So why isn't Mordenkein's Mansion a ritual?

[Sitara]

Everything aside, its always been a stupid spell n par with rope trick. They did away with rope trick from what I hear (and good riddance!) but why not MM? And its a power, not a ritual.

I can just see it now;

The players are in a desperate lifeand death struggle with Strahd Von Zarovitch and are dropping like flies. Suddenly, the wizard uses MM; party goes in, rests and chills for 8 hours, then comes back and resumes the encounter. Oh and the wizard also refreshed his MM power, so he can use it again when needed.

Obviously an extremem example, but still. These kinds of powers really take away a lot from the experiance and the tenseness/suspense/drama.

Also, why keep the "Mordenkein' name when they got rid of tjhe slew of new school names like Golden Wyvren. (they sound much better) I can just see a newbie (at whom the game is aimed by large) shaking their heads over "Mordenkein"

 

[pawsplay]

Probably to make it rare. Since it's a power choice, you have to give something up to get it. If it were a ritual, every party would use it all the time.

 

[SilverAgent]

I would guess it's a power because they wanted to keep it to the Wizard class, unless you want to trade out a precious utility power of your own. Perhaps they see it as iconic. I could see it being a ritual instead.

As for it killing tenseness, it's an Epic Utility Power. I think it's more than suitable as en epic power. An epic wizard never has rough it. Ever.

I'd personally allow a paragon ritual-like Mansion-like ability, but without the extradimensional aspect. Just creating a zone of perfect comfort with beds and food.

 

[Praeden]

I would guess it's a power because they wanted to keep it to the Wizard class, unless you want to trade out a precious utility power of your own. Perhaps they see it as iconic. I could see it being a ritual instead.

As for it killing tenseness, it's an Epic Utility Power. I think it's more than suitable as en epic power. An epic wizard never has rough it. Ever.

Agreed. I've already seen a few threads where people are talking about broken combos and inappropriate powers, and in most cases these things are only appearing after level 20. Yes, a wizard who is approaching demi-god status, fighting the mightiest creatures, and travelling to other planes of existence, might well be able to create an extra-dimensional resting place.

There are arguments for making it a ritual, but I daresay the OP would be complaining even more if any class could do it.

 

[Sitara]

You would be daresaying wrong because the very high cost as well as (most important) the time factor would ensure this would not be castable in combat. Thats my main issue here/. Furthremore the high cost would ensure the ritual is only used very rarely, instead of 1/day everyday.

 

[NewfieDave]

If somebody cast this spell while in a battle with Strahd, I'd let him use a ritual that allows him to break into their mansion and steal all the alcohol. That'd be enough to motivate my PCs to hunt him down rather than wait.

 

[Kishin]

Also, why keep the "Mordenkein' name when they got rid of tjhe slew of new school names like Golden Wyvren. (they sound much better) I can just see a newbie (at whom the game is aimed by large) shaking their heads over "Mordenkein"

Mordenkainen.

Mordenkainen.

Its a fantasy name. I fail to see how this is anymore groan inducing than people seem to be finding Feywild/Feydark/etc. etc, or, speaking outside a D&D context, a dozen other popular fantasy names.

Also, its existence is respect to the game's creator.

 

[Timeboxer]

In my opinion, essentially this power amounts to "once per day, run away."

But at epic level, I would expect that in most cases you are almost guaranteed to run away successfully if you really try.

So it's a wash, I think.

 

[alaric]

You can only extended rest once per day, and since MM only lasts 8 hours it doesn't really help you get rested, only let's you rest safely.

Feel free to use this power combat, and watch the GM chuckle. 8 Hours to setup a trap for the PC's once they exit, that should be fun. I think it much more likely they would choose to take a short rest, get patched up and ready to fight, and get back out there as soon as possible. Of course the other side gets the same benefits, and time to call in reinforcements.

 

[Makaze]

The door reappears in the same spot it was created in when they exit. If you 20th+ level main villain doesn't have something ready that makes the PCs never ever want to cast Mordenkainen's Mansion in combat again then you're just not trying hard enough.

Things like...
A portal to part of the elemental chaos filled with poisonous magma that fills the chamber they were in
Traps, traps, and more traps
Every damn demon, devil, archon, kobold, whatever the guy can lay his hands on, all waiting. And feel free to try out combos of monsters you didn't use before because they might be "broken"