Mageduel (MoF) question

[Lucius Foxhound]

My DM and I are about to try a Mageduel (from Magic of Faerun) for the first time ... we're stoked about it! We both want it to be fun, so my question is: has anyone tried one? What worked? What didn't?

I was a bit concerned that spells like Polymorph Other, which aren't insta-kills (insta-kills do 1/2 your max HP in damage) might end the contest prematurely.

Thanks!

 

[Mr Fidgit]

hey Lucius! i've never run a mage duel before, but here's some suggestions...

I was a bit concerned that spells like Polymorph Other

you get a free counterspell every round. if you're concerned about being polymorphed, memorize the spell to counter it when/if it's cast.

you could also boost your Fort save (and hit points) with an Endurance spell

(if you have the spell and the money) you could contingency a dispel magic on yourself keyed to "if my shape is changed". (and you could set this up long before the duel starts...)

(my strategy suggestion: enervation 2 or 3 times (no save, wipes out opponents spells, lowers saves) and then cast your own polymorph other!)

(strategy #2: do a spellcraft check on every spell your opponent casts during the preparation rounds (just to know). start the duel with a dispel magic (bye-bye buffs!). this will also let you know if some of your spells will be effective (if opponent casts a protection spell and you like to summon creatures, you know which alignments will work).

(strategy #3: raid your party for items. if anyone in your adventuring party has any relevant items that you can use, ask to borrow them for the duration of the duel. also think of items that might be handy to have around (if someone has: a defending weapon, you could hold it to use the AC buff; a dancing weapon would be handy against summoned creatures; and so on))

good luck!

 

[gariig]

Most likely two mages would setup "rules" of engagement. Much like the amount of rounds for prep time you would discuss illegal spells. I would tend to think polymorph spells would be out and possibly enervation. You would ask to take out other insta-kill like spells. Hell, you could ban haste

Gariig

 

[Lucius Foxhound]

Yeah, I like the idea of limiting prep time to 1 or 2 rounds. I pondered banning haste, but I think I'll leave it in. It can always be dispelled.

Seems like the best method is to save all the 3rd level spell slots for Dispel Magics. Poly Other isn't too bad, though ... there's lots of ways of getting around it.

Endurance is a damn fine idea... perhaps even two or three (do they stack?).

Sadly, my party's gone ... I'm all alone at the Mage Fair. But good idea to raid items from them.

The interesting thing about the duel is that my Wizard's an Illusionist, while my opponent (my old master who thinks I killed his wife) is an Invoker. So it's in my interest to memorize spells from Enchantment and Illusion which he cant cast from, and in his interest to cast evocation spells at me. Unfortunately, he's also a higher level than me ... but we'll see how it goes.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[Victim]

Use Pro Elements spells and illusionary decoys. That should be able to take the edge off the evocations that you can't counter.

 

[Mr Fidgit]

Endurance is a damn fine idea... perhaps even two or three (do they stack?).

no, they overlap. of course stat buffs last for hours. if you could cast them a few hours before the duel...or even better - cast them from a scroll! that will leave your memorized spells untouched.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Mage duels last a short time.
I'm going to use my Elven Spellmantle spell.

 

[Lucius Foxhound]

no, they overlap. of course stat buffs last for hours. if you could cast them a few hours before the duel...or even better - cast them from a scroll! that will leave your memorized spells untouched.

Good idea... but I'm not sure if buffing before the duel would be sporting... I'd probably get disqualified.

Scrolls aren't a bad idea... but I hate to waste them in a duel.

 

[bret]

Banning spells would work heavily against a Sorcerer and could put a specialist wizard at a big disadvantage.

Dispel Magic is problematic since he is higher level than you. Depending on how great the level difference is, you might not be able to be effective with it.

Given the setup you described, I would ask for details of his normal battle strategy. You used to be his apprentice, you should know what spells are his favorites and some of his normal strategies. You should at very least know what schools of magic are forbidden to him.

You might also be able to use your knowledge of him to play mind games. If there is something you can do which would cause him to react irrationally, you might be able to get an advantage there.

Endurance has a problem with being dispellable. Depending on the participants, a first round Dispel Magic (to take care of all those buff spells) is highly likely. He has a better chance of being successful than you do.

Personally, I would seriously look at taking a top level Summon Monster spell to summon 1-3 creatures. You want something with a ranged attack, maybe Arrowhawks. Have them constantly ready attacks for when he starts casting a spell, he might miss a Concentration check.

Give us more details (what levels are each caster, what are his forbidden schools, what items do you have that might alter the battle, etc) and we can probably come up with a few more suggestions.

 

[Lucius Foxhound]

Good point ... perhaps dispel magic isn't really the way to go. My Wizard is 8th level (Evocation is my forbidden school).. I've no idea what level he is, but I assume it's at least two or more levels above mine. I think his forbidden schools are Enchantment and Illusion...

I'm at a big disadvantage. But I've got some ideas for a few tricks that might catch my DM by surprise. One thing we're doing that's cool is that we're treating the battle as if we were two PCs. So we don't annouce what spells we're casting, we just take out the proper 3 X 5 card and place it on the table. If he makes his spellcast check, he can turn it over. We're really looking forward to playing!