What is the Spellplague? [Archive] - Wizards Community

What is the Spellplague? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DicipleofLolth
09-30-07, 08:35 PM What is this spellplague i keep hearing about?
The WarOverlord
10-02-07, 08:27 AM What is this spellplague i keep hearing about?

Ding Dong, Mystra's Dead
Mystra's Dead
Mystra's Dead

And with that the Weave has come unstable and so in turn magic is unreliable
and in some cases the strain of the fluxing in the weave has effected those that feel the Weaves power to go insane in some cases (probably like a wild surge in the Brain that causes a "short circut")

Not sure, but there might be some kind of Roll or something to be able to memorize a spell without going insane as tapping into the unstable weave might "fry your brain" and another one when casting to see if the spell is going to work much akin to casting in a Wild Magic Zone (much like How Dragonmech Clerics has unstable Spell Granting from it Deities)
Zsych
10-05-07, 02:58 AM Wonder if, with Mystra gone, you'll really have something similar to the ToT situation, with existing magic being supported only by the parts of Mystra's divinity available in her Chosen.
... Wonder if Cyric and Shar will divide up Mystra's main divine power, or if it will be picked up by someone else(maybe even disperse...)
The WarOverlord
10-05-07, 04:28 AM Wonder if, with Mystra gone, you'll really have something similar to the ToT situation, with existing magic being supported only by the parts of Mystra's divinity available in her Chosen.
... Wonder if Cyric and Shar will divide up Mystra's main divine power, or if it will be picked up by someone else(maybe even disperse...)

Don't know, but just as High Elven Magic Items and Ancient Netrilian Magic Items work when found, All Weaved based Magic should work from Magic Items and off of Scrolls.

Isn't that the point of the "CHosen"? to work as some kind of Vessle or Avatar potental?

Difference here is that this Mystra didn't noticably transfer her "godly spark" to one of her Chosen as Mystra did just at the moment that she got struck down during the Time of Troubles and it really can't be Secretly so as the Weave is loosing it's cohesion from loosing the consiousness that governs and controls it much like a Chicken running wild after it's head has been cut off or a Jet fighter spinning out of control after it's pilot has been killed so there was no "spark transfer" the godess is dead,dead (or Maki-Die- Dead as we say here in Hawaii for "Really Dead")
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
10-05-07, 01:46 PM The Spellplague is a silly plot device being used by Wizards of the Coast.
Zsych
10-05-07, 09:57 PM The Chosen, apart from decreasing Mystra's power, also act as a backup system and have always contained a portion of Mystra's divinity, albeit in a form that they themselves cannot directly control beyond being able to manifest stuff like silverfire.

Even with the main Mystra dead, and the part of her divinity that she contained in herself gone, the parts of her inside the Chosen (and possibly Karsus' bleeding heart), should remain in existence, still fueling a certain limited amount of magic at least... or so I think :)
Ramenth
10-10-07, 02:20 AM I dunno. I think the Spellplauge, in name, is actually an interesting plot device. It would've been quite cool for magic to degeneate over a decade or two to the levels mentioned in The Orc King.

Having the Spellplague be some sort of thing tied to mystra exploding when killed... really makes no sense, especially in light of the fact that Mystras already died what, four times, without exploding or having the weave turn into avian flu-mixed-with-electromagnetic storm.

Edit: Why is the latin for with nonfunctional in this situation. WTB Context based filter.
1 ton ghost
10-16-07, 10:48 PM Spellplague: a plot deviced used to further the coffers of WotC for the 4th ed transition. that is, between every edition, they always use some monumental upheaval rather than a gradual, if not, realistic progression of historic moments and so on.
they already fleshed out their "new magic", though we aren't seeing it until...this is just justification for the new rules and so forth. rather than let us use our suspencion of disbelief or even DM's discretion, a radical paradigm shift was used as a means of explanation.
again, it's the age old separation of flavor based text from mechanics. they always want them to dovetail together and it's best left alone. if you want new rules, fine (well, not by me), but making a massive overhaul to explain it away is not necessarilly good writing.
i wonder if Ed was ****** or had any say at all.
18DELTA
10-17-07, 12:21 AM The "Spellplague" must be stopped!!!:rolleyes:
johnkretzer
10-17-07, 12:27 AM Have you ever seen Str Trek 2 Wrath of Khan?

