Proving you have Magic!

[Xar Zarath]

So let's say, you right now suddenly have magic. As in you gain max levels in Wizard (or any other caster class of your choice, psions and such included)

How would you go about proving your powers definitively to the world? (and also your actions/reactions relating to your reveal)

[The Infamous DD]

I wouldn't. The world doesn't need to know that I'm basically god now. I'd give myself a comfortable life while quietly working on some magic items to make the world better, something like a fleet of invisible flying constructs that go around spamming restoration, cure disease, heal, regenerate, create food and water and so on. Maybe if we're about to see world war 3 I'll intervene, but short of that?

[Jay R]

I would be very careful *not* to reveal my powers to the world. There are too many powerful people in the world who don’t want there to be anybody more powerful than they are. I don’t want to be an assassination target. Even if I could always prevent it, that’s not a fun life.

Besides, people who are known to be able to manipulate gambling games are barred from casinos.

Everything I want to do would be easier if people didn’t know about my powers.

As Piet Hein once wrote:

You’ll probably find that it suits your book
To be a bit cleverer than you look.
Observe that the easiest method by far,
Is to look a bit stupider than you are.

[dancrilis]

How would you go about proving your powers definitively to the world?

I don't.

Except....

As in you gain max levels in Wizard (or any other caster class of your choice, psions and such included)
If part of retaining my powers is proving to the world that magic is real i.e there is a god of magic who provided me the levels and if I don't work towards proving that magic is real it will turn its gaze from the world taking my powers with it.

I start small - start running a company / cult dedicated to magic and gifting the inner circle as needed so that they can undertake minor miracles (some one off magic items etc if I can't just train people up).

As I start winning the stock market and as the faithful spread the word to others we start to convince the world that magic is real (some dominate person style spells might help with both of this) - the more it is culturally accepted to believe in magic the greater the feats of magic I would allow to occur, given one religion has actual miracles backing it etc the others should be unable to compete (unless there are powers backing them willing to take action which would only help prove magic is read).

I finish up as the immortal ruler of the world controlling the resources and the religion of the masses and then spread to other planes to spread the word further.

[Jay R]

Governments don't take kindly to people having assets that are beyond their ability to confiscate or tax.

[Tvtyrant]

So let's say, you right now suddenly have magic. As in you gain max levels in Wizard (or any other caster class of your choice, psions and such included)

How would you go about proving your powers definitively to the world? (and also your actions/reactions relating to your reveal)

Mind control a world council meeting and have the delegates declare you a deity. It won't have legal meaning but everyone will know you have powers in about 1 minute. At max level you aren't threatened by anything the RL has, so you just have some copies of you stop crime and save people from natural disasters and people will soon worship you just for existing.

[InvisibleBison]

I'd start mass-producing coronavirus cures/vaccinations.

[Kaptin Keen]

It's a question, of course.

If I could find no other way to monetize it - I'd make myself a TV personality.

[GrayDeath]

Mind control a world council meeting and have the delegates declare you a deity. It won't have legal meaning but everyone will know you have powers in about 1 minute. At max level you aren't threatened by anything the RL has, so you just have some copies of you stop crime and save people from natural disasters and people will soon worship you just for existing.

One good example.

After that, I would force the World to a united Government, under me, and start exploiting the Raw materials of the Solar System to reduce Earths lack of ressources, establish a fleet of Spelljammers/whatever works here, and colonize a few worlds, set me up to be the immortal God of magic and Exploration for mankinds future. Or something along those lines.

And probably retire somewhena round 2 to 3 million years later (assuming we get magical FTL, otehrwise ,......I`ll probably leave once earth gets boring^^).

And if magic exists for people ASIDE from myself, make sure to teach trustworthy people up until they are at most say Wizard 12ish.

And no, if that means inserting earth into classic D&D Comsmology, I`ll do none of the above.


Now if we are talking a limited Wizard of say Level 20 with only levelup Spells and aside from levelups no furhter Ability boost, or magical Stuff aside from myself, I might go on and craft a decade or 2 first^^

[Telok]

Visit the international space station every weekend. Also there are some artifacts on the Moon that I'd like to have in my backyard. Maybe turn a supercomputer into a golem just to see what happens. Snag a cure for Alzheimers.

1. The major space agencies are now absolutely convinced of magic.
2 & 3. Just for fun, but also currently impossible.
4. The majority of the medical research community is convinced of magic. Also, I'm now filthy rich (there may be a ~5 year lag time for actually rolling in piles of money).

[Segev]

Subtlety is key. Thus, my sudden mile high tower that somehow is approved by the zoning commission and the FAA without anybody remembering signing the approvals will be understated, with only a tasteful classing in gold over a core of adamantine, rather than being pure gold held up solely by the fact that it can fly. I mean, it will fly, but it could support itself if it had to.

[Tvtyrant]

One good example.

After that, I would force the World to a united Government, under me, and start exploiting the Raw materials of the Solar System to reduce Earths lack of ressources, establish a fleet of Spelljammers/whatever works here, and colonize a few worlds, set me up to be the immortal God of magic and Exploration for mankinds future. Or something along those lines.

