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<blockquote data-quote="Guest 6801328" data-source="post: 6888500">The more interesting way to interpret wishes, IMO, is not to thwart the specific outcome by twisting the language but by adding unexpected complications (as alluded to by a poster above).&nbsp; It's not, &quot;Ok, poof!, you're as strong as an ox!&quot; Instead, nothing happens immediately but very soon there's an encounter that leads to the desired outcome...again, with complications.&nbsp; So minutes later a peddler comes down the road offering to sell a potion that will grant great strength permanently.&nbsp; Does it?&nbsp; Are there any other side effects?&nbsp; Is this actually a red herring and the real fulfillment of the wish is yet to come?Ideally the heroes (the characters, if not the players) should be left wondering, &quot;Was it really my Wish that did it?&nbsp; Or was it going to happen anyway?&quot;Think of the well-known story about a man who encounters the Grim Reaper, who looks surprised to see him.&nbsp; Terrified that this is an omen of his death he breaks records traveling to a distant city that same night.&nbsp; In the morning the Grim Reaper finds him and says, &quot;Ah, here you are.&nbsp; I knew I was supposed to gather you here this morning, so I was surprised to see you so far away yesterday.&quot;Although that isn't a &quot;Wish&quot; story, it's the same kind of cause &amp; effect conundrum that good wish fulfillment can generate.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Guest 6801328, post: 6888500"] The more interesting way to interpret wishes, IMO, is not to thwart the specific outcome by twisting the language but by adding unexpected complications (as alluded to by a poster above). It's not, "Ok, poof!, you're as strong as an ox!" Instead, nothing happens immediately but very soon there's an encounter that leads to the desired outcome...again, with complications. So minutes later a peddler comes down the road offering to sell a potion that will grant great strength permanently. Does it? Are there any other side effects? Is this actually a red herring and the real fulfillment of the wish is yet to come? Ideally the heroes (the characters, if not the players) should be left wondering, "Was it really my Wish that did it? Or was it going to happen anyway?" Think of the well-known story about a man who encounters the Grim Reaper, who looks surprised to see him. Terrified that this is an omen of his death he breaks records traveling to a distant city that same night. In the morning the Grim Reaper finds him and says, "Ah, here you are. I knew I was supposed to gather you here this morning, so I was surprised to see you so far away yesterday." Although that isn't a "Wish" story, it's the same kind of cause & effect conundrum that good wish fulfillment can generate. [/QUOTE]

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