You remember the Genisis Device?

Not the video game platform...

It pretty much destroys a world and makes a new one...that is pretty much what the Spellplague is.
18DELTA
10-17-07, 02:06 AM So... could Spock be the new god of magic? He would be true neutral, right?;) :D :P
Zsych
10-17-07, 02:19 AM I think that with zero prep from Mystra, it should really go back to the ToT unstable magic situation(if not worse)... with only the Chosen supporting magic, and with Shar possibly gaining some control over magic.

I wonder if Shar seeks to reclaim the part of her that was lost in the original creation of Mystryl. I know I'd probably want parts of my body back if they were stolen by someone else.

Another question that arises... what will happen to Selune? If Shar really wants to attack someone it should be Selune.
I think that both Mystra and Selune offed might actually make this a significant and noticeable victory for the dark, beyond being just a plot device.

@The WarOverlord: I tend to take the view point that the underlying magic for running those greater artifacts is still around and the reason that stuff from Netheril and old Elven High Magic born stuff works is that Mystra manages the magic and doesn't allow mortals to cast spells of that level. Existing items known to not be a catastrophic problem are a separate issue.
(Normally Mystra's portfolio senses would be sufficient reason not to take such extreme measures but then... Karsus got through Mystryl's defences, and we've seen an avatar of Mystra die in a novel by Ed at least, so perhaps Mystra is right to worry)
johnkretzer
10-17-07, 02:51 AM So... could Spock be the new god of magic? He would be true neutral, right?;) :D :P

Hey that is a great idea...then they could get the Trtekkies to like the Realms too....

Hey they did mention new gods...

Kirk...god of overacting Bards.

;) :D :P
GoldDragon
10-17-07, 07:05 AM Hey that is a great idea...then they could get the Trtekkies to like the Realms too....

Hey they did mention new gods...

Kirk...god of overacting Bards.

;) :D :P

I don't know about that.

Unless Ogmha and Gond allows the knowledge of the Tech and the operation of the Tech, all Star Trek Tech might go "inert" like gunpowder as soon as it enters Realmspace.

BUT...

Hmm. Alternate Ethereal interface devices that act like a buffer like the "Weave" might be possible such as

Ethereal Inverter crystal amulet: Made of a composite of Black Rock (a type of Obsidian that comes like water in the presence of electricity or magic) and Life Silver (Primordial matter from the beginning of time that seeps raw "Ether") this device allows a Mage in Realmspace to Memorize and Cast Spells without the ill effects of the Spell Plague and despite the instability of the Weave. (Ranged spells can still fly out with a visible "bubble" around the caster when spell is cast and the "bubble" following the Stabilized magical effect like a mini-shield (Spells work in Dead magic and wild magic areas for Magic users wearing Ethereal inverter Crystals). Wearers are also immune to the Mind damaging effects of the Shattered Weave. It is bought for 1 gp from Merchants whose flags and banners looks like a relief of a City resting on a star and a crescent moon laying on it's back

Ethereal Inverter Monoliths: Looking like something out of 2001, a Space Odyssey these erect slabs of Black rock and Life Silver composite stabilizes magic and spell casting within 2000 Square feet of the Monolith and protects all in the area from the mind damaging effects of the weave. the Monolith has the Symbol of the merchants that sell them on it's base which is a relief of a town resting on a Star resting on a crescent moon lying on the back. the cost is 500 gp per monolith

p.s. With further research anyone would find out that the merchant symbol is of Interplaniar Merchants that "jump" into Realmspace for about 2 10 days once a Season that trades in both magical and mundane merchandise on a regular bases
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
10-17-07, 10:46 AM Spellplague: a plot deviced used to further the coffers of WotC for the 4th ed transition. that is, between every edition, they always use some monumental upheaval rather than a gradual, if not, realistic progression of historic moments and so on.

I actually think gradual progression is more realistic, not less so.

i wonder if Ed was ****** or had any say at all.