And probably retire somewhena round 2 to 3 million years later (assuming we get magical FTL, otehrwise ,......I`ll probably leave once earth gets boring^^).

And if magic exists for people ASIDE from myself, make sure to teach trustworthy people up until they are at most say Wizard 12ish.

And no, if that means inserting earth into classic D&D Comsmology, I`ll do none of the above.


Now if we are talking a limited Wizard of say Level 20 with only levelup Spells and aside from levelups no furhter Ability boost, or magical Stuff aside from myself, I might go on and craft a decade or 2 first^^
Why would anyone want to be the head of a government of humans? Especially for 2-3 million years? That seems awful.

[Xar Zarath]

...There are too many powerful people in the world who don’t want there to be anybody more powerful than they are. I don’t want to be an assassination target. Even if I could always prevent it, that’s not a fun life...

Hmm, but would they though? I mean, going by some RW situations, its not as if the world and all the govts/orgs/various societies act homogenously.

{Scrubbed}

Now, we're presented with the situation where "you" are a max level Wizard, is there anything that realistically speaking, especially after you maxed out of protections, spells etc that anyone or any group could do to you?

[MoiMagnus]

I'd probably start by using Enhance Ability (Owl Wisdom) on myself if I have access to it. Because while eventually, I will have the experience to not stupidly die / be seen as a world threat / be taken by surprised and captured, I'd doubt my capacity to not fumble my revelation to the world.

[Jorren]

Hmm, but would they though? I mean, going by some RW situations, its not as if the world and all the govts/orgs/various societies act homogenously.

{Scrub the post, scrub the quote}



Now, we're presented with the situation where "you" are a max level Wizard, is there anything that realistically speaking, especially after you maxed out of protections, spells etc that anyone or any group could do to you?

While you probably could defend yourself against most potential problems, it is probably more efficient not to have to worry about defense, PR, the media, and a wide array of other distractions. By staying hidden, at least initially, you maintain flexibility and strengthen your position for later if in case you do decide to reveal yourself.

[Quertus]

I am happy to see so many people saying that they *wouldn't* reveal themselves.


As in you gain max levels in Wizard (or any other caster class of your choice, psions and such included)

Hold on… this isn't in the 3.5 forum… hmmm…

Marvel facerip? Nah, lousy max ranks, easy to lose XP.

Mutants and Masterminds? … maybe? But how long is a "session"?

Champions? Nah,

WoD? Nah, hurts to botch, and session-based XP.

Rifts? Nah, even being a deity & a Wizard isn't worth it.

Scion? Same.

Exalted? Same.

Gurps? Nah.

Wh40k/whf? No. Just no.

3e D&D? Maybe? There's issues of planar geography and ability to earn XP to consider, on top of which class(es) to take.

2e D&D? Now we're talking! With proper house rules, and several billion people to kill for XP (I can always True Dwoemer them all back to life later), this is wins all around.

OK, now that that's settled, what's the question?


How would you go about proving your powers definitively to the world? (and also your actions/reactions relating to your reveal)

Resurrecting everyone after I kill them all? I think that should pretty well do it, no?

(Several homebrew systems could also be fun, with similar results)

[Nifft]

Unless I have some reason to need a crop of the best-and-brightest to train in wizardry under me, I probably would not reveal the ability to the world at large. Like if there's a world-threatening magical disaster looming and for some reason only magic can fight magical disasters, then I'd go public.

But going public would not be my default position.

I might train an apprentice or two, depending on what immortality options are on the table.

[Vahnavoi]

Being "max level" makes this way too easy, because "max level", if the concept even applies, means I'd be not just a wizard, I'd be a god and a force of nature. Even strategic nuclear weapons could be "not enough gun" for taking me down, and I could carve my name on the Moon if I wanted to.

If you swap "wizard" for "cleric", then even way less than "max level" is enough to recreate every single miracle attributed to biblical oracles. I'd be shaking hands with the Pope in a week. :smalltongue:

The question would be way more interesting if you only had few subtle cantrips and 1st level spells and would have to prove those are magic.

[Altair_the_Vexed]

Subtlety is key. Thus, my sudden mile high tower that somehow is approved by the zoning commission and the FAA without anybody remembering signing the approvals will be understated, with only a tasteful classing in gold over a core of adamantine, rather than being pure gold held up solely by the fact that it can fly. I mean, it will fly, but it could support itself if it had to.

Tastefully done!

Me, first thing I'd do is find out how to safely leave the world with my loved ones, in such a way that once I reveal myself to be magical, no-one can follow me. I'm thinking of something like Pratchett's Long Earth, or a pocket plane, or something like that.

[Imbalance]

Going by the example set by nearly every caster I've played with in my brief time with TTRPG's, the correct answer must be epic level thaumaturgy: all doors and windows on Earth would suddenly and simultaneously swing wide open, then all close tight again a moment later. At max level, I'm pretty sure you can magically slam a revolving door, thus placing you on the same tier as Chuck Norris.

