well if spells of that level are reliable and in good supply then you just get the scif show altered Carbon. via magic instead ot tech though at that level they become almost the same.

 

[kigmatzomat]

Well if spells of that level are reliable and in good supply then you just get the scif show altered Carbon. via magic instead ot tech though at that level they become almost the same.

You probably haven't made it through the thead but all d&d games should be Altered Carbon because of Dwarves (400yr livespan), Gnomes (500yr lifespan) and Elves (750yr lifespan).

You should ask yourself why elves don't rule the human realms and then ask if you are sure they don't.

 

[TwoSix]

You should ask yourself why elves don't rule the human realms and then ask if you are sure they don't.

Everyone knows the elves are just chaotic layabouts who paint in their forests and take 50 years to make a decision.

Right? Right?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It's definitely worth reading this thread on Magical Industrial Revolution, even if you don't buy the (excellent) book.

 

[Ath'kethin]

I strongly encourage you to take a look at the Eberron setting. It asked these same kinds of questions and had novel results. A nation that reanimates its dead to replentish the army, a guild that mass-produced sentient constructs to be used in war, low level magic such as streetlamps in major cities, etc.

 

[nevin]

You probably haven't made it through the thead but all d&d games should be Altered Carbon because of Dwarves (400yr livespan), Gnomes (500yr lifespan) and Elves (750yr lifespan).

You should ask yourself why elves don't rule the human realms and then ask if you are sure they don't.

most likely because no one wants to live with

You probably haven't made it through the thead but all d&d games should be Altered Carbon because of Dwarves (400yr livespan), Gnomes (500yr lifespan) and Elves (750yr lifespan).

You should ask yourself why elves don't rule the human realms and then ask if you are sure they don't.

Well there are fantasy books where the elves do rule. But honestly I imagine a truly long lived society like that wouldn't want to mess with humans unless they simply had no choice. Compared to the Tolkenesque elven society Humans at pretty much every level of history to present suck. And I can only imagine Dwarves talking to some flatlander human and writing the whole human race off.....LOL But really the honest reason is humans play the games and that's not an attractive campaign for most. Too much like Dark Sun

 

[nevin]

I strongly encourage you to take a look at the Eberron setting. It asked these same kinds of questions and had novel results. A nation that reanimates its dead to replentish the army, a guild that mass-produced sentient constructs to be used in war, low level magic such as streetlamps in major cities, etc.

I've always wondered why more DM's don't have things like Street Lamps and permanantly Breezed porches.