Our World vs. The Fantasy World: A Game

[Wik]

We, as fantasy-obsessed nerds with no real lives to speak of (*cough*) don't often give our real world enough props. Sure, we talk about how awesome it is that our 2nd level wizard took down all those orcs with a sleep spell, but do we ever talk about just how cool it is that we can buy over-the-counter sleeping aids?

No. And this thread is here to change that.

The game is simple. Pick a spell in D&D. Explain what that spell can do that sets it apart from the real world. Then, show the real world equivalent to that spell. Bonus points if you can then explain a way that the real world offers a better alternative to that D&D spell.

For example:

[sblock]RAISE DEAD.

In D&D, Raise Dead can bring the dead back to life, which is a line people in the real world have yet to cross, except in very specific situations. In the real world, the closest we can get is advanced medical techniques. However, in the real world, we have advanced medicine that surpasses much of what is in the PHB, and is much more widely available. This medical advancement advances everyone, not just adventurers. Not to mention that we are able to take the bits of pieces of the newly deceased and use them to extend the lives of countless others.[/sblock]

And that's the game. Feel free to post your own, or prove why others are wrong. The goal of this thread is to show that, ultimately, we all live in a pretty magical place... and that by making this realization, we can help make our fantasy worlds both more and less magical, and much more realistic.

 

[Jack7]

Fireball. (Or most of the other fire spells.) A standard of the fantasy game.

Yet even a child can create fire with a match (most can with a match in a fantasy game as well) in our world, and in additon we have mastered fire to such an incredible extent that we don't even think of it anymore.

We can create all kinds of fire in all kinds of devices, or outside of those devices, extremely easily. Anytime we wish for nearly any function we desire. It's a ubiquitous ability of most human beings. Both that we can do it and of the enormous number of applications we can put it to. Easily the fantasy world would envy us this. We use fire in ways, constructively and destructively, that most fantasy denizens can't even imagine. And much of the time we can use it in an extremely controlled and precise fashion to do enormous quantities of work with only relatively small amounts of energy lost, such as in internal combustion engines.

And the same could be said if electricity of course, but that can be someone else's play.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Magic Missile: depending on level & edition, a wizard can hit 1-5 targets without missing, in the space of seconds, out to fairly good range.

In contrast, while we have few homing weapons, and they are not 100% accurate, our firearms technology (guns & bullets, not rockets) is far deadlier. ROF: up to 10 times what any wizard could hope for; Range: measured in miles in some cases; target acquisition: some can fire through even reinforced walls. And as pointed out above, all available to nearly anyone in the world.

 

[Croesus]

Purify Food and Drink. Operates very quickly and cheaply, but on a limited amount of food and/or drink.

Modern day: Go back a bit over a hundred years, and even the most developed areas of the world had serious problems with food- and water-borne illnesses. Yet today, we consider an outbreak of e coli that afflicts scores of people as a major breakdown of the system. Most people in the developed world (there are exceptions) can simply take for granted that their water and food is safe. And in most places where it isn't safe, it's not a problem of technology, but of political will to build the necessary infrastructure.

 

[RangerWickett]

Alter Self. >> Plastic Surgery.

 

[The Shaman]

Purify water makes dirty water potable.

Real-world alternative? An MSR portable filter is just one of many possibilities for purifying water, though it might be a challenge getting a water weird through one.

 

[The Monster]

Legend lore brings to your mind legends about an important person, place, or thing. If the person or thing is at hand, or if you are in the place in question, the casting time is only 1d4x10 minutes. If you have only detailed information on the person, place, or thing, the casting time is 1d10 days, and the resulting lore is less complete and specific (though it often provides enough information to help you find the person, place, or thing, thus allowing a better legend lore result next time). If you know only rumors, the casting time is 2d6 weeks, and the resulting lore is vague and incomplete (though it often directs you to more detailed information, thus allowing a better legend lore result next time).
During the casting, you cannot engage in other than routine activities: eating, sleeping, and so forth. When completed, the divination brings legends (if any) about the person, place, or things to your mind. These may be legends that are still current, legends that have been forgotten, or even information that has never been generally known. If the person, place, or thing is not of legendary importance, you gain no information. As a rule of thumb, characters who are 11th level and higher are “legendary,” as are the sorts of creatures they contend with, the major magic items they wield, and the places where they perform their key deeds.

Wikipedia, Google, et cetera, online reference and search. And sometimes it only takes a few minutes to find what you're looking for, sometimes it takes a long time. And the more you know about the topic, the faster the search.

 

[Andor]

Flight. Depending on the edition in question, flight is the priviledge of only a few high level magic users. Or those adventurers lucky enough to loot, or rich enough to buy the handful of magic items that grant flight.

In all cases flight is limited to a few score miles a day, and leaves you fully exposed to the elements. And passing dragons.

IRL anyone can, for less than the price of a car, buy an ultralight aircraft that perfroms about like the average flight spell. For much more money you can buy an airplane and learn to fly it anywhere you please faster than the best fantasy flight spells, while bringing friends with you.

Or for a few hundred dollars you can buy a ticket on an airliner and fly anywhere in the world you wish, in a single day, and sleep soundly while cruising in heated comfort over the tops of the worst of storms.

 

[Achan hiArusa]

Being incredibly wealthy vs. Wish

With enough money you can buy whatever you want it just takes more time to deliver, has a few more limitations, but doesn't cost Xp.

 

[karlindel]

Fabricate - Instantly creates objects at the cost of raw materials, but requires that you have the appropriate skill to craft it, and how good it is is based on your skill.

Amazon.com (or other online ordering services) - Not quite instant, but next day shipping is possible, or two day shipping with Amazon Prime. It creates objects at closer to the cost of production than retail, and you don't need to have any skill to make it work.