[Gavinfoxx]

Hmmm. How would a 3.5 Wizard build an Orbital Ring?

[Tvtyrant]

Hmmm. How would a 3.5 Wizard build an Orbital Ring?

Recursive wishes probably. You could animate the planet and use a normal magic ring with enough abuses, the magic ring automatically shifts to fit the wearer so it would grow to be large enough on its own.

[Gavinfoxx]

Recursive wishes probably. You could animate the planet and use a normal magic ring with enough abuses, the magic ring automatically shifts to fit the wearer so it would grow to be large enough on its own.

And providing the spin? How about getting access to the various d&d supermaterials?

[VonKaiserstein]

This is the perfect chance to eliminate a great deal of human suffering, by selfishly grabbing power!

I'd steal my overarching plan from the anime Overlord. Train/enchant a small, loyal band who would assist me.

Begin by taking over a small area of Somalia, gradually expanding/improving the standard of living for those under my protection. Use extensive scrying/defensive spells to protect those who serve you. Continue your expansion and preservation of your subjects until you are in command of a sizable chunk of Africa. Somewhere along the way, establish strong economic ties to the rest of the world, and keep it known that your country was always looking for more subjects, and that the safety and standard of living could not be replicated outside of your realm. Dispatch ambassadors with minor powers to seek recruits, and extend offers of membership.

It may take a few generations, but what is time to a wizard but another clay to sculpt with? Soon your magical domain will control those areas that don't outright serve you.

Continue gradually spreading magic through an academy that deliberately teaches it wrong- that magic requires certain incredibly specific gestures and procedures. Have a detachment of diviners tasked with monitoring magical use in the first few years after graduation, when neophytes are mostly likely to experiment, and have them accentuate the consequences of spell failure.

When you're ready to fully secure power, pull a Shadowrun. Set up a massive, magical cataclysm, polymorph a generous chunk of the world's population, and unleash a host of magical experiments and creatures you've crafted over the years. The world is now in chaos everywhere you and your magical realm does not hold sway. Lead an ineffectual and largely symbolic crusade to save the world, which is best with failure and mishaps- never too much, but enough to assure the world that you don't have the power to save everyone. Let it simmer until the last vestiges of organized government has fractured, or is supported by your licensed wizards. Propose a league to stand against the monsters. By the time they are eliminated, you've got a united world, and are ready to focus on magical interstellar exploration, initiating the Spelljammer program.

Oh, and of course, make sure you have a large family, largely cloned and polymorphed, die every couple of decades, have scandals among you and your clones, etc. A few riots where your future successor topples your statues is always good fun.

[Ignimortis]

So let's say, you right now suddenly have magic. As in you gain max levels in Wizard (or any other caster class of your choice, psions and such included)

How would you go about proving your powers definitively to the world? (and also your actions/reactions relating to your reveal)

I wouldn't, because even with 20 levels of Wizard I don't think that I'm anywhere higher than 13-14 INT (unless I also get the ability score increases), so I can't prepare any spells higher than level 4. I doubt that's enough to conquer the world or bless it into a utopia, and attracting undue attention with only a few castings of Dimension Door per day would be a really poor idea.

If I do get the increases, well, that brings me from anywhere around 12 to 14 to anywhere around 17 to 19, which severely impacts both my abilities and the level of awareness of how to use them. So I can't really predict how that theoretical vastly smarter me would go about things.

[Segev]

If you're just determined to prove you have magic to the world, you could always suggest your way onto Penn & Teller's Fool Us, and then proceed to demonstrate any series of spells you felt most impressive. If they guess anything but "you can actually fly and teleport," for example, should you demonstrate those talents, they will also have been fooled, earning you a trophy as a bonus!

The tricky part would be making it entertaining. Maybe you should be a sorcerer or bard rather than wizard for this approach.

[jayem]

If you're just determined to prove you have magic to the world, you could always suggest your way onto Penn & Teller's Fool Us, and then proceed to demonstrate any series of spells you felt most impressive. If they guess anything but "you can actually fly and teleport," for example, should you demonstrate those talents, they will also have been fooled, earning you a trophy as a bonus!

The tricky part would be making it entertaining. Maybe you should be a sorcerer or bard rather than wizard for this approach.

More amusingly, do a really rubbish trick really badly, but use the suggest so their description of it bears no similarity to what the audience sees.
Perhaps do the three ball trick without any sleight of hand, but suggest that you did.
You: and now you see the ball isn't under this cup [audience: yes it is] but is under that cup [audience: no it isn't]
Penn&Teller: Long and rambling explanation of how you slipped the ball from this cup to that cup

[Quertus]

I wouldn't, because even with 20 levels of Wizard I don't think that I'm anywhere higher than 13-14 INT (unless I also get the ability score increases), so I can't prepare any spells higher than level 4. I doubt that's enough to conquer the world or bless it into a utopia, and attracting undue attention with only a few castings of Dimension Door per day would be a really poor idea.

