hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (Jerry Hollombe) (11/12/84)
A week ago I posted an article describing the unbalanced situation that
arose in a campaign I was part of as a result of an elven mage attaining
18th level. Judging from my mail and net responses this seems to have
engendered some interest, so I though I'd tell you all how it worked out.
First, a little background:
This was a mature(?) campaign, most of the players having been in it for up
to four real world years. By this time we had solved the two major quests
posed in this universe ( 1: finding a fabled, magical jewel and restoring
it to its owner and 2: saving our planet from destruction by the galactic
federation for reasons to complex to detail here). The party consisted of
fairly high level characters, averaging around 15th level, including two
bards, two fighters, two clerics, a hobbit fighter/thief, and two elven
mage/thieves. As their reward for helping save the world, the two elves
chose to become unlimited in levels as mages, the rest of us receiving
similarly rich rewards (my 16th level fighter got the ability to control
weather once per day per three levels, e.g.). With all the major problems
solved, the party set off on an adventure to clean up a few relatively
minor loose ends, explore the planet, trade, and generally continue to
raise hell, operating on sheer momentum.
In our universe, wishes were generally very rare, very expensive, and very
powerful. Wishing for levels was allowed, but only one level per wish.
(Note: I've since researched the DMG and Player's Guide and found no
explicit restriction of any kind on wishing for levels).
As of last week, we had arrived at our first destination and were waiting
around for the NPC we had come to meet to find time for us. While waiting
we ran into a group of elves and fairy nobles who were also waiting to see
him. Fairy nobles can each cast one wish per day and these were willing to
do so for a price. Needless to say, this abundance drove the normally high
price of wishes (typically 100K gp's) down to around 20K gp's. Also,
because of their experience and a special language developed for the
purpose, the fairies were able to word wishes perfectly to avoid backlash.
It was at this point our elven mage decided to become 18th level by
purchasing the necessary wishes.
The upshot of all this:
After a week's consideration on the part of the DM he declared the dungeon
ended. He decided that the most likely thing for our elf to do at that
point was to raise herself and everyone else in the party up to demi-god
status. The story ends with most of us becoming demi-gods, signing the
Great Compact drawn up by the rest of the gods, and living happily ever
after (The End). (One of our bards hesitated a bit about signing the
Compact and was killed out of hand. Made the decision very easy for the
rest of us.)
Oh, well. We'd pretty well worn that planet out, anyway. Bit of a jolt
though. I'm still recovering from the shock of finding myself a first
level PC in a brand new world on about five minutes notice. Fairwell,
William, Lord of Bend. I'm now Grey, first level elven mage/thief, and
life begins anew.
Final note: Our DM has decided to stick much closer to the orthodox rules
in the DMG this time around. His last universe was begun before there was
a DMG, hence a number of inconsistencies (with the DMG, not internally).
Be careful what you wish for,
it may be granted.
--
The Polymath
(Jerry Hollombe)
Transaction Technology, Inc.
3100 Ocean Park Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(213) 450-9111, ext. 2483
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