DM Kor's - Wizard's Duel I

Game Master Kor - Orc Scrollkeeper

For out of game discussions of the Duel.

Since this is more of a test on this type of scenario, and since there is just 3 or 4 of you, I'm debating on whether to make this a full on, last wizard standing scenario, or to make it an objective-based scenario (first 1 to achieve the objective wins -- although I suspect it will still end up as a last wizard standing scenario).

Please let me know if you have a preference between Outright-Battle or Objective-Based.

I think outright battle would probably be the best. I know in the initial scenario, you were planning on having it be a test of some sort, but we could just assume for the narrative's sake that the 4 characters here are the 4 winners of that contest.

Since this is more of a test on this type of scenario, and since there is just 3 or 4 of you, I'm debating on whether to make this a full on, last wizard standing scenario, or to make it an objective-based scenario (first 1 to achieve the objective wins -- although I suspect it will still end up as a last wizard standing scenario).

Please let me know if you have a preference between Outright-Battle or Objective-Based.

I'm good with an outright battle.

Either is good by me, although I think the battle is probably better for straight-out testing school against school. Objectives would probably come down a lot to just what we have to do to see which schools are actually capable of doing that, and even then there will probably me multiple solutions to pull it off.

For example, if the objective is to get into a guarded area without being detected and thrown out, an illusionist could turn invisible, an enchanter could charm the guards to let them by, a transmuter could turn into a mouse and just scurry in. An evoker would be basically screwed without a lot of creative thinking, luck, and/or having prepared other types of spells for this. Whereas in a fight, it all comes to a head-to-head to see who does what, and each school has a chance to shine (except maybe divination).

Okay, outright battle it will be :)

When you are ready, please step onto the arena floor and describe yourself in the Gameplay thread.

Once everyone has done an in-character post on the Gameplay thread, I will roll initiatives for everyone and get things going.

Battle Map link is now working. I'm just going with a pretty simple map layout. In the middle is a raised stone area, 15' x 15', and 5' high. In the middle of the raised area, is a large golden coil... the Tezlok Coil. (I will give people advance notice if they are in danger of being struck by the coil -- its solely there as a device to keep the play moving, and to ensure no one tries to claim victory by hiding in a corner the whole battle).

The floor of the arena is white marble, and the Walls are a black obsidian, and appear to rise to infinity. The walls and the raised stone area are all magically impenetrable. There's also a ceiling created by a force wall, 100' up. Despite the tall walls, the area is well illuminated by sunlight... almost as if the walls were illusions and the sun was shining right through them :)

Sounds good. I'm excited to get things started!

Quick last minute question, after an opponent is defeated are we allowed to search the body mid battle for useful supplies, i.e. weapons, spell components, ect., or would that be off limits?

Since you are really starting with so little for gear, if you can find useful loot on a downed wizard... its all yours :)

Okay, on with the show...

Unless you have some ability to conceal what you are casting, just indicate what spell you are casting on your turn, in your post. (You are all experienced wizards, so you are all pretty adept at being able to determine what spells are cast.)

For any actions made while invisible, or spells in which you are able to cast discretely, then please Private Message me with your action.

All effects will be based on a square area. (i.e. a fire ball fills a 40' x 40' square area.

When posting movement or target locations, please refer to the grid coordinates on the Battle Map.

Hi all, for the map link, please click on "Battle Map" right under my name on any of my posts.

At the very top of the screen, I have a link that says "Wizard's Duel Arena Map". Don't click on this right now. I can't remember how to change this link.

EDIT: There we go... got that link working now.

Rolling some d20's.... just because :)

1d20 ⇒ 17
1d20 ⇒ 5

Hi all, I just wanted to see what everyone's thoughts are on judgment call I have to make.

Kavra has conjured an elemental as an action, however the casting time is 1 minute (a mistake I have made myself once or twice.) Since this casting, there have been attacks and spells cast based on that elemental having been summoned.

