Forgotten Realms DM advice- Orcs and magic

Willowhaunt · Apr 8, 2005

I've been running a D&D 3.5 campaign out of the "Silver Marches" handbook, and one of the major plotlines I've been gearing up for is the long-awaited invasion by the orc king Oubold. While trying to work out the strategic interplay of the two sides (Silverymoon and the Dark Arrow orcs), it hit me- Never has it been mentioned how any orc hordes have been able to overcome their enemies' arcane might, Silverymoon especially, since it has an small standing army of Wizards. To me, it seems like Silverymoon would've known what the orcs were up to long before they even made their first attack, due to scrying spells and various other divinations, not to mention that it wouldn't be tough for a high-level Wizard to magically infiltrate and charm/dominate the leaders...maybe I'm thinking of this far too simplistically, but I can't think of any real defense against high-level magic, other than more high-level magic. Alignment detection would easily defeat even the feared Artemis Entreri, if he was run with his by-the-book stats and magic items, suggestion could bring down any anti-magic organizations, even fan-favorite Drizzt doesn't have much going for him other than his racial spell resistance. I need some explanation other than the suspension of disbelief. Help?

One other question- Are there ways to defeat resurrection? Have they been used already when important FR characters (Azoun, Zaknafein, etc.) fell, or could a group of PCs who didn't care much for continuity just go ahead and bring 'em back...?

...these are the first unsolveable problems I've ever encountered in several years of DMing both my own homebrew worlds and adventures as well as the published stuff for a group of very munchkin-y players who are going to catch this oversight sooner or later. Even though I think that the FR Campaign Setting book is among the best 3/3.5 books, if not the best, I've found nothing in any of my 2e or 3e books that presents any counter to the overpoweredness of extremely high level magic.

-Willowhaunt

The Human Target · Apr 8, 2005

I'm too tired now, but I'll think about it and post something tomorrow.

BlackMoria · Apr 8, 2005

High level magic doesn't equate to omniscience. To scry, you have to know something about the target and that is assuming the target does nothing to try to foil the scrying. Or do mis-information, knowing you are being scried. High level magic has it limits - namely, not everyone can wield such power and those that can may be distract with other concerns.

Real world example. The Battle of Khafji. Despite preparing for a war, despite having all matters of intelligence platforms looking out (satelllites, AWAC aircraft, JSTAR aircraft, ground survelliance, patrols, etc) into Kuwait, the sudden move of the Iraq army across the Saudi border caught the coalition forces relatively unprepared. Yet, knowing of a possible move by the Iraqis and having all matters of 'eyes' out there, the sudden thrust into Khafji came as a surprise.

You can make similar comparisons. Despite having the goods, sometimes you get taken by surprise by the unexpected. So, the Silver Marches are in danger to having too much to watch out for and being lax watching for a threat that never seems to materialize.

Also, orcs have their own casters and allies. Who is to say that the Zhentarium, to destablize the area, aren't in the orcs' hip pocket. They could even be behind a 'whisper' campaign that is formenting aggression in the orcs and is introducing a complacent mindset in certain movers and shakers in the Silver Marches.

And once the orcs make their move, they are supported by Zhentarium mages and clerics, to suppliment the orc shamans and mages. With summoned demonic forces and undead legions as heavy assault units.

So, high level magic is not the 'final solution' you think it is.

About resurrection - the personage being resurrected has to agree to it to come back. And there is time limits on different types of resurrection. Being resurrected is not a given....and in fact, Ed Greenwood as stated that, at least in the case of Cormyr, that it is against the 'constitution' of that country to raise the royal family from the dead. Because it raises all sorts of 'legal' issues and succession right issues.

My two coppers...