The exact power of wish

[gamecat]

What is wish really good for? I've been burnt in effigy for my misconceptions, so a little help here, please!

[] Can Wish be used as a temporal reset: "I wish that did NOT happen!"

[] Can multiple Wishes be used to gain a feat? (I doubt it)

[] Can Wish be used to give a sorcerer an extra spell? (The Simbul did it in FRCS)

 

[Dr. Zoom]

[] Can Wish be used as a temporal reset: "I wish that did NOT happen!"

Yes. It describes how it works in the spell description on page 273 in the PH, 11th bullet, Undo Misfortune. Wishing for more than what is described there could be dangerous.

[] Can multiple Wishes be used to gain a feat? (I doubt it)

That would fall under the dangerous wish category. Perhaps you would time travel forward or into the past to the time when you will get a new feat.

[] Can Wish be used to give a sorcerer an extra spell? (The Simbul did it in FRCS)

That's a feat. See above.

 

[Oni]

I would allow a wish to grant a feat, as long as it could be worded in a way that was acceptable in game, and they are going to need the prerequisites or they are not going to be able to use it. My reasoning on this is that if a wish can grant a stat point which a character gets every 4 levels, then a feat which is available every 3 levels isn't too much of a stretch, 5000xp is a fair chunk to pair for a feat. Of course this is really a judgement call thing, a wish that may not be acceptable in one campaign may be approved in another simply because of play style, there really isn't a hard guideline to go on.

 

[Al]

Dr.Zoom: With regard to the Simbul, I'm sure you misspelt 'cheat' with an f at the front (for one, she has a bonus 9th level spell instead of 8th which is the normal max for the Extra Spell feat)

Seriously though, I wouldn't allow a wish to grant a feat. I can't explain it in analytical or empirical terms, but it just seems wrong. It would probably fall under the 'dangerous' category, but I'm a nasty DM when it comes to the 'dangerous' category, and the wording better be precise.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

That's a nice observation, Al. Actually, I don't pay much attention to the Forgotten Realms, especially for things like this. I never liked the Realms, and probably never will. I have always used Greyhawk or homebrew for campaign settings.

 

[LordAO]

Wishing for a feat is ridiculous and should never be allowed. Wishing for a spell isn't really as bad as it looks. Since each wish costs 5000 XP, if someone spends alot of time getting spells this way theyll be very low in level compared to everyone else. Most items dont even cost 5000 XP to make, so if a Sorcerer wanted to use wish to gain an extra spell or a Wizard to get a new spell without research, I would allow it.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Considering the cost of the wish and the vast range of things it can do (altering reality to suit the wisher), of course I would allow for someone to wish for a feat. I would enforce the feat prereqs, and the wishee would know about that beforehand, but I see nothing wrong with that.

(WotC posted a new spell on their website that allowed someone to copy any feat which they had seen used at a ridiculously low level - a permanent version of that would be well within the bounds of a wish)

Another option, since you can wish for an item of up to 15,000gp value is to wish for an "intelligent item" which enables the feat - intelligent with semiempathy and one special ability costs +10,000gp, Similarly, since intelligent magic weapons so an intelligent Ioun stone or Headband of Intellect +2 with one primary ability which was a feat would provide access to a feat.

Cheers

 

[LordAO]

You must keep in mind that spellcasters (especially Wizards and Sorcerers) are the most powerful class in the game. They can do things other classes never can (especially with Wish). Since most classes have nothing going for them other than their feats, allowing people to Wish for feats, no matter how many EXP it costs, is grossly unfair and tosses game balance out the window completely. Who cares how many feats a fighter gets when i can just wish for them? And why would a Sorcerer care if a Wizard gets bonus feats every 5 levels (which is one of the very few advantages a Wizard has, when compared to a Sorcerer) if he can just spend 5000 XP and wish for them? Wish in 3rd edition was designed to have limits that would help make it more fair and balanced while still allowing you to do alot of cool things, but allowing people to wish for feats is WAY over the top.

 

[Berk]

LordAO: I don't agree that wizards are the most powerful class. Clerics certainly are, specially with the addition of the miracle spell which is superior to wish in all ways.

Now to the fact at hand. Sure wish could be used to gain a feat. If that character wants to spend 5kexp for a single feat go ahead. I would tell them that they can wish for a feat with prereqs they don't have but won't be able to use it without the prereqs. If wish can grant ability score increases no reason it shouldn't be allowed to gran a feat.

 

[jontherev]

You must keep in mind that spellcasters (especially Wizards and Sorcerers) are the most powerful class in the game. They can do things other classes never can (especially with Wish). Since most classes have nothing going for them other than their feats, allowing people to Wish for feats, no matter how many EXP it costs, is grossly unfair and tosses game balance out the window completely. Who cares how many feats a fighter gets when i can just wish for them? And why would a Sorcerer care if a Wizard gets bonus feats every 5 levels (which is one of the very few advantages a Wizard has, when compared to a Sorcerer) if he can just spend 5000 XP and wish for them? Wish in 3rd edition was designed to have limits that would help make it more fair and balanced while still allowing you to do alot of cool things, but allowing people to wish for feats is WAY over the top.

Ok, so it's fine that "the most powerful class in the game" can use wish to make themselves more powerful (by wishing for extra spells), but other classes can't wish for feats? That sounds contradictory to the importance you put on balance to me.

Why is wishing for feats grossly unfair? Perhaps it would be if wishes are thrown around like MW spears in your campaign, but otherwise, I don't see the problem. You talk about balance. Ok, let's talk about balance. While Mr. Rogue is wishing for his Expert Tactician feat, what are other party members doing with their money/exp? Crafting items, buying/improving items, etc. Or, saving the money to make/buy even better items, or making big improvements to existing items. IMO, this is balancing.

I just don't see how this can be a problem.[shrug]