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.

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

[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

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.