Masters of the Arcane

[Jemal]

Just checked the rogues gallery, and apparently no, 'anyone' couldn't do it. He's the ONLY PC with the ability to do what he did.
None of the rest of us can cast a swift action "you fall down, no save, no attack roll" spell (Well, without killing...)

I don't see how it's NOT Impressive. If he'd done it to an NPC or a monster, I think you'd probably agree, but since he did it to a PC (particularily you), this generates bad feelings and blinds you to the thematics of what happened.

As to your problem of "why do we have to impress them if they invited us here, they know what we're capable of"... it's because they may not know EVERYTHING we're capable of. They know we're good enough to be here, but they want us to show them WHY, by doing something we think is impressive/cool/whatever. I created a massive pillar with stone dragon statues and shot fireworks from their mouth, then crushed them together b/c I thought it would LOOK impressive. the level of the spell/spells used does not matter. The only reason I used a 9th level spell in my demonstration is b/c Metoer Swarm was the only way I had of creating multiple fireworks.

You're focusing ENTIRELY on "all he did was cast an X level spell"... that's not the point. IF that was WAS the point, then all any of us would have to do to 'impress' them would be walk out and go "Look, a 9th level spell, I'm cool". The fact that he's the only PC capable of casting it means it is obviously NOT such a well known and common spell. The fact that he did what he did WITHOUT using a 9th level spell, and that he did it as a SWIFT action (walking by and seeming to exert no effort) is the impressive part.
If he'd done the exact same thing to someone else with a 9th level spell, would you be more or less impressed?

 

[Dire Lemming]

Would it be impressive if I used power word: kill? No, because it's a power word spell. The ability to cast a power word spell isn't any more impressive than anyone else's ability to cast a power word spell, because there's no DC It just works. It wouldn't have been impressive if he cast it on an NPC, just as it wasn't impressive that Halford cast disintegrate on a helpless victim. We all know we're capable of casting those spells, simply casting them at each other proves nothing except that we are foolish enough to think that they'd invite us here because of our abilities to cast spells of that level and then ask us to impress them by doing nothing more than casting spells of that level. That's all he did. There was no flash, no creativity, nothing. He just cast Power Word spells on an unsuspecting peer and then gloated about it. I could do the same thing to your character. I could make him dance like an idiot for 1d4+1 rounds. Yes, I know the Irresistible Dance spell. It's not exactly hard to know at level 20.

If you personally find that impressive that's up to you, but I find it obvious.

 

[Jemal]

If you actually managed to do it, I WOULD find it impressive. Go ahead and try though, and you'll find that it's not so easy as it looks. A good mage has ways of avoiding the 'obvious' spells.

 

[Dire Lemming]

The spell has no save. Unless you have some specific defense against it that you always have deployed you would fall for power word pain just as quickly as Nick did.

 

[Jemal]

Unfortunately I'm not going to reveal how I would stop it until it actually happens, b/c that would put me at a disadvantage in the future if people knew my defenses. You'll probably see it portrayed in my first duel, but lets just say I could be fully unbuffed and naked and it would still work. by the rules. with no cheese or lawyering needed.

You could Pick a fight with me, hope someone else does, or just be patient and find out eventually.

 

[Jemal]

*sits back and sighs as everyone starts disecting his character sheet*
I should really stop bragging.. *L*

 

[Dire Lemming]

I'm still wondering why everyone else is so damn concerned about out munchkinning each other. I thought this was D&D, not WoW. If this ridiculous competition is going to make up the bulk of this game you can count me out.

 

[Jemal]

High level mages are Competitive by nature, and we've allready been told that Duels will be a part of this experience, leading one to believe that such things are indeed important...
*Sigh* Actually, you know what, i'm too freakin tired to get into THIS argument yet again, so I'm just gonna sum up my opinion quickly and then log off:

Being powerful and/or competitive is not necesarily a bad thing, and if such is your belief, then I for one am happy to see you go.

All you've done so far is whine about how you don't know what your doing, and then you have the audacity to turn around tell us that the way we play is wrong? I'm gonna stop before I say anything else.

 

[OutlawJT]

Outlaw - the DM's made it clear on a few occasions that he will not just add sources, you HAVE to ask for specifics, including page numbers (which class, what feats, what powers, etc)
Word.

First, I didn't realize you were the DM Jemal. Thank you for answering my question. I only started browsing this board a few days ago and when this RPG caught my attention there were over 18 pages. Forgive me for not reading through all of them to know whether what I wanted to ask had been covered in some way.
Second, there's only one mage class in the book so I was fairly certain he wouldn't have a problem finding it if he was willing to consider allowing it. If he is willing, all it takes is reading the table of contents to locate the class in question (Jade Phoenix Mage). If he is unwilling to consider it, no problem I can come up with another idea or two to apply to the game. If someone couldn't find the class I want to play by simply opening the book I am asking about I highly doubt they'd be trying to run a game as ambitious and high level as this.

I'd appreciate if you didn't vent your frustrations about other player's at me by rudely answering a question I was addressing to the DM, Jemal. It is rude and disrespectful. This is a game that all of us are here to try to enjoy so we should all try to play nice. Leave it to the DM to answer questions that are being addressed to the DM!

 

[Walking Dad]

Confusing it with Command I guess.

The point is, inflicting the effects of those spells on someone doesn't really prove anything except that you're able to cast them since they don't give a save. And we've all got level 9 spells.

I didn't notice that disintegrate at all. Nick wouldn't have accepted his offer of hospitality if I had... He doesn't feel secure hanging around psychopaths.

Psycopath may be a bit much.
BTW, will the mage reappear (because killed by a spell) but still be paralyzed (supernatural ability)?

Well then, good thing Nick didn't notice. Hey, look at it this way : If you DON'T join us in the 'cool kids clubhouse', Poor Elzmyr's gonna be stuck around all these evil psycopaths as peers and may give in to peer pressure.. Help me obi-wan, you're my only hope!

Petition to rename 'Magnificent Mansion' into 'cool kids clubhouse'!

I'm still wondering why everyone else is so damn concerned about out munchkinning each other. I thought this was D&D, not WoW. If this ridiculous competition is going to make up the bulk of this game you can count me out.

Hey, I play a sigle classed character (no level dip for telepathy and better advanced learning; you munchkin )
I think the adults would be fun combats to learn higher spellcasting mechanics outtime and the rest of the adventure will be something like Harry Potter for adults (no porn!).