He Whose Name Must Not Be Spoken

[Shining Dragon]

Just send a cadre of bards out with new songs of adventure and tales of terror about whatever Wizard has this ability. I'm sure they'll soon get a headache from hearing every child yell out his/her name in their games.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Just send a cadre of bards out with new songs of adventure and tales of terror about whatever Wizard has this ability. I'm sure they'll soon get a headache from hearing every child yell out his/her name in their games.

Or the kingdom will very quickly have a lot of job openings for bards.

 

[Richards]

Did Piratecat ever write up (for public consumption) the earring that worked that way?

Yes - it's in Of Sound Mind.

Johnathan

 

[DM-Rocco]

High level Divination Reserve feat tied in with Truenamer magic?

I seem to recall that in the Truenamer magic book. I also seem to remember, maybe in that same book, a class that had that as a class feature. So it would not be an epic feat or spell, although, the Voldemort version might be.

Not only does the Voldemort spell inform his followers that his name has been spoken, but it also dispelled protection enchantment spells and gave a very good location, enough to teleport without error. That might be an epic spell, or at least 9th if the dispell was only a greater dispell or break enchantment.

 

[Thanee]

Whatever level it is... it could become damn annoying if you have a common name.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Glyfair]

Yes - it's in Of Sound Mind.

Aaargghhh. Not only do I have that module, I ran it.

Given that it's a first level adventire, I think that the item probably is best a mid-level.

The item in question allows the user to hear his name when spoken, and the next few words. That doesn't imply to ability to scry or teleport in. Adding those abilities is a jump in power level, but I don't think it's epic level or even 8th or 9th level.

 

[Piratecat]

I also have a 9th lvl spell in my game that lets you hear when someone says your name, gives you a quick glance at the speaker (not their location), and allows you to send a very low-level monster summoning to the location. Sending the monsters can only be used once a day, but the detection spell stays active for 24 hours. It's used by a lich named Hagiok to discourage people from talking about him.

(Okay, let's be honest. It's a great plot device! Everything else is just rationalization.)

A 10th lvl spell (i.e. epic) in my game would do this, as well as send a medium level monster summoning to the location if desired.

In Harry Potter, saying the name of He Who Must Not Be Named... [sblock]...blows away any abjurations near the person who says the name. That's definitely an epic spell.[/sblock]

 

[DM-Rocco]

I also have a 9th lvl spell in my game that lets you hear when someone says your name, gives you a quick glance at the speaker (not their location), and allows you to send a very low-level monster summoning to the location. Sending the monsters can only be used once a day, but the detection spell stays active for 24 hours. It's used by a lich named Hagiok to discourage people from talking about him.

(Okay, let's be honest. It's a great plot device! Everything else is just rationalization.)

A 10th lvl spell (i.e. epic) in my game would do this, as well as send a medium level monster summoning to the location if desired.

In Harry Potter, saying the name of He Who Must Not Be Named... [sblock]...blows away any abjurations near the person who says the name. That's definitely an epic spell.[/sblock]

How do you make those little spoiler blocks? sblock?

[sblock]... did this work? [/sblock]

 

[DM-Rocco]

Nevermind, I figured it out. I learn something new everyday

 

[DM-Rocco]

Whatever level it is... it could become damn annoying if you have a common name.

Bye
Thanee

Not too much of a concern for fantasy. No one ever seems to have the same name. But it would be very annoying in our world.

"Hey Jo...,"

"NO DON"T SAY IT!"

"..hn, oops, too late. AAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!"

I think such spells are reserved for names that are not that common or through influence and/or action have been given a bad rap (whether justified or not), like Hitler for example. Interesting to note that even with a bad name, it is still common for people to name themself or their children after people like this, usually by supporters or followers. Osama, other than one or two crack pots in the US, is not common here, but is very common and praised in the middle east and parts of Africa. Hitler however, according to the big books of names, is the only name in history to never be used again in any culture. An odd fact about names of hated people or those with power that most might not repeat would be the cross over of fantasy to reality. The name Raistlin, from Dragonlance fame, might not be spoken by some in the world of Krynn, but Margaret Weis confided in me over lunch once that no less than 6 people in our world have named their child after a vile and evil (her words in a pre vile era) wizard.

I think though, if Osama where to cast a spell and know who said his name, people would quickly stop saying it.

Also refer to the Wizard's First Rule below, People are Stupid and will beleive a lie, even if it is not true, because they are afraid it might be true. It seems obvious that Voldemort did not have this power in books 1-6 or it would have been a very different story. The people of that world simply let their imaginations get the best of them and beleived a lie because they were afraid it might be true. However, Voldemort fed on that fear and made it real with the aid of powerful magic, perhaps that of the fallen ministry, in the last book. Before that book though, he didn't have that power, or Harry would have never got as far as he did.