If I do get the increases, well, that brings me from anywhere around 12 to 14 to anywhere around 17 to 19, which severely impacts both my abilities and the level of awareness of how to use them. So I can't really predict how that theoretical vastly smarter me would go about things.

1) if you don't get the increases, but do get the bonus feats, craft stat boosters (and, if necessary, wait for old age).

2) if you do get the increases, stat boosters are still nice… unless #3

3) especially if you do get the increases, iirc the OP said "max level", which, in 3e is NI, not 20.

4) lacking inherent stat increases makes me question my 2e plan.

5) 2e is kinda painful, what with getting no spells on level-up, having learn spell failure chance, and maximum spells known.

6) however, at level 21+, I can throw a True Dwoemer with a round of preparation (with sufficient mitigating factors). I think I'll stick with 2e.

7) "vastly smarter you" would do the exact same thing. Boost your Wisdom if you want to make better choices :smallwink:

[Ignimortis]

1) if you don't get the increases, but do get the bonus feats, craft stat boosters (and, if necessary, wait for old age).

2) if you do get the increases, stat boosters are still nice… unless #3

3) especially if you do get the increases, iirc the OP said "max level", which, in 3e is NI, not 20.

4) lacking inherent stat increases makes me question my 2e plan.

5) 2e is kinda painful, what with getting no spells on level-up, having learn spell failure chance, and maximum spells known.

6) however, at level 21+, I can throw a True Dwoemer with a round of preparation (with sufficient mitigating factors). I think I'll stick with 2e.

7) "vastly smarter you" would do the exact same thing. Boost your Wisdom if you want to make better choices :smallwink:

I'd have to get the gold to craft anything, first! Then again, I can just put some cross-class skill points (I'm still getting at least 3 skill points per level, so that's 60 to spend) into something lucrative, so that shouldn't be as much of an issue - but it'll still take a few years to accumulate that wealth. Huh. I might hit Middle Age by that point and get +1 INT/WIS/CHA from that.

[Segev]

More amusingly, do a really rubbish trick really badly, but use the suggest so their description of it bears no similarity to what the audience sees.
Perhaps do the three ball trick without any sleight of hand, but suggest that you did.
You: and now you see the ball isn't under this cup [audience: yes it is] but is under that cup [audience: no it isn't]
Penn&Teller: Long and rambling explanation of how you slipped the ball from this cup to that cup

That would be...possible, but it's not entertaining to me, and defeats the purpose of going on TV to prove I have magic.

Hm. It'd be a stretch of a wish, but I think a DM might permit it: "I wish that everybody who watches me perform this trick, even at home on a recording, the first time they follow my instructions, the trick works for them, too." I would need to work on the wording, but the trick would then be something like, "Everybody, stand up and look on your seat. Pick up the pencil and the envelope you find there, and write any card you care to name on the envelope. When you've done that, open up the envelope." When they do that, the card they named is in the envelope. Even if it's something weird like "Eight of Wands" or "Foil First Edition Black Lotus."

The fact that literally everybody in the audience who participates has it work, with a single card there's no way I could have nonmagically forced or predicted, will make it truly spectacular done live. The fact that those at home can do it with things literally magically appearing in their house will make it obviously magic to any who watch it.

[jdizzlean]

I am happy to see so many people saying that they *wouldn't* reveal themselves.




WoD? Nah, hurts to botch, and session-based XP.



to expand on that, Mage: the world ends and paradox reigns.

[oxybe]

Y'all thought I was a hermit now?

Now I'm a hermit who can cut out huge inconveniences from their life via nigh limitless power (depending on the nature of the magic), with further potential via magic item creation (if that's a thing in our AU).

I'd be perfectly happy with my only human contact being my family and RPG night at the FLGS, and just live in the middle of nowhere in the meanwhile.

Honestly, world rulership sounds like a hassle and a half and I am nothing if not lazy and lacking in ambition.

[vasilidor]

I am happy to see so many people saying that they *wouldn't* reveal themselves.



Hold on… this isn't in the 3.5 forum… hmmm…

Marvel facerip? Nah, lousy max ranks, easy to lose XP.

Mutants and Masterminds? … maybe? But how long is a "session"?

Champions? Nah,

WoD? Nah, hurts to botch, and session-based XP.

Rifts? Nah, even being a deity & a Wizard isn't worth it.

Scion? Same.

Exalted? Same.

Gurps? Nah.

Wh40k/whf? No. Just no.

3e D&D? Maybe? There's issues of planar geography and ability to earn XP to consider, on top of which class(es) to take.

2e D&D? Now we're talking! With proper house rules, and several billion people to kill for XP (I can always True Dwoemer them all back to life later), this is wins all around.

OK, now that that's settled, what's the question?



Resurrecting everyone after I kill them all? I think that should pretty well do it, no?

(Several homebrew systems could also be fun, with similar results)
First edition had you getting experience from gold. don't know if it carried over.

