What is the coolest thing a wizard could do in a fantasy novel?

[TheWhiteDragon]

One other thing to note - in my book, magic comes at a cost.  To manipulate matter or energy, requires energy.  So, a spell typically causes illness, weakness, fainting, or death depending on the potency of the spell and the magical maturity of the wizard.  Creating a tornado would cause weakness, a rainstorm is practically no harm.  Creating volcanoes from the ground would probably knock someone out and cause considerable illness.  Shutting off gravity would just kill the caster.

Spells can also be strengthened by recitation in tandem with others.  So while a F-0 tornado would cause one to be weak, a F-5 tornado could be created with several wizards in unison with minor weakness...whereas by one's self, it would probably cause a coma or death.

[Delha]

Summon a horde of butterflies to cover the enemy troops, then have the butterflies catch on fire in the sunlight.  That's your hidden plot twist too - they ignite because they're vampire butterflies!  You can paypal me the royalties.

Vampires seem a lot stupider these days. Those butterflies might just sparkle instead of properly burning.

I don't need any lawsuits from Stephanie Meyers' agent.

Parody is a glorious thing. They'd get nowhere.

[bluemage55]

One other thing to note - in my book, magic comes at a cost.  To manipulate matter or energy, requires energy.  So, a spell typically causes illness, weakness, fainting, or death depending on the potency of the spell and the magical maturity of the wizard.  Creating a tornado would cause weakness, a rainstorm is practically no harm.  Creating volcanoes from the ground would probably knock someone out and cause considerable illness.  Shutting off gravity would just kill the caster.

Spells can also be strengthened by recitation in tandem with others.  So while a F-0 tornado would cause one to be weak, a F-5 tornado could be created with several wizards in unison with minor weakness...whereas by one's self, it would probably cause a coma or death.

I stand by my previous suggestion, which would only require enough energy to cause a moderate earthquake.

[TheWhiteDragon]

One other thing to note - in my book, magic comes at a cost.  To manipulate matter or energy, requires energy.  So, a spell typically causes illness, weakness, fainting, or death depending on the potency of the spell and the magical maturity of the wizard.  Creating a tornado would cause weakness, a rainstorm is practically no harm.  Creating volcanoes from the ground would probably knock someone out and cause considerable illness.  Shutting off gravity would just kill the caster.

Spells can also be strengthened by recitation in tandem with others.  So while a F-0 tornado would cause one to be weak, a F-5 tornado could be created with several wizards in unison with minor weakness...whereas by one's self, it would probably cause a coma or death.

I stand by my previous suggestion, which would only require enough energy to cause a moderate earthquake.

I like the idea, but the bad guys are a foot army while the good guys are in a fortress.  I'd think an earthquake (they're all in the same vicinity) would cause considerable damage to the fortress more so than the people.  Even if they could direct the epicenter, a quake big enough to cause a fissure to swallow people would be big enough to take down the fortress wall and towers.

I was considering this for the end of the last book, because the bad guy won't care about losses to both sides.  He'd sacrifice his whole army to kill the good guys and crumble their fortress.

[Delha]

... but the bad guys are a foot army while the good guys are in a fortress. ...

Bearing that in mind, why not a hailstorm? Your dudes in the castle could all get indoors to take shelter, but the guys on the field are just boned. In case it wasn't immediately apparently, I'm talking outright lethal temperatures. Polar level temperature extremes. Even if the storm was only maintained for say, 15-30 min, that's enough to severely incapacitate a good portion of the enemy forces.

[TheWhiteDragon]

Hailstorm already done.  Tornado, check.  Lightning, check.

I was thinking of some other things.  Vapor geysers are interesting.

What for 1-on-1 combat?

Any other mas destruction ideas?