We could go back in time a round or two to fix this, however since I deem this to be more of a 'test scenario', I'm thinking it may just be easier to just play it out with the summoned elemental in effect, but it's duration will be equal to the spell level it was cast at (5 rounds). (This is just a one-off instance, any further conjured creatures will be subject to the standard rules.)

Also of note, is that when the elemental was summoned, the wall of force was dropped as they are both concentration spells.

Ultimately, I still want this to be fun for all players, so please let me know if you would prefer to go back to the start of round 2 or if you are fine with the 'fix' I suggested above.

5th Edition and its many spells and how they react with each other is still fairly new territory for me. (I tend to play more martial characters). Here's a couple things that have come up, or players should be aware of:

Casting Spells Through a Wall of Force

This was an interesting situation that came up and I did not find a lot online about it. I sent a message to "Sage Advice" and also Jeremy Crawford on it. I still haven't heard back :)

In a message thread I had found Mike Mearls was asked a similar question and replied with: "a barrier that stops physical objects stops spells".

The original question was asked about spell effects traveling through a wall, but later discussion also incorporated targeted spells.

There is certainly quite a bit of discussion on the subject in the message thread, and some elaboration has referred to the following:

1. To target an place, you need a "clear path to the target".
2. A wall (including an invisible wall of force that you can see through) is an obstacle.
3. An obstacle such as a wall of force provides total concealment to those behind it.
4. A target that is concealed/behind total cover can not be targeted by a spell.

This seemed like a reasonable way to adjudicate it, despite that fact that the player can still technically "see their target".

Polymorph
Many of the spells/abilities in 5e that allow you to change shape, give you some or all of the stats and abilities of the new form. Additionally, all of your character's racial and class abilities are not usable in the new form -- this includes feats.

Ah--I was not aware that feats go away. The loss of class features, especially item-based ones, makes sense, so Kearan's concentration roll would have been lower--although he still succeeded handily enough.

As far as the ruling, I'm fine either way. I miss spell duration changes a lot myself, so without careful reading it can lead to some issues. I think it affects Kavra as much as anyone, so he should probably help make final decision along with you as our adjudicator.

I'm fine either way. Going back a couple actions is no big deal, but I don't think allowing the elemental for a few rounds is game-breaking either. Whatever everyone else is OK with, I am as well.

I can post an action change that won't effect much. I'll get it posted momentarily in the gameplay section, and I'm sorry about the mistake.

I can post an action change that won't effect much. I'll get it posted momentarily in the gameplay section, and I'm sorry about the mistake.

Are you doing this to replace your round 2 action? (If so, then the Ice Storm has not yet been cast, as it was cast after your action.)

Also, unlike Pathfinder you only draw an attack of opportunity when you leave your opponent's reach -- so there's some good news :)

To help keep things moving and to keep us on track, a time warp bubble forms in the middle of the area and "pop", we are back at round 2 on Kavra's turn.

Although very briefly Kavra wishes he could summon an earth elemental, instead he walks up and unleashes a Cone of Cold on the ape...

The force wall remains in place.

Namfoodle is up next.

Kearan needs to make a Constitution save and a Concentration check.

Moley needs to make a Constitution save and a Concentration check.

I figured casting offensive type magic would be the best, because that way it allows most of what had occurred to stand.

If it's all the same to everyone else I would like to keep my action it was rather affective

We are at the top of Round 3 (again). Kearan you are up.

Woops, okay, wasn't sure. I'll post away.

Hi all... I'm just working a batch of really long days, so I have little time to read posts. Tomorrow is the last of my long days, then I will be back to normal working schedule and will be back to narrate / adjudicate as needed.

Hi all, my project was extended but ended today. Hurray.

Too burnt out right now to get us back on track, so I will get things started back up tomorrow.

I am currently at a conference for my work at a hotel with crap internet, so i might lag behind in posting