[Quertus]

First edition had you getting experience from gold. don't know if it carried over.

Optional "individual XP" rules for Thief. I've never been sure how they work with duel classing.

However, note my comments about "house rules" - "XP from wealth" sounds like a good one to include. :smallwink:

[LibraryOgre]

Optional "individual XP" rules for Thief. I've never been sure how they work Roth l with duel classing.

However, note my comments about "house rules" - "XP from wealth" sounds like a good one to include. :smallwink:

That's 2e; 1e had gold-for-XP as a standard rule for everyone.

However, the more I think about it, the question becomes "What class do you want your 20th level casting to be in?"

And I say Druid.

[dancrilis]

However, the more I think about it, the question becomes "What class do you want your 20th level casting to be in?"

And I say Druid.

I was thinking about that, the problem is what if your alignment isn't what you think it is - you might not be neutral (subject to edition etc).

I am leaning towards Sorcerer (without going into something fancy outside of the Player's Handbook), don't need a spellbook or a god or certain behaviour etc, it is a bit of a sacrifice in versatility but your power is pretty certain (Cleric of a cause might be better if I can figure out some cause I care enough about to be certain I would stick to it).

Could see taking 20 levels in Wizard only to discover one has no spells prepared and no spell book, which would be a bit annoying.

[Quertus]

That's 2e; 1e had gold-for-XP as a standard rule for everyone.

Yes. As this isn't in the 3e forum, I was going with "2e, with copious beneficial house rules" for my casting source of choice (outside some afaik unpublished homebrew systems). "Get XP for GP value of treasure" is a 2e house rule I've seen.

Also, any idea how 2e Thief "XP for treasure" individual awards interact with human duel classing?


However, the more I think about it, the question becomes "What class do you want your 20th level casting to be in?"

20th is not "max level" in most leveled systems.


And I say Druid.

To *play* it's pretty OP. But to be? In this world, while putting a target on yourself by saying, "look, I gots magic!"?

[Nifft]

interact with human duel classing?

Was duelist a kit for thief or fighter?

[vasilidor]

Was duelist a kit for thief or fighter?

actually, yes. yes it was.

[Jay R]

Hmm, but would they though? I mean, going by some RW situations, its not as if the world and all the govts/orgs/various societies act homogenously.

That's kind of the point. Since I favor freedom, health, and peace, there have to be some great powers out there who would actively want me dead. As I said, Even if I could always prevent it, that’s not a fun life.


Now, we're presented with the situation where "you" are a max level Wizard, is there anything that realistically speaking, especially after you maxed out of protections, spells etc that anyone or any group could do to you?

Yes, of course they could do something to me. They could make me live behind protection spells, and spend my time on defense. As I said, even if I could always prevent it, that’s not a fun life.

[Thayborne]

You should not allow anyone to know you have the power of Divine, Psionic, Arcane or Mutant Force or Power. The government will consider you a dangerous person to be controlled or eliminated?

[aglondier]

I favour the "take over a 3rd world nation" plan. Somewhere like the USA or something 😁.

Or rather than an overt takeover, become a "power behind the throne" type.

Item creation, stat boosts, invulnerability, "super powers".
Create "green lantern rings", and give them to your supporters/enforcers.

Floating cities in the atmospheres of Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, etc...hell, even here on Earth. Cloning and restoration of the natural world...

[Segev]

You should not allow anyone to know you have the power of Divine, Psionic, Arcane or Mutant Force or Power. The government will consider you a dangerous person to be controlled or eliminated?

I see variations on this pop up periodically in this thread, and while I appreciate the wisdom of it, it's ignoring that the premise of the thread is proving you have it. Not how you live your life with it. So I think it should be taken as given that, for some reason, you've already decided you want to prove you've got magical powers.

[Reathin]

I'm 100% behind the "do not reveal for as long ass super humanly possible". Far too many complications. I'd never get any peace, putting aside the actual assassination potential. Everyone would want to either end me or use me save my closest family and friends pre-empowerment. No friend I make after going public a supernatural could be trusted to be real about it. That's a sad way to live one's life.

But the thread is about how you would prove it, so let's say that's a prerequisite for keeping/getting them. Firstly, as much as I adore Wizards, in this case, I'd chose Psion. This is because:

1. It raises fewer uncomfortable questions about the source of it (even if I could prove it's a benevolent or at least neutral one, others might be suspicious).
2. No infrastructure requirements. Most wizards "stand on the shoulders of giants", so to speak, with many millennia of magical research coming before them.
3. Abilities arise naturally, presumably from my wants and desires.
4. I can think of a few ethically-acceptable methods of immortality with pionics that magic can't pull off (at least as easily).
5. I like crystals!
6. People will be much more accepting due to the perception of psychic powers being more "realistic" in media that conventional magic. Not that there's much different in truth, but I'd rather people have a mental out when dealing with my powers.