[Norm4eva]

For one on one wizardly combat, all that "Order of the Phoenix" Dumbledore vs Voldemort stuff might look really cool, but for my money it seems so much more cruel and genuinely painful and base when it's just basic force vs. force.  Like the basics of telekinetic manipulation and playing the subject's inertia against itself.  I dunno what all the rules are in your story's world, but since most of the time people who are gifted in magics tend to be a little on the frail side so the idea of trying to take advantage of one of the most basic principles of physics - F = mv - makes me cringe a lot more than two wizards summoning counterspell after counterspell.

"Grr I summon and army of undead"
"I turn it into dust!"
"I turn the dust into a rock-creature!"
"I transmute the rock-creature to mud!"
"My mud becomes lava!!"
"I'll make it raaaain and solidify it!"
.....x100, many days later
"*pant pant*...well I brought my dinosaur, who EATS FORCE-FIELD DOGS"

You can skip all that by turning the first 'counterspell' into a straight-ahead telekinetic blow to the gut.  Wizard can't finish his counterspell and he's staggering backwards.  Take his legs out from under him, and proceed to juggle him MK2 style.  Now you're just throwing him around and summoning blunt objects from the earth (geomancy) and interrupting the momentum that you set him on with pointy rocks and shit.

It just seems like the right tool for the right job.  Basically you don't Wrath the board when there's just a Grim Lavamancer in play

[BlackVise]

How about turning the ground to quicksand? Or causing an area of huge gravity around the enemy, crushing them or something?

Just a couple of ideas.

[TheWhiteDragon]

The gravity issue is probably a no go because of the science of it...but quicksand is a nice idea.  I also considered oxygen deprivation via updrafts or whatnot.  Maybe even summoning a swell of groundwater, then causing fission of the H2 and the O and causing an explosion with a flaming arrow.

My world of magic is limited to scientific possibility, but there can still be a ton of awesomeness in it.

[serracollector]

Well if you want to go with science, remember that creating a per Void, your not only going to remove the oxygen for said wizards to breathe, but also cause the oxygen in their blood to start boiling, and cause them to dissolve.  And a per void can be created any number of ways from a simple "super" gust of wind, or by a mass incineration.

[TheWhiteDragon]

Well if you want to go with science, remember that creating a per Void, your not only going to remove the oxygen for said wizards to breathe, but also cause the oxygen in their blood to start boiling, and cause them to dissolve.  And a per void can be created any number of ways from a simple "super" gust of wind, or by a mass incineration.

I figured it would cause a temporary suffication, rendering many breathless, and some unconscious.  How does the blood boiling work?  Sounds nice

[Delha]

How much understanding of the natural world is there in your world setting? If the knowledge and expertise to induce fission via "flaming arrow" exists, something like a fuel-air bomb should be practically apprentice level for your military casters.

[TheWhiteDragon]

How much understanding of the natural world is there in your world setting? If the knowledge and expertise to induce fission via "flaming arrow" exists, something like a fuel-air bomb should be practically apprentice level for your military casters.

The understanding is actually fairly limited.  There are no complex machines, no hydraulics, no computers...not even anything beyond rudimentary science and medicine.  It's very medieval in feel.  Magic has to be grounded in science, but the casters don't necessarily understand why.  I.e. one spell causes the air to rush out of a room, causing a temporary vacuum.  They use it to extinguish fires.  They will also use it to choke people in close combat by momentarily removing the air.  They don't know exactly how it works though.  They just understand the spell and the effect and how they can utilize it.  They could probably get away with causing water to dissipate into combustible components, but not necessarily know why it works.  Something complex in nature, like directing meteors, stalling gravity, etc., is probably unlikely.  The dissipating water thing is possibly too technical too actually. Just a thought.  I'd like things that are scientifically simple to understand, yet unique and awesome to watch too.

[Delha]

Based on that description, I'm gonna stand by my fuel-air bomb thought. Fanning the flames is hardly a novel concept, so I figure it's hardly a leap of logic to apply that to combustibles.