He's been in on these changes, although he has said they weren't his idea (to anyone who doesn't believe me, just check his post on candlekeep.com).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DicipleofLolth 09-30-07, 08:35 PM	What is this spellplague i keep hearing about?
The WarOverlord 10-02-07, 08:27 AM	What is this spellplague i keep hearing about? Ding Dong, Mystra's Dead Mystra's Dead Mystra's Dead And with that the Weave has come unstable and so in turn magic is unreliable and in some cases the strain of the fluxing in the weave has effected those that feel the Weaves power to go insane in some cases (probably like a wild surge in the Brain that causes a "short circut") Not sure, but there might be some kind of Roll or something to be able to memorize a spell without going insane as tapping into the unstable weave might "fry your brain" and another one when casting to see if the spell is going to work much akin to casting in a Wild Magic Zone (much like How Dragonmech Clerics has unstable Spell Granting from it Deities)
Zsych 10-05-07, 02:58 AM	Wonder if, with Mystra gone, you'll really have something similar to the ToT situation, with existing magic being supported only by the parts of Mystra's divinity available in her Chosen. ... Wonder if Cyric and Shar will divide up Mystra's main divine power, or if it will be picked up by someone else(maybe even disperse...)
The WarOverlord 10-05-07, 04:28 AM	Wonder if, with Mystra gone, you'll really have something similar to the ToT situation, with existing magic being supported only by the parts of Mystra's divinity available in her Chosen. ... Wonder if Cyric and Shar will divide up Mystra's main divine power, or if it will be picked up by someone else(maybe even disperse...) Don't know, but just as High Elven Magic Items and Ancient Netrilian Magic Items work when found, All Weaved based Magic should work from Magic Items and off of Scrolls. Isn't that the point of the "CHosen"? to work as some kind of Vessle or Avatar potental? Difference here is that this Mystra didn't noticably transfer her "godly spark" to one of her Chosen as Mystra did just at the moment that she got struck down during the Time of Troubles and it really can't be Secretly so as the Weave is loosing it's cohesion from loosing the consiousness that governs and controls it much like a Chicken running wild after it's head has been cut off or a Jet fighter spinning out of control after it's pilot has been killed so there was no "spark transfer" the godess is dead,dead (or Maki-Die- Dead as we say here in Hawaii for "Really Dead")
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 10-05-07, 01:46 PM	The Spellplague is a silly plot device being used by Wizards of the Coast.
Zsych 10-05-07, 09:57 PM	The Chosen, apart from decreasing Mystra's power, also act as a backup system and have always contained a portion of Mystra's divinity, albeit in a form that they themselves cannot directly control beyond being able to manifest stuff like silverfire. Even with the main Mystra dead, and the part of her divinity that she contained in herself gone, the parts of her inside the Chosen (and possibly Karsus' bleeding heart), should remain in existence, still fueling a certain limited amount of magic at least... or so I think :)
Ramenth 10-10-07, 02:20 AM	I dunno. I think the Spellplauge, in name, is actually an interesting plot device. It would've been quite cool for magic to degeneate over a decade or two to the levels mentioned in The Orc King. Having the Spellplague be some sort of thing tied to mystra exploding when killed... really makes no sense, especially in light of the fact that Mystras already died what, four times, without exploding or having the weave turn into avian flu-mixed-with-electromagnetic storm. Edit: Why is the latin for with nonfunctional in this situation. WTB Context based filter.
1 ton ghost 10-16-07, 10:48 PM	Spellplague: a plot deviced used to further the coffers of WotC for the 4th ed transition. that is, between every edition, they always use some monumental upheaval rather than a gradual, if not, realistic progression of historic moments and so on. they already fleshed out their "new magic", though we aren't seeing it until...this is just justification for the new rules and so forth. rather than let us use our suspencion of disbelief or even DM's discretion, a radical paradigm shift was used as a means of explanation. again, it's the age old separation of flavor based text from mechanics. they always want them to dovetail together and it's best left alone. if you want new rules, fine (well, not by me), but making a massive overhaul to explain it away is not necessarilly good writing. i wonder if Ed was ****** or had any say at all.