Now, actually proving the abilities is trivial. We live in an age of skepticism, true, but also one of social media. All it would take is a trip or two downtown, a nice loud "everyone, may I have your attention please?" and a showy use of an ability. Something that can't be replicated with special effects. My go-to would be Astral Construct. Those are dramatic, easy to control, obviously not normal, and can help keep me safe in case someone tries to pull a modern "burn the witch" on me. Recordings go on the internet within minutes. Keep doing this and you will very likely get the needed attention. It would be smart to use my powers to disguise myself, though. My home life doesn't need the complication. Invisibility, teleportation and disguises could at least keep me safe in that regard.

Now, that's if it needs to go fully public. If it were just a few people needed to prove it, I'd instead do the same thing in the comfort of my home with family.

But assuming it does need publicity, I'd then (still with consistent disguise) use my abilities in unambiguously positive ways. Aside from the primary moral reasons of responsible use of power, and the warm fuzzy feeling of using one's talents to help others, good PR is a MUST. You'll have people scrutinizing your every action. Heal the sick and injured. Construct homes with conjured constructs. Provide mental boosts to think-tanks working on key research projects (medicine is still important even if I could heal. I only have so many power points, after all, and can only be in one place at at time, for the most part). Maybe develop empathy related abilities and deploy them as psionic items? Imagine a world where you could actually properly understand another person's perspective? I believe that many, many, MANY of our societal problems could be solved or at least sharply mitigated if we could get out of our locked perspectives and defeat the innate feeling that other people must be stupid and wrong to have the opinions they do. Hard to get people to volunteer for brain tampering of course, understandably. Save that for later.

[Segev]

On the subject of wanting to maintain anonymity, you can do that even while proving you have magic. Even to the world. While the most straight-forward approach would be to go a "masked vigilante" route and put on a disguise, so it's "The Great Wondrizzo!" who has magic, and nobody knows Segev Stormlord is The Great Wondrizzo, the actual way I'd go about it would be to not even be personally there. Whether using a Simulacrum with a deliberately-lousy sculpt (or a very good sculpt that doesn't look like me), or using astral projection combined with alter self or shapechange, or even performing magic through my familiar, I could prove that my stage name does, indeed, have magic, as publicly as I want, and nobody need ever know that The Great Wondrizzo - who seems to operate mostly in the LA or Las Vegas area - is actually Segev, who lives in [redacted].

The main point being: as a mage, you could have your cake and eat it, too. You can be famous for having magic, and even the friends you hang out with every weekend to play D&D need never know that YOU are The Great Wondrizzo.

[Tvtyrant]

On the subject of wanting to maintain anonymity, you can do that even while proving you have magic. Even to the world. While the most straight-forward approach would be to go a "masked vigilante" route and put on a disguise, so it's "The Great Wondrizzo!" who has magic, and nobody knows Segev Stormlord is The Great Wondrizzo, the actual way I'd go about it would be to not even be personally there. Whether using a Simulacrum with a deliberately-lousy sculpt (or a very good sculpt that doesn't look like me), or using astral projection combined with alter self or shapechange, or even performing magic through my familiar, I could prove that my stage name does, indeed, have magic, as publicly as I want, and nobody need ever know that The Great Wondrizzo - who seems to operate mostly in the LA or Las Vegas area - is actually Segev, who lives in [redacted].

The main point being: as a mage, you could have your cake and eat it, too. You can be famous for having magic, and even the friends you hang out with every weekend to play D&D need never know that YOU are The Great Wondrizzo.

Reminds me of The Sovereign from Venture Brothers, a shapeshifter who met David Bowey at a concert and liked him so much he runs around as him.

[AntiAuthority]

So let's say, you right now suddenly have magic. As in you gain max levels in Wizard (or any other caster class of your choice, psions and such included)

How would you go about proving your powers definitively to the world? (and also your actions/reactions relating to your reveal)

Note, this would be Pathfinder 1E as a Wizard for me.

Hm, if it was right now... Well, I'd be a little annoyed this happened now as opposed to when James Randi's challenge (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Million_Dollar_Paranormal_Challenge) was active. No monetary compensation... Huh. I mean, I could probably get rich through other means with magic though...

Realistically, I wouldn't go around announcing I have magic powers as I'd rather not enjoy having all that attention suddenly focused on me, as some good may come of it but there would also be a ton of bad that I'd rather avoid entirely, like becoming a science experiment or having a hit put on me. I'd much rather just live a quiet life, but whatever, if I have to do this because I'll lose my power or die or something else bad will happen to me, might as well go big.