I've always felt the big danger of magic, is that you have to think very thoroughly consider how it impacts the world setting on a larger scale. The smallest stuff leads to massive changes, and in this case, traditional military warfare doesn't necessarily make a lot of sense. Given all the stuff you've already done, I'm not sure why there's even an army left to fight with.

[TheWhiteDragon]

Based on that description, I'm gonna stand by my fuel-air bomb thought. Fanning the flames is hardly a novel concept, so I figure it's hardly a leap of logic to apply that to combustibles.

I've always felt the big danger of magic, is that you have to think very thoroughly consider how it impacts the world setting on a larger scale. The smallest stuff leads to massive changes, and in this case, traditional military warfare doesn't necessarily make a lot of sense. Given all the stuff you've already done, I'm not sure why there's even an army left to fight with.

There's an army left to fight because things can only really be directed in close combat.  Massive spells like a tornado can work, but have a significant chance of diverting course and wrecking the home team.  Big spells like natural disasters come with great risk to both sides.

The basic setup to this battle is a good school of magicians is fortified in a castle-like school.  The bad school is attacking them to plunder their tomes, knowledge, resources and has amassed an army of non-wizards to lay siege.  If the bad wizards were to go at it alone, they'd be crushed for sure.  if they went balls to the wall, they'd either destroy themselves too or destroy the things they are after in the process.  The good side is, at the moment, outnumbered and just holding the fort.  Any "wipe 'em out" spells have a likelihood of backfiring and taking down their fortification.  Once reinforcements arrive, they will have a braveheart style melee, and magic will be used in closer proximity.

In a nutshell, it's too risky for either side to just use some disastrous annihilation spell.

[Delha]

Sorry for the slow reply, was out of town for a while, had a couple weeks of old posts to catch up on.

A few things: The reason I brought up a hailstorm (which in fairness doesn't need to be a storm, it's really the temperature that matters) was that it's asymmetric. You just make everything in say, a 10 mi radius fifty or sixty degrees colder. If you can keep that up for even a day, you've completely wrecked the guys outside, whereas your guys inside have shelter and mundane solutions. You don't need to aim it, you don't need to worry about destroying your walls.

What I was getting at earlier with my "danger of magic" comment is that it's easy to fall into the trap of trying to answer every problem with a fireball. Magic is cheating, and you can often generate a ridiculous effect from just a small spark.

For example, kicking off an easily cured, non-magical plague within the army would be brutal. You force the enemy casters to waste time and effort healing their people, or accept that their force is going to crumble (both phyiscally and in terms of morale). Enhancing virulence or boosting the efficiency of vectors (eg, airbursting plagueridden bodies instead of just throwing them whole) takes only a little magic for a big impact. Even assuming your guys get infected as well, it's no big deal. The castle only has to cure a few hundred/thousand people, as compared to the tens of thousands who will presumably get infected out there.

The idea behind the fuel-air bomb was similar. If big magic is too taxing, use it in small ways to amplify what you would do already.

[TheWhiteDragon]

I'm pretty much going with that stance on small, localized things to be cool and have a nice effect.  Climate changes are pretty rough since the enemy army wasn't but several miles away when their whereabouts became known.  I'm not sure a sustained, large effort like day-long climate change would be possible without considerable cost to the caster.  Think more in MTG terms of instants/sorceries/auras and less in global enchantments (which have a much larger effect than auras, but a much longer duration than inst/sorc)  Imagine the ability to cast a spell as mana - where the cost increases with power - and with the twist that several casters can "pool" mana - but something like a global enchantment would cost a repetition of the mana cost at every phase of the turn.  E.G. in my world imagine a phase lasts at most 15 minutes.  The equivalent of shatter is very doable and minute in cost.  Shatterstorm is considerably more cost, but more powerful.  Obliterate is ungodly costly and equally devastating to both sides.  Now something like energy flux would be about as potent as shatter, and perhaps a bit more, but despite the initial cost, to maintain over time would cost 2U + 2U + 2U + 2U, etc. for every 15 minutes or so that you want to maintain the effect.  That adds up quick.  Aura's on the other hand "like making an eternal flame" is basically giving something a quality - like first strike on a mon's goblin raider - and after the initial investment, there's no more cost but the effect remains for a specified time (sometimes indefinitely).

