D&D 5E Wish and the requirement removal

[Li Shenron]

So wish says that you don't need to meet the requirements in that spell, it simply takes effect. Now, it mentions that this includes costly components but it doesn't say that it's only costly components.

Would that mean, say, I wanted to cast resurrection. Would that remove the requirement that they are dead for no longer than a century, etc. Those seem like explicit requirements. Would that affect the size requirement of objects in nondetection? Does a creature have to be willing to have mage armor applied to it? Are the ranges of the spells bypassed? We know the casting time and material components are. Is concentration a requirement?

I know it might seem like I'm asking alot and it might be making the spell more powerful than it is but I want to know, just in case.

I think the only requirements that Wish bypasses are components and casting time, plus the fact that it is not restricted to spells of your class.

 

[Fanaelialae]

They are requirements. @Ovinomancer is wrong when he claims that the only requirements are the spell components. The section he listed mentioning components clearly said they are the PHYSICAL requirements, not all requirements. Further, that is only the general rule. Spells can specifically call out other physical requirements in the description that are outside the spell components.

An example of a physical requirement outside of components is in Teleport.

"If you target an object, it must be able to fit entirely inside a 10-foot cube, and it can’t be held or carried by an unwilling creature."

Physical requirements = must be able to fit entirely inside a 10-foot cube and can't be held by an unwilling creature. Both requirements. Both physical.

Wish waives ANY requirement in the spell, physical or otherwise. So you the caster don't need to meet the requirement of an object having to fit in that cube.

IMO, that interpretation could easily result in absurd and abusable outcomes.

It sound to me like this allows me to teleport a planet. Or a solar system.

BBEG giving you trouble? Just drop a moon on him with teleport and take the rest of the day off. (Okay, a moon is severe overkill - a small mountain should be able to do the job without wrecking the planet the BBEGs on, but hopefully you get my point).

 

[Maxperson]

IMO, that interpretation could easily result in absurd and abusable outcomes.

It sound to me like this allows me to teleport a planet. Or a solar system.

That's where the DM comes in. The spell clearly negates the requirement, but the planet is obviously out of bounds. That's why we have the DM. To make decisions and overrule rules at the point where they become abused or ridiculous. The game even tells the DM to do that.

 

[Maxperson]

I think the only requirements that Wish bypasses are components and casting time, plus the fact that it is not restricted to spells of your class.

And for your games you can rule that. The way the spell as written does not limit the possibilities to what you think there, though.

 

[Li Shenron]

And for your games you can rule that. The way the spell as written does not limit the possibilities to what you think there, though.

The spell doesn't even have a RAI. It's a RAF piece of design like the Deck of Many Things, meant to be used by 1% of gaming groups who got too high level and are getting bored, and to provide those who aren't even playing the game a chance at the secondary hobby of rules lawyering so that they can feel smarter than those who are not inviting them to play the game.

 

[Asisreo]

The spell doesn't even have a RAI. It's a RAF piece of design like the Deck of Many Things, meant to be used by 1% of gaming groups who got too high level and are getting bored, and to provide those who aren't even playing the game a chance at the secondary hobby of rules lawyering so that they can feel smarter than those who are not inviting them to play the game.

Yeah, well. Tricks on you, you're all invited to my games.

*Some terms and conditions apply. See in-store representative for details.

 

[Maxperson]

The spell doesn't even have a RAI. It's a RAF piece of design like the Deck of Many Things, meant to be used by 1% of gaming groups who got too high level and are getting bored, and to provide those who aren't even playing the game a chance at the secondary hobby of rules lawyering so that they can feel smarter than those who are not inviting them to play the game.

I don't rules lawyer the players, so they don't rules lawyer me back. They just make a wish and it's either beyond the scope or it's not. I make the call. No fuss. No muss. And as I said above, pretty much all of my campaigns reach the level for this spell to show up.

 

[Ovinomancer]

They are requirements. @Ovinomancer is wrong when he claims that the only requirements are the spell components.

Whew, good thing I said that the only thing that the Spellcasting section of the rules calls out as requirements are VSM components. Dodged that wrong bullet from Max.

Past that, I disagree with your approach, as you're calling out things that limit the placement of the effect as requirements for the spell. I can cast a spell and nominate a target outside of the range and the spell is cast but fails to have an effect. This means range isn't a requirement for the spell, but a limit on it's effect. Wish ignores requirements for the spell, but then replicates the effect, which would include any limits on that effect. Just because range (for examples sake) is in the header rather than the text (usually) doesn't mean it has special status as a requirement. It's just a handy place to put important information about the spell so that you can make informed decisions on usage to achieve your intent.

In other words, range isn't a requirement of the spell -- I do not check range to see if the spell is cast. It is a limit on the effect, in that once the spell is cast I can only apply the effect if inside the range.

 

[Fanaelialae]

That's where the DM comes in. The spell clearly negates the requirement, but the planet is obviously out of bounds. That's why we have the DM. To make decisions and overrule rules at the point where they become abused or ridiculous. The game even tells the DM to do that.

I disagree that those are the types of requirements the wish spell is intended to refer to. I think casting time and components are the extent of what is intended (and a perfectly reasonable limitation at that).

By your interpretation, the DM would need to rein in so many spells when cast as Wish.

Just look at Mass Suggestion. So many limitations that could be viewed as requirements through the lens of a rules lawyer. Guess the campaign is over as soon as my tier 4 lich considers the PCs a potential threat because all he needs to do is wish that they serve him (while in the comfort of his living room). I'll remove the "requirement" that they need to hear him or understand him or find the request reasonable (going off memory here, so there might be a few more "requirements" that would be convenient to remove as well). Since it's cast as 8th level it'll last for 30 days, during which time he can easily renew it. Guess the PCs are now basically DMPCs now. Neato.

Just my 2 cents, but I have PCs in my campaigns who can cast Wish and have done so with frequency. Interpreting the spell as I do I've never had an issue with it.

Obviously, don't let me stop you if your group is having fun with your approach.

 

[Maxperson]

Whew, good thing I said that the only thing that the Spellcasting section of the rules calls out as requirements are VSM components. Dodged that wrong bullet from Max.

So you're denying that you said this?

"The rest of the spell is part of the effect -- range, target, duration, etc. "

If the rest of the spell is part of the effect, then none of the description is requirement. It's all effect.