First thing I'd do is use my spells to go gather spell components quietly... And I'd make sure to do it in places that are physically impossible for me to travel to within a short amount of time (this is assuming real-world currency is equivalent to fantasy currency). Stockpile them for a while, keeping them in a secure location, then begin heading to other planes to collect more exotic materials. Assuming I haven't gone let the knowledge that I'm the single most powerful being on the planet and haven't gone mad with god-like power, I'd research heavily populated areas that are known for a lot of international travel. Then I'd go to a major city, with a densely populated area like an airport through teleporting there, remaining invisible while levitating and announcing with telepathy to one particularly dense group of people, "Do not mistake this for a parlor trick, this is true magical power!" before letting my invisibility fade and being cloaked in a mask of my choice while also having a wildly different body type/species/gender so that nobody could trace the weird floating person back to me... Might put on an accent too. Then I'd summon a Shadow Demon or something and float down before announcing that I was the real deal. Naturally people would panic, and I'd expect security to begin calling the authorities. I'd leave through teleporting (or turning invisible/intangible and just flying away) and waiting for news to spread of my stunt... When I watch a national newsbroadcast talking about my stunt (and if they didn't, I'd repeat the same stunt). The second they start talking about it, that's when I'd Greater Teleport my way into the area (Google Maps would be indispensable) before becoming intangible and floating into the building and announcing my presence... By turning anyone who tries to stop me into harmless animals for a small bit to show I mean business (I'd Dispel Magic on my way out). After dominating the minds of the cameramen, I'd issue a challenge to all skeptics to meet me on X Day at X Location, and I'd demonstrate my power to them... Via doing something clearly impossible, I'd even ask scientists to bring dead animals/medical cadavers for a surprise, change the weather, change the landscape, or just bend space-time. Also warn that if the people coming are just there to start trouble with me, I will defend myself and I will win... I'm not being violent, I just need to reveal myself to the world in a way that catches their attention.

Anyway, assuming everyone goes to the location, and assuming no one was there to arrest me (which I'd confirm with Detect Thoughts... I really think showing up to one spot with the sole intention of attacking/arresting someone would count as "surface level thoughts"), I'd announce my presence by opening a portal from another plane and just walking out. I'd instruct anyone who doesn't believe in my power to to look inside. Now, first thing's first... Anyone who doubts my ability to heal was free to step up, in fact, the more skeptical the better. First person to do it gets their hand slit by one of my knives, which I'd then heal with Infernal/Celestial Healing for all to see. Next, I'd summon something like an Angel or Giant from thin air... If anyone is still skeptical, that's when I use Reanimate Dead, Lesser on any dead animals/cadavers that were confirmed to be dead by the people who brought them and laugh when the thing things start moving around. Finally, I'd change my appearance in front of them, making it clear that, "No, this isn't my true form, I could be literally anyone." Pretty much just do this for a while until people are in denial of my power.

I'd then appear on talk shows, with a different appearance every time but showing incredible power to let the audience know it was me. I'd never reveal personal information, and if anything might just say, "Maybe I don't have a human identity... Maybe I'm not even human... I don't know, I think I was but maybe not..." to screw with everyone online coming up with theories about who/what I am. I'd do this internationally by using my Linguistics skill to learn virtually every language on the planet, or just use the Tongues spell if I'm feeling lazy/didn't pick up one language and appear on talk shows and news broadcasts to associate with them. I'd randomly just appear in random spots around the planet from day to day, showing off my powers and helping people in need with my magic.

By this point, if anyone wants to air their concerns I'm fake, I'd be more than willing to meet them on neutral grounds and debunk them... If they refuse to believe me after I, say, turn them all invisible, take control of their bodies or read their thoughts in some form... They're clearly in denial and wouldn't believe me at all, so I'd go onto the next skeptic after showing what a fool this person is.

... For further proof, I could just go around rounding up cryptids like Bigfoot, the Mothman, the Chupacabra, etc. and revealing them to the world. I'd protect the ones that just want to be left alone from being sliced up by scientists (because really, who's going to oppose the guy who can call down meteors and summon intangible shadow demons?) while handing them the more violent ones over to scientists (Dog Men gotta go, same with Mothman if he was behind that bridge collapsing instead of just trying to warn people away from it.) Might as well go to Area 51 and free those aliens since the raid was a bust, teleport them in front of a live camera feed that's being played (inter)nationally. Admittedly, the Area 51 one thing would mean I can't make anymore publicly announced appearances anymore, but I'd also probably be strong enough to just handle it if it came down to it (and smart enough to out plan any attempts to trace/capture me.)

If I feel like it, maybe after I've boosted my mental stats as far as they can go (and much further than any human could naturally have), I'd leave behind some magical creation that I know they won't be able to explain as proof I was there and magic is real.

Now... At this point, I'm pretty glad I spent my time disguised as someone else, because I do not want to deal with the headache of some paranoid or jealous people coming for me because I'm a threat or something. I'd then just appear on the news and tell everyone, "Alright, I'm tired of the guest appearances. I'm NOT an alien or anything, for you crazy conspiracy theorists... Ok, maybe aliens exist, but I'M not one, so don't go saying I'm an alien. I'm also not using technology either, this is all magic. Anyway, I've proven magic exists... If any skeptics want to challenge me on it, you had your chance, I'm going away now... Unless I get bored... Or not. Anyway, I'm also not a human-shaped cryptid either... Or am I? Huh, I suppose I could be read that way... Anyway, I'm going beyond the stars or to another dimension." (Read: I'm going home to play video games, you guys don't need to know that though). Hide any stuff linking me to the Wizard (or whatever I was calling myself) in a pocket dimension. I'd also occasionally look at any online forums or YouTube videos for theories on what I was/how I did it... If I become Immortal (Arcane Discovery) or a Lich, I'd just come back every few decades or so to show I'm still around, not having aged a day (ok, this might be an issue with me constantly changing my appearance)/being an undead abomination and debunk further skeptics that showed up to doubt my existence if I got bored with immortality or something/have to keep proving magic exists.