I like your ideas though.  Contagion may be hard, because these folks aren't quite to the "microbe" understanding of disease yet.  Just rudimentary treatments of the symptoms like back in the 1400s.  And it would require someone to be extremely sick to start - a simple cold or flu won't suffice - since the fort would be taken before the disease crippled the enemy.  They're in mid battle.  Think Helm's Deep from LotR where the orcs are but a mile away.  What magic could be used at THAT time, from either side, as a mass spell to achieve their goal, or as a close combat trick?  Also consider what would be viable/cool as they actually got to the wall and were met by the defense.

[TheWhiteDragon]

Note to all:  Sorry if it seems like I am disregarding some ideas, but I know what is possible in this world I made, and without posting the whole book, it's hard to convey that idea entirely.  From my posts, I laid it out fairly clearly though.  I REAALLY appreciate all the input from everyone.  It is super helpful, even in thinking through the possibilities/flaws of my own ideas.  It's making me reflect on my own rules to make the magic really work.  Thanks!  Please keep the ideas coming!

[Metman]

For close combat what about the idea of creating a vacuum to draw the enemies breath out temporarily incapacitating him?  Or you could quickly command the plants and animals to aid in battle.  I like the idea of a "shatter" effect. What about a rust or rot effect? What about casting a blinding light in close combat?

My thinking is that the 1 v. 1 battles could be really cool if the wizards are also adept at using constructed weapons and use the spells/magic to aid them.

[TheWhiteDragon]

The wizards ARE adept at weaponry.  It is one of their courses at the school.  There mission is to graduate and be an aide to towns across the world to fight evil and create defense against disasters both natural and human.  They're like the magical coast guard if you will.

"Rot" is a spell that has been used briefly earlier, but will be used to destroy the trebuchets of the enemy. 

Some wizards are already in the woods charming various beasts and birds to help the fight.

The "vaccum" idea I already mentioned.  It is used to smother fires and will be used to choke in close combat.

"Rust" is used to both weaken shields, break screws that hold together contraptions, and to weaken opposing swords.

Those were all mentioned in earlier posts, but thanks for the thoughts.  More are welcome

[JACO]

The coolest thing would be to transform it into something other than a fantasy novel, since those suck.

[Joblin Velder]

The coolest thing would be to transform it into something other than a fantasy novel, since those suck.

This earned a hearty chuckle.

[TheWhiteDragon]

The coolest thing would be to transform it into something other than a fantasy novel, since those suck.

This earned a hearty chuckle.

On that thought, I contemplated changing it into a romance novel...but then I looked in my shorts and saw I wasn't a chick.  So I'll keep it a fantasy novel.

[vaughnbros]

The coolest thing would be to transform it into something other than a fantasy novel, since those suck.

This earned a hearty chuckle.

On that thought, I contemplated changing it into a romance novel...but then I looked in my shorts and saw I wasn't a chick.  So I'll keep it a fantasy novel.

yeh but if you write a good romance novel youll be looking down and find a chick helping you with whats in your shorts

[TheWhiteDragon]

Well, I'll write that next...as for now, what are cool tricks wizards (in my world as described) could do?  I'm revising the scene at the moment and still could use good ideas.

[ELD]

Q: What is the coolest thing a wizard could do in a fantasy novel?
A: Be Bill Copes.

[TheWhiteDragon]

Q: What is the coolest thing a wizard could do in a fantasy novel?
A: Be Bill Copes.

No - Bill Copes IS the magic that wizards use.  His existence is magic + life + the force, wrapped in a warm, toasty grilled stuffed burrito.