Anything Irreversible? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Anything Irreversible? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dreamer3333
07-06-05, 11:52 AM In this crazy (and fun) world of magic, I'm looking for something I can do to an NPC, which would not kill her, but would leave her irreversibly damaged in some way. It seems like Miracle/Wish (or other lesser magics) can fix damn near everything.

Any suggestions?

- Dreamer
Board_Rider
07-06-05, 12:08 PM How damaged? Mental or Physical damage?

Have the NPC cursed with SR 100. Now there is no magic that can heal her...then give regeneration 10. Make her an elf so she outlives everyone. Things can get pretty lonely for indestructable/almost immortal people.
DragonDeadite
07-06-05, 12:36 PM Yeah... you have to remember that as a DM YOU can say what works and doesn't work. Think of Wish spells more as requests than stone demands. Anyone that plays my games finds out REALLY fast not to make wishes around me unless they write up a five page form making the details perfectly clear, and even then they run a chance of me finding some way to screw them up.

If you want an NPC to be screwed up and don't want the character to fix it, then make it so they can't. You don't have to have an explination for everything. If she's missing an eye and the characters want to use a Wish spell, let them build the money to get the spell, use it, and then say "It didn't work" Or if they word it wrong, have it maim her even worse. That is ALWAYS so much more fun. :D If they want to research why a wish spell didn't work, have them start doing knowledge checks in a library and discover that her particular line has resistance to magic and it can only be cured in one way or another.

I think DMs too much look at the books as LAW. They aren't LAW... "They're more of a guidline" than anything else. You never have to even come up with what makes this NPC's wounds special or why the wish doesn't work. The main point is to give the characters the information they need to go on the quest to find the cure, that's it!!!
srkingdavy
07-06-05, 02:28 PM Anyone that plays my games finds out REALLY fast not to make wishes around me unless they write up a five page form making the details perfectly clear, and even then they run a chance of me finding some way to screw them up.your games must be a barrel of laughs.
Fixxxer
07-06-05, 04:32 PM Anyone that plays my games finds out REALLY fast not to make wishes around me unless they write up a five page form making the details perfectly clear, and even then they run a chance of me finding some way to screw them up.

Yeah, because we all know that wish was researched and developed by wizards just so the powers that be could curse them with horrible effects. :rolleyes:

If a DM uses my PC's legitimate wish as hos own personal tool for torturous amusement, I leave his game. If he's pathetic enough to need that sort of power validation, I doubt I want to know him.
Mirikon
07-06-05, 05:11 PM Wish spells should only be twisted under three conditions. 1) The spell is badly worded. 2) The caster is asking for something unreasonable. 3) Whoever is granting the wish is malevolent and likes to twist wishes. If every wish is twisted, and they don't fall into one of those three categories, you're being an ass.

As for the OP, have it be a special curse, beyond the power of any nonepic magical healing powers.
Astinex
07-06-05, 05:22 PM In my games if I needed* to scar or maim a PC I would have the damage done, then use healing magic to "close the wound", leaving a scar or permanent damage.

Example: A PC who was being interrogated by a BBEG, antagonized said BBEG. The BBEG in retaliation cut off the PC's hand then casted Cure Minor Wounds. The BBEG let the wound fully heal so the PC became a one handed warrior. After that any "healing" spells and even regeneration would only return the stump.

As for a wish or miracle, I'm not sure I would cause damage that couldn't be fixed by these magics. As a DM you’re making a statement by doing so. If it must be done, have the damage be caused by a deity or artifact, as mortal magic, (including wish), does not affect this kind of power.

