I know someone was talking about making yourself a Sandwich (based off the old "psionic sandwich" shenanigans from 3.5).
But I saw this on Reddit today. It's complicated and made me think about it for 5 solid minutes, but it works. Surprise surprise, it involves Wish :-p
And before I say anything, yes I know no one is allowed to do this, like Pun-Pun would neither be an NPC or a PC.
Props to Ding17 for this:
Right, so I always loved the theoretical Pun-Pun esque thread's of how a PC could, using only in game abilities and not DM fiat, destroy or conquer his particular game world.
So here goes:
Step 1: Cast Wish, use it to imitate the Simulcarum spell WITHOUT MATERIALS OR COSTS and with a casting time of only 1 round. You could at this point just make a 1/2 HP Tarrasque and call it a day, but...
Step 2: Make an identical copy of yourself who has Wish prepared. (EDIT: copy a different caster or a non-wish simulacrum so that you definitely make simulacrum with a 9th level, non expended slot)
Step 3: Use a bonus action (or no action, whatever) to ask you Simulcarum to cast Wish to create a copy of you, and tell it to pass the message down the line...
Step 4: Repeat...
You should soon have a horde of Simulacrum, increasing at a rate of about 2 a round. They will be vulnerable to dispel magic, but as wizards/sorcerers they probably have counterspell. Build your horde in a remote location to give you maximum time before wizard's guilds / dieties start trying to dispel your horde. Killing or dispelling the most recent Simulacrum would disrupt the process, admittedly, but you can always take 12 hours to long rest whilst the remaining Simulacrum craft additional Simulacrum with their 7-8 level spell slots.
Step 5. Conquer or destroy the world at leisure.
So is this interpretation legitimate? Obviously not to be attempted in game and i understand any lvl 17+ character has got to have a lot going for it... but I'd like to see if this works.
And finally, out of interest, does anyone else have any legitimate ways for a PC to fill the role of the BBEG and threaten the world (or a kingdom) itself?
EDIT2: Credit to Laringar. Take a few days to craft some normal sims before attempting this. You can exploit their wishes to grant you resistance to all damage types (which your new sims inherit) and use a few extra wishes when you start the wish-chain to make you less vulnerable to interruption (make your Sims immune to dispel magic for 8 hours). In fact, with about two weeks of preparation, you can get enough sims to "wish" yourself immune to all spells for about 8 hours before you start wishing exponential numbers into existence - long enough to destroy the world.
tl;dr version: You make a Simulacrum of yourself or another person, but this Host has "Wish" prepared. The clone then uses Wish to cast Simulacrum on the Host again with no component cost and reduced casting time.
Repeat on either the Host on clones with Wish prepared (though they get diminishing returns with HP).
Have True Polymorphs for when the clones run out of spells (since they cannot regain spell slots)
Doesn't work. You the original have used Wish. Therefore when your clone clones you that clone won't have wish prepared and thus can't clone clone A.
Yunru wrote:
Eh seems about as broken as your average necromancy wizard raising a zombie hoard, just quicker.
Yunru wrote:
"Let them fight."
Anything this cumbersome seems to require the DM to at least go along with the plan, doesn't it?
My question would be, would be the part where it says "if you cast this spell again" would your duplicate casting the spell, be "you" casting the spell? (or the 2nd duplicate)
Yeah, the "you" part combined with "acts according to your wishes" shuts it down IMO.
Wish specifically invites the DM to twist game breaking stuff. DM interference is an explicit part of the spell effect.
Those are YOUR wishes, regardless.
Wish knows.
Wish sees things.
Wish sees through you.
You are transparent.
Wish sees plans within plans.
Wish did not say this.
Wish was not here.
The last sentence in the spell makes it clear that armies of simulacrum are not intended. I wouldnt allow it on that basis alone, but would also say that the hair etc requirement means this spell wont work on an "illusory duplicate" made of snow and only partally realy.
As a DM I'd rule that a simulacrum is a construct and thus cannot duplicate itself through a simulacrum spell not being a beast or humanoid creature type.
Simulacrum: You shape an illusory duplicate of one beast or humanoid that is within range for the entire casting time of the spell.
Construct: Constructs are made, not born. Some are programmed by their creators to follow a simple set of instructions, while others are imbued with sentience and capable of independent thought.
Your plan is to rule the world. Your duplicate has the same plan. You are its way ...
Silly PC: And that is how I summon my army of Badassness!
DM: Your spell fizzled.
Silly PC: Wut?!?!?! You can't do that!
DM: Actually, yes, yes I can. If you don't like it play at a different table please.
End of Story
UnknownMourner wrote:
Then I'd rule that Mystra the godess of magic herself intervene and cause the weave to instantly destroy any other duplicata like she did the first time a Thayan tried this trick in order to save Faerun 
Timborama wrote:
Actually any aspiring mage with a 12 int or better would know this can't work, simply because it hasn't already happened... /grin