... When I get bored enough with eternal life, inhuman amounts of intelligence and wisdom (stories would get very predictable for example, as would people)... I'd probably just decide to start publicly fixing things that science can't (or at least not at the same speed/scale) to show my magic power still. Maybe do some good for the environment, create ideal habitats for endangered species to safely live in until their populations were higher again and reintroduce them to the environment or something. If people still refused to acknowledge my existence somehow... I don't know, they're just in denial or something.

... Or I could go straight up go Magneto on everyone by proving magic exists in a violent showing of power and demand everyone kneel before their new overlord. I don't think I'd do this, if only because I'd get bored really fast and want to go back to living the quiet life, as I'd feel bad if I just rolled up on some innocent people and decided to use them as an example of my power to the world.

[Xar Zarath]

Note, this would be Pathfinder 1E as a Wizard for me...being cloaked in a mask of my choice while also having a wildly different body type/species/gender so that nobody could trace the weird floating person back to me...

Hmm, what would you take as a PF Wizard, generalist, specialist or some other archetype?

Also, why not appear as yourself? once you set up a demiplane, astral projections, clones, lichdom etc...it would be ok to appear as yourself. certainly no one could stop you.

[Edea]

So let's say, you right now suddenly have magic. As in you gain max levels in Wizard (or any other caster class of your choice, psions and such included)

How would you go about proving your powers definitively to the world? (and also your actions/reactions relating to your reveal)

...I wouldn't, as had been stated multiple times by others.

I'd get a personal demiplane set up, properly and in complete secret (all questions regarding sustainability/vulnerability/etc. are wrapped up in that ambiguous 'set up, properly' statement), plane shift there as soon as possible, then cut all direct planar ties with this hellhole and never look back.

[AntiAuthority]

Hmm, what would you take as a PF Wizard, generalist, specialist or some other archetype?

Probably Universalist, as I don't see the downside to having access to all schools of magic. I also forgot that I'd take Mythic Tiers because why not?


Also, why not appear as yourself? once you set up a demiplane, astral projections, clones, lichdom etc...it would be ok to appear as yourself. certainly no one could stop you.

It's not the physical threats to me I'm worried about, so much as the fact that my social life is pretty much over and that anyone associated with me might become a target for people that consider me an enemy.

By social life, I imagine just wanting to go for a walk would make people pull out cameras as soon as they recognize me, start asking for favors and things like that to help them in life. It would mean some very uncomfortable talks with my family members, as they would definitely see me as some sort of freak of nature and probably pressure me to start making money through possibly less than legal means because nobody can stop me. I'd also spend the rest of my life reading the thoughts of literally every person I met to see if they're trying to use my powers for something, along with the possible legions of people crowding outside of where I live (or used to live, as I'd definitely not be where I am now) to try to badger me for help. Essentially, I stop being a regular person and become like an animal at a zoo or something.

By becoming enemies with people... Yeah, I can't see anyone with power being ok with a god-like entity just walking around, doing whatever they want without being under their control. I can handle threats to me, but I can't be everywhere at once to protect the people near me from being kidnapped for example to use as leverage against me for example. Not to mention I'd definitely be hacked either by curious people who want to see what my search history is like or by darker forces who want to find out who I talk to and possibly find anything giving a hint as to how I gained all this power. I meet someone that I think I could get along with... I need to scan their minds to make sure they're not a spy or something. I go to a public area... I need to read the minds of literally everyone there to make sure they're not following me with malicious intent. My best friend gets a new SO... I need to read their minds to make sure they're not actually a spy trying to use my loved ones against me somehow via seduction or something. The only way i could keep them safe is to teleport them into a pocket dimension I created, which isn't fair to them in the least, as they essentially have to give up their lives because they had the misfortune of being associated with me. Then there are the less powerful people who are jealous that they don't have all this power. I also imagine I'd be blamed for not "being everywhere at once" or something or another to help prevent tragedies from occurring, along with possibly being blamed for things I had no part in by people who consider me dangerous.

My life as a human being is over, and I'll spend the rest of my days on Earth being suspicious of literally every new person I (and people associated with me) meet, constantly filmed whenever I go anywhere and approached by strangers, asked to fix everyone's problems/being blamed for the problems I couldn't stop in time and aware that nobody will ever treat me as just a regular person ever again and pretty lonely as a result. This is why I'd just disguise myself as someone different every time I publicly appeared, even as fantastic creatures every now and again just to make a point that I could be literally anyone or anything.