Wish

Conjuration/Summoning [wish]

• • Level Magic-user 9

  • Components V

  • Casting Time 1 segment (see description)

  • Range See description

  • Area of Effect See description

  • Duration See description

  • Save See description

This spell allows the caster to shape reality into a more desired form.

• The caster intones the wish verbally (ie. "I wish...") and the length of time stating the wish is the casting time of the spell.

• While anything can be wished for, the more complex or powerful the wish, the more likely the magic is to be more literal in it's interpretation of the verbalized request (seeking easier ways for the desired state to be accomplished).

• The following give examples of wishes based on different classifications: Simple (the wish operates on intent), Complex (the wish operates on interpretation), and Balance-altering (the wish seeks to break some form of deity-designed balance or seeks to affect a scale beyond that of any spell).

• A wish is a magical spell effect and may be resisted as any other magic (should this apply; Many wishes are considered instantaneous effects).

• An Avatar-level wish effect is normally only granted directly by a deity or one of their close minions.

Effects on the Caster. If casting a wish as an incantation, the caster will age 3 years upon pronouncing the wish and must make a System Save or die. If the wish is also a Complex or Balance-altering wish, the caster will suffer 3 points of Strength damage and will be exhausted until resting completely for 2d4 days (unless the wish simply fails). A creature using a wish as a spell-like ability or invocation does not suffer any of the aforementioned effects.

EXAMPLES OF WISHES—SIMPLE

• A wish spell can duplicate the effects of any other non-wish spell (caster level is the caster level of the wish spell).

• A wish spell can cure all hit point damage to up to 10 creatures.

• A wish spell can remove certain ailments or baneful magical effects on one creature (without a chance of failure). This can include curses or cursed items. If the effect is Avatar-level, the wish may fail (unless it too is an Avatar-level effect).

• A wish spell can restore any (non-legendary, non-artifact) magic item to full charges or fix broken items. Attempting to restore more powerful items causes the wish to be complex or balance-altering (per the GM).

• A wish spell can restore life to any one creature along with all possessions (as they were in the state immediately before death). Some effects cause a death to be immune to this spell (and if this is the case, the wish will fail). Undead creatures are immune, but destroyed undead creatures can be brought to back to life (or unlife depending on the wording).

• A wish spell can give knowledge regarding one item, typically a magical item (command words, powers, curses, effects), as long as the item is not protected from such magic (and protection from wish-effects must be specifically called out in the item's description).

• A wish can be used to grant automatic success on the next roll by a single character. This only affects the next roll and "success" is broadly interpreted (ie. an attack will hit but will not result in a "natural 20" unless that is the only roll that would cause the strike to hit). A wish cannot be used to cause an enemy to automatically fail a roll but can be used to bestow a short term curse causing a single target to suffer a -4 (or -20%) on certain rolls for the next 10 rounds (saves, attack rolls, damage rolls, resistance checks, etc.—choice of one only).

• A wish can be used to grant another roll of any type (rolled by the recipient) that occurred within the previous round. Certain untimed game rolls may not be re-rolled unless the wish is of Avatar-level (eg. hit points, exceptional strength, etc.).

• A wish spell can increase any one ability score of under 10 to 10 (as an instantaneous effect). Any ability score of 10 to 15 can be increased by 1 point and any ability score of 16+ can be increased by 1/10th of a point (10%).

• A wish spell can give a creature the ability to gain one class level in any desired class regardless of racial limitations. Experience points and training are still required (and if not already a member of the class, the training requirement could be extensive per the GM). No matter the race of the creature, if the result is more than one class, use the multi-class rules for experience point division, hit points, etc. The magic does not overcome the strictures or restrictions of existing classes (ie. a paladin becoming a thief will lose their paladin-hood). This does overcome ability score requirements but not class level requirements (for entry into an Advanced Class).

EXAMPLES OF WISHES—COMPLEX

• Attempting to use the wish to bring about a minor alteration of the flow of time. For example, a wish can be used to reset an existing encounter (combat involving small groups of participants) from the present to just before the encounter began. If this involves restoring more than one ally from the dead, the likelihood of the wish operating correctly will diminish. In this case, the recipients are considered to be the caster (and allies) and opponent's magic resistance or spell immunities (if any) will not apply.

• Attempting to use a wish to destroy a single named creature. Unless duplicating an existing spell effect (including limitations on range and saves, etc.), this is unlikely to operate as desired. The one uttering the wish may be shifted to a time or plane where the creature does not exist.

• Attempting to use a wish to draw a single named creature to the one uttering the wish. This type of wish is likely to provide travel to the general locale of the named creature—should the one using the wish know the creatures true name. If the creature is very powerful, the magic may backfire, dropping the wish user into a trap laid by it using a previously cast defensive wish.

• Attempting to use a wish to conjure up a desired magic item from nothing is unlikely to work as desired. Minor items (per the GM) might be accessible if the proper raw ingredients are available, but the likelihood something will backfire is high if more powerful items are wished for. 

• However, wishes are commonly used as components in (high level or intelligent) item or construct creation. In this case, if following a formula, the use of the wish should operate as intended.

• Likewise, if used in conjuction with the spell, enchant an item, a wish spell may allow the effects of non-legendary magical items to be combined into a single form. In this case, both items should be of similar type (2 wands, 2 rings, etc.) and one item should be created previously. All other magical item fabrication rules should be used including chances for failure.

• Attempting to wish for wealth causes the wish to be very literally interpreted. Stories abound as to the (bad) outcomes from such wishes.

EXAMPLES OF WISHES—BALANCE-ALTERING

• Wishes used to alter or create events on a massive scale are doomed to fail. For example, causing a dormant volcano to erupt or a tidal wave to engulf a coastal city. It is better for the caster of the wish to duplicate spell effects (earthquake, control weather, disintegrate, firestorm, etc.) if success is to be ensured.

• Detailed knowledge of certain subjects is likely to be protected (by other wishes or Avatar-level magic) and wishes for such information are likely to fail.

• Wishes used to alter past events of any scale will normally fail. Ie. Resetting an event not currently in progress.