18DELTA 10-17-07, 12:21 AM	The "Spellplague" must be stopped!!!:rolleyes:
johnkretzer 10-17-07, 12:27 AM	Have you ever seen Str Trek 2 Wrath of Khan? You remember the Genisis Device? Not the video game platform... It pretty much destroys a world and makes a new one...that is pretty much what the Spellplague is.
18DELTA 10-17-07, 02:06 AM	So... could Spock be the new god of magic? He would be true neutral, right?;) :D :P
Zsych 10-17-07, 02:19 AM	I think that with zero prep from Mystra, it should really go back to the ToT unstable magic situation(if not worse)... with only the Chosen supporting magic, and with Shar possibly gaining some control over magic. I wonder if Shar seeks to reclaim the part of her that was lost in the original creation of Mystryl. I know I'd probably want parts of my body back if they were stolen by someone else. Another question that arises... what will happen to Selune? If Shar really wants to attack someone it should be Selune. I think that both Mystra and Selune offed might actually make this a significant and noticeable victory for the dark, beyond being just a plot device. @The WarOverlord: I tend to take the view point that the underlying magic for running those greater artifacts is still around and the reason that stuff from Netheril and old Elven High Magic born stuff works is that Mystra manages the magic and doesn't allow mortals to cast spells of that level. Existing items known to not be a catastrophic problem are a separate issue. (Normally Mystra's portfolio senses would be sufficient reason not to take such extreme measures but then... Karsus got through Mystryl's defences, and we've seen an avatar of Mystra die in a novel by Ed at least, so perhaps Mystra is right to worry)
johnkretzer 10-17-07, 02:51 AM	So... could Spock be the new god of magic? He would be true neutral, right?;) :D :P Hey that is a great idea...then they could get the Trtekkies to like the Realms too.... Hey they did mention new gods... Kirk...god of overacting Bards. ;) :D :P
GoldDragon 10-17-07, 07:05 AM	Hey that is a great idea...then they could get the Trtekkies to like the Realms too.... Hey they did mention new gods... Kirk...god of overacting Bards. ;) :D :P I don't know about that. Unless Ogmha and Gond allows the knowledge of the Tech and the operation of the Tech, all Star Trek Tech might go "inert" like gunpowder as soon as it enters Realmspace. BUT... Hmm. Alternate Ethereal interface devices that act like a buffer like the "Weave" might be possible such as Ethereal Inverter crystal amulet: Made of a composite of Black Rock (a type of Obsidian that comes like water in the presence of electricity or magic) and Life Silver (Primordial matter from the beginning of time that seeps raw "Ether") this device allows a Mage in Realmspace to Memorize and Cast Spells without the ill effects of the Spell Plague and despite the instability of the Weave. (Ranged spells can still fly out with a visible "bubble" around the caster when spell is cast and the "bubble" following the Stabilized magical effect like a mini-shield (Spells work in Dead magic and wild magic areas for Magic users wearing Ethereal inverter Crystals). Wearers are also immune to the Mind damaging effects of the Shattered Weave. It is bought for 1 gp from Merchants whose flags and banners looks like a relief of a City resting on a star and a crescent moon laying on it's back Ethereal Inverter Monoliths: Looking like something out of 2001, a Space Odyssey these erect slabs of Black rock and Life Silver composite stabilizes magic and spell casting within 2000 Square feet of the Monolith and protects all in the area from the mind damaging effects of the weave. the Monolith has the Symbol of the merchants that sell them on it's base which is a relief of a town resting on a Star resting on a crescent moon lying on the back. the cost is 500 gp per monolith p.s. With further research anyone would find out that the merchant symbol is of Interplaniar Merchants that "jump" into Realmspace for about 2 10 days once a Season that trades in both magical and mundane merchandise on a regular bases
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 10-17-07, 10:46 AM	Spellplague: a plot deviced used to further the coffers of WotC for the 4th ed transition. that is, between every edition, they always use some monumental upheaval rather than a gradual, if not, realistic progression of historic moments and so on. I actually think gradual progression is more realistic, not less so. i wonder if Ed was ****** or had any say at all. He's been in on these changes, although he has said they weren't his idea (to anyone who doesn't believe me, just check his post on candlekeep.com).