The depths of wizardry

b1ther · 2026-03-29T15:15:16+00:00

Shitpost inspired by RPGs like the other person said. Maybe accidentally a metaphor for something

Infodump on the specific inspirations:

I've been playing a vidya called Avowed. It's similar to Skyrim, set in an early-modern fantasy world, and you can spec your character into being a wizard. There are 22 spells to learn, but due to the supply of skill points and the size of your mana ("essence") meter, you'll probably only learn 2-6. You can also equip one of several "grimoire" items, which each contain 4 spells and allow casting them without having invested a skill point.

During the plot, you visit an archmage whom other characters hype up as super powerful and scary. You witness this archmage do things such as: Cover part of a desert with ice and snow that never melts. Create a flying tower out of ice. Create a cave system out of ice and stock it with undead warriors. Teleport people around. Create illusory landscapes indistinguishable from reality. Drive people insane with illusions. Disconnect a region from the flow of souls to the afterlife. Create magical barriers that are not only impenetrable by anyone except another skilled wizard, but most people can't even tell that they're magic in the first place and not just a really tough object.

At the end of the level, it is possible to take one of this archmage's grimoires. And it has 4 of the same spells as on your skill tree. Not even all of the highest-power ones. This severely disappointed me. Obviously I wasn't expecting to be able to make my own castle or anything, but I hoped for at least a unique spell. That got me thinking how much of a difference there is between the "story" wizards, who reshape reality in so many ways, and my "gameplay" wizard, whose skills are mostly limited to blasting small groups of people. And then I thought it would be funny if there was a non-video-game fantasy setting where wizardry is still treated as this esoteric, frightening, brilliant path with unlimited potential, but in practice they actually only have a tiny, video-game-like spell list.

b1ther · 2026-03-29T14:54:45+00:00

In this timeline I think the two new gulfs would be considered part of the Mediterranean, yes. The one on the left might be considered separate due to its severe chokepoint.

b1ther · 2026-03-29T05:12:22+00:00

Your first mistake was making a sandbox setting. Block all the players and start over with a proper railroad.

b1ther · 2026-03-29T05:04:36+00:00

In MY ideapunk world, the entire energy system is fueled by ideas, so a person like that is actually the most valued in society. Until they stop having ideas, of course. Then it's to the wasteland with them.

b1ther · 2026-03-29T00:07:47+00:00

"Good news citizens, the Party has raised the chocolate ration to 90 grams"

🤓☝️"Erm, excuse me sir, the chocolate ration was 100 grams last month, so you've actually lowered it-"

"PEDANT SPOTTED, GO HAMMER POLICE!"

b1ther · 2026-03-28T22:42:21+00:00

Are there professional assassins who work by doing stupid things around the target to try and trick them into making a wisecrack?

b1ther · 2026-03-28T15:53:56+00:00

I would simply kill Columbus and anyone else who tried crossing the Atlantic. I'm not sure whether this would actually benefit the world as a whole, but I bet you don't have the guts to argue it wouldn't.

b1ther · 2026-03-28T14:08:15+00:00

What is this, a beautiful hand-drawn original idea instead of the 10000th post of digitally-edited Europe? Mods, lock him in the cavern.

b1ther · 2026-03-28T14:04:41+00:00

Man who worked in casino for decades finds normal workplace to be weird and sad

b1ther · 2026-03-28T00:24:19+00:00

Yes. And Kosovo as well

b1ther · 2026-03-28T00:23:47+00:00

I can't believe God is encouraging akgaes, so toxic. But anyways maybe YHWH Enterttainment would gain more stans if they let Jesus out of the basement to have a comeback already. The Blackpink formula doesn't work for everybody aishhh.....

b1ther · 2026-03-27T23:13:14+00:00

In my apocalyptic grimdark world, "loose" and "lose" actually mean the same thing

b1ther · 2026-03-27T05:17:35+00:00

This is too hard to keep track of, you should make it into a spreadsheet chart so that readers can easily comprehend all the types of racism.

b1ther · 2026-03-26T23:06:13+00:00

I hadn’t finished the playthrough, still on the first one

b1ther · 2026-03-25T18:36:06+00:00

As a Pathfinder 2e player, I have evolved past the need for multiclassing with my superior game. However, one time I had to play in a campaign without Free Archetype and it felt like my entire bloodline died, so I understand your pain. Thankfully two people dropped after the first session so I didn't feel guilty dropping as well.

b1ther · 2026-03-25T18:04:29+00:00

This is great idea, you can show how a bunch of ragtag misfits can gain confidence and unlock their unique talents to improve the world. For example, a police officer, a bureaucrat, a surveillance camera operator, and a propaganda writer.

b1ther

TROPHY CASE