D&D General Can a Wish spell move a moon to cause an eclipse?

[aco175]

I'm first thinking that even a wish has some limits. There are other forces invested in keeping things like planets in place. I'm more of a Forgotten Realms person and gods of the weave and magical forces that restrain things. There was a 10th level spell that caused a lot of problems back in the day that changed things.

A wish to me would cause a black circle of shadow to duplicate the passing of the moon to make it appear like an eclipse, but not make the moon actually move.

 

[Staffan]

I'm first thinking that even a wish has some limits. There are other forces invested in keeping things like planets in place. I'm more of a Forgotten Realms person and gods of the weave and magical forces that restrain things. There was a 10th level spell that caused a lot of problems back in the day that changed things.

A wish to me would cause a black circle of shadow to duplicate the passing of the moon to make it appear like an eclipse, but not make the moon actually move.

This seems the most likely to me. Assuming normal-ish celestial mechanics, moving a moon or planet would be outside the reach of a wish. But creating a cloud of darkness large enough to mimic one? Sure, that's fair. Is that enough to fulfill the ritual's conditions, or does it require actual celestial alignment? That sounds like a DM question (and could be an interesting reason to have the ritual go awry in ways the caster did not intend).

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

It might be fun to say,

“Yes but the gods who govern those celestial bodies might be annoyed”

Or

“Not exactly but it can simulate something similar to an eclipse that will be good enough to do the ritual. It may have unexpected consequences.”

Basically, “good enough for government work!”

Then leave it up to the person to research the consequences or forge ahead.

 

[TiQuinn]

I think that would definitely cause some unexpected consequences.

Depending on the needs of the campaign, I like the idea of a false moon momentarily creating the eclipse for purposes of whatever ritual but this causes the ritual itself to be flawed in some way.

 

[aco175]

While pulling shadow plane essence to make the eclipse, you also pull in a horde of shadow monsters that reign terror on the lands covered by said shadow. ... And, you need another wish to get rid of it.

 

[Charlaquin]

Something needs to be done on an eclipse, some the powerful archmage wishes for there to be an eclipse. They were cautious enough to mention it should happen almost immediately, so that the wish wouldn't transport them to a time when there was or will be an eclipse. Could their wish cause a actual eclipse where a moon gets moved to cover the sun?

And after the wish, if a moon gets moved what happens to it?

Somebody just reaching the final act of Veilguard?

 

[James Gasik]

Cynical answer: yes, if NPC's are doing it.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Somebody just reaching the final act of Veilguard?

Yes, initially where the thought came from.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

The spell Wish is like pulling the rubber band of reality.

If you pull too hard, the rubber band can snap, sometimes snapping back on the fingers that pulled on it.

It's up to your DM how far the rubber band is allowed to stretch.

If no, the DM can potentially argue that the energy of a Wish is ONLY 9th level and moving actual celestial bodies requires an epic ritual with a level of power beyond 9th level spells. Wish is the greatest spell a mortal can cast, but is only the beginning of magic for the gods.

The rubber band snapping back could be the moon moving back to it's original course after spending an hour or so in it's position for an eclipse.

 

[CleverNickName]

Sure, why not. If I didn't want to deal with astrophysics and planetary alignment, I would just rule that the wish created a HUUUGE, moon-sized ball of darkness between the earth and the sun, artificially creating an eclipse for 1d10 minutes.