*Note the wording I used. I’m not a sadistic DM, and only use these sorts of tactics if the plot calls for it, or if a PC does something to bring it on themselves.
was_fired
07-06-05, 05:56 PM It should be noted that wish is still a spell with definite limits. It is simply more powerful than most because of the huge cost. A spell can be made which wish cannot undo if it: A. Costs more the wish or B. Is more specific so that it effectively costs more than wish. For instance a 9th level spell which leaves a potent curse (such as making a characters wounds uncurable magically) which cost 5,000 XP would be beyond wishs power to remove since it is more specific and has an equal cost. Instead a specific spell or a more powerful spell would need to be researched to break it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dreamer3333 07-06-05, 11:52 AM	In this crazy (and fun) world of magic, I'm looking for something I can do to an NPC, which would not kill her, but would leave her irreversibly damaged in some way. It seems like Miracle/Wish (or other lesser magics) can fix damn near everything. Any suggestions? - Dreamer
Board_Rider 07-06-05, 12:08 PM	How damaged? Mental or Physical damage? Have the NPC cursed with SR 100. Now there is no magic that can heal her...then give regeneration 10. Make her an elf so she outlives everyone. Things can get pretty lonely for indestructable/almost immortal people.
DragonDeadite 07-06-05, 12:36 PM	Yeah... you have to remember that as a DM YOU can say what works and doesn't work. Think of Wish spells more as requests than stone demands. Anyone that plays my games finds out REALLY fast not to make wishes around me unless they write up a five page form making the details perfectly clear, and even then they run a chance of me finding some way to screw them up. If you want an NPC to be screwed up and don't want the character to fix it, then make it so they can't. You don't have to have an explination for everything. If she's missing an eye and the characters want to use a Wish spell, let them build the money to get the spell, use it, and then say "It didn't work" Or if they word it wrong, have it maim her even worse. That is ALWAYS so much more fun. :D If they want to research why a wish spell didn't work, have them start doing knowledge checks in a library and discover that her particular line has resistance to magic and it can only be cured in one way or another. I think DMs too much look at the books as LAW. They aren't LAW... "They're more of a guidline" than anything else. You never have to even come up with what makes this NPC's wounds special or why the wish doesn't work. The main point is to give the characters the information they need to go on the quest to find the cure, that's it!!!
srkingdavy 07-06-05, 02:28 PM	Anyone that plays my games finds out REALLY fast not to make wishes around me unless they write up a five page form making the details perfectly clear, and even then they run a chance of me finding some way to screw them up.your games must be a barrel of laughs.
Fixxxer 07-06-05, 04:32 PM	Anyone that plays my games finds out REALLY fast not to make wishes around me unless they write up a five page form making the details perfectly clear, and even then they run a chance of me finding some way to screw them up. Yeah, because we all know that wish was researched and developed by wizards just so the powers that be could curse them with horrible effects. :rolleyes: If a DM uses my PC's legitimate wish as hos own personal tool for torturous amusement, I leave his game. If he's pathetic enough to need that sort of power validation, I doubt I want to know him.
Mirikon 07-06-05, 05:11 PM	Wish spells should only be twisted under three conditions. 1) The spell is badly worded. 2) The caster is asking for something unreasonable. 3) Whoever is granting the wish is malevolent and likes to twist wishes. If every wish is twisted, and they don't fall into one of those three categories, you're being an ass. As for the OP, have it be a special curse, beyond the power of any nonepic magical healing powers.
Astinex 07-06-05, 05:22 PM	In my games if I needed* to scar or maim a PC I would have the damage done, then use healing magic to "close the wound", leaving a scar or permanent damage. Example: A PC who was being interrogated by a BBEG, antagonized said BBEG. The BBEG in retaliation cut off the PC's hand then casted Cure Minor Wounds. The BBEG let the wound fully heal so the PC became a one handed warrior. After that any "healing" spells and even regeneration would only return the stump. As for a wish or miracle, I'm not sure I would cause damage that couldn't be fixed by these magics. As a DM you’re making a statement by doing so. If it must be done, have the damage be caused by a deity or artifact, as mortal magic, (including wish), does not affect this kind of power. *Note the wording I used. I’m not a sadistic DM, and only use these sorts of tactics if the plot calls for it, or if a PC does something to bring it on themselves.
was_fired 07-06-05, 05:56 PM	It should be noted that wish is still a spell with definite limits. It is simply more powerful than most because of the huge cost. A spell can be made which wish cannot undo if it: A. Costs more the wish or B. Is more specific so that it effectively costs more than wish. For instance a 9th level spell which leaves a potent curse (such as making a characters wounds uncurable magically) which cost 5,000 XP would be beyond wishs power to remove since it is more specific and has an equal cost. Instead a specific spell or a more powerful spell would need to be researched to break it.