Wow, that is a long range. I think so long as one of the 8 points of Meteor Swarm hit that spellcaster you’d be fine, but obviously spells like that could screw up even a flying caster.
How are you casting meteor swarm if you're using your 9th level slot for invulnerability?
Two Epic Boons: Boon of High Magic and Boon of Spell Recall. I know the OP said “20th level,” but my assumption was he really meant 20th plus.
I have a 20L+ spellcaster and he designed a level 7 spell for just such occasions - war gate: it opens a 1000’ long by 10’ high portal between 2 “places” within a mile of each other. He casts it also that one side is just in front of the charging army and the exit is just at the rear of the charging army so they attack themselves and create utter confusion. Add a meteor swarm in the middle of the army and it’s pretty well wiped out and so disorganized you should be able to mop up fairly easily.
If you know who the commander/general is I suppose using spells to get to the commander safely using Gate or something so you can cast Dominate Person/Monster on them and just command them to end their side of battle. Preferably in a way nobody would find out you did that. Then a Modify Memory so they never remember what you did. Like you make them think they learned you/their enemy actually had a secret weapon that could wipe them out so they have to retreat and leave you alone. Or that a deal got made to call it off. Or something.
Wizards can be very destructive - but they have far more effective options if they have enough knowledge and time.
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If this city is the Wizard's home, and he has his mage tower within the city walls...
Depending on the nature of the wizard he can cast aid large numbers of allies bolstering them magically. Improving their stats and weapons.
If the wizard is a necromancer and it is their home city, they aren't outnumbered. They have an army of the dead prepared and waiting to be summoned... it is conveniently laid out for them in the city cemetery.
Basically attacking a 20th level wizard at home is suicide.
Anyone who wanted to attack the city would probably seek to deal with the wizard prior to the invasion. Send an equally high level Rogue to back stab him.
Ok some reality. Yes a L20 Wizard is incredibly powerful, so are ancient wyrm dragons and demon lords/arch devils. But a L20so are the PCs of a well made party. And that party should be able to take the wizards out. If only because he can’t focus on any one PC only so the others are basically getting free shots at the Wizard regularly. Someone n the party is almost certainly going to outlast the wizards and deal a killing blow. That is how the game is designed.
Okay, yes, the Wish spell could do anything. But short of that particular game-breaking ability, how could a wizard fight an army?
There's a whole thread on this. With some claiming (me included) that a wizard isn't going to last a round in combat against an army - and the other side claiming essentially that the wizard would wipe out the entire army, no contest, in a jiffy to go home for tea and biscuits.
I think the point really needs to be: Is the army commanders aware they'll face a high level wizard? If so, what plan do they have? And .. their plan really needs to be good enough that they're going for it.
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Really, Wizards aren’t best kitted for fighting armies; the only spell they have that lets them do damage from out of range of retaliation is Meteor Swarm, or possibly Wish to imitate something like Tsunami. Hypothetically they could try to make some kind of attrition play based on that if this is purely a by the numbers case of a 20th level character stomping on a lot of low CR mooks, but I believe both current and historical doctrine says getting one good punch in per day that kills enemies off in dozens only does you so much good against a force in the thousands. Druids are a little better set for kite-and-kill with Storm of Vengeance and Tsunami, but it’s dependent on them being able to get in position to hit from way back. Theoretically possible, but by the same token it’s equally possible an army from a high fantasy setting has doctrine to account for the risk.
Ultimately, while 4th tier full casters have the kit to do a lot of damage, they don’t operate on the kind of scale that lets them do the anime/comics move of casually strolling up and wiping out a whole city or army without mussing their hair. Even the biggest once to twice per day AoE’s only hit a city block’s worth of space at best, and most are a lot smaller. They can totally ruin a lot of peoples’ day, but in absolute terms PCs don’t have anything like a true nuke to try and field.
Whether a Wizard could gut an army or not depends on the size of the army, how resilient their morale is and whether they're anticipating a high level Wizard or not. An early Middle Ages army would either be scattered (and in real world logic, get obliterated by cavalry) or be in formation and be wiped out by Meteor Swarm. A larger army from a later (or earlier) period would survive...but again, if in formation, that's potentially 800 troops wiped out in a flash...it depends on how large the army is as to whether their morale breaks.
It really depends on the size and tactics of the armies in your world. In my world, armies are small, so logically would really struggle against a high level Wizard. But then, high level Wizards are super rare.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Trying to picture a battle against a high level wizard with a mideveal or ancient army gets interesting. The best modern analog of the Wizard is probably mobile (self propelled) artillery. Shoot and scoot at troop concentrations. So your best defense against them is highly dispersed archery - even at disadvantage to hit a couple of hundred archers shooting from 500-600 yards away ( max range) are going to have enough hits each round to take the Wizard out fairly quickly. Put the Wizard on an aerial. Mount and you have the equivalent of ground attack aircraft (A10/puff, etc) but again he has to get in range of concentrations and that puts him in range of archer AA fire. A tier 4 sorceror with the right metamagics is probably a better tool to take on an army with this way as you can outrange the AA.
Whether a Wizard could gut an army or not depends on the size of the army, how resilient their morale is and whether they're anticipating a high level Wizard or not. An early Middle Ages army would either be scattered (and in real world logic, get obliterated by cavalry) or be in formation and be wiped out by Meteor Swarm. A larger army from a later (or earlier) period would survive...but again, if in formation, that's potentially 800 troops wiped out in a flash...it depends on how large the army is as to whether their morale breaks.
It really depends on the size and tactics of the armies in your world. In my world, armies are small, so logically would really struggle against a high level Wizard. But then, high level Wizards are super rare.
Mmm, I think it’s a bit generous to say Meteor Swarm can wipe any conventional formation; if we turn the circles into squares for simplicity you can cover a 160’ x 160’ square or an 80’ x 320’ line. That’s less area than the grassy space of a pro football field even before we shave the corners off. It’ll sure be impressive from ground level, but anything bigger than someone’s personal goon squad is unlikely to have a majority of its troops bunched in that tight. If you’ve got access to VGtM take a look at the goblinoid war camp map. You’ll be able to cover the command center and hit several other structures, but it won’t come close to wiping the camp out. And that’s something scaled so a scene centered on a party of PCs can cope with it, which imo puts it on the low end of the spectrum of army sizes.
Whether a Wizard could gut an army or not depends on the size of the army, how resilient their morale is and whether they're anticipating a high level Wizard or not. An early Middle Ages army would either be scattered (and in real world logic, get obliterated by cavalry)
It doesn't take a level 20 wizard to discourage dense formations, based on groups found in adventures I'd guess something like 1 in 20 of an army will be low level spellcasters, and even stuff as modest as shatter is decently efficient at the job, so you're probably not getting big clots of juicy targets. Against a line formation with 5' spacing, a 40' radius takes out 16 people, so that's 64 people with a single spell, which certainly won't make an army happy but isn't fatal.
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Two Epic Boons: Boon of High Magic and Boon of Spell Recall. I know the OP said “20th level,” but my assumption was he really meant 20th plus.
I have a 20L+ spellcaster and he designed a level 7 spell for just such occasions - war gate: it opens a 1000’ long by 10’ high portal between 2 “places” within a mile of each other. He casts it also that one side is just in front of the charging army and the exit is just at the rear of the charging army so they attack themselves and create utter confusion. Add a meteor swarm in the middle of the army and it’s pretty well wiped out and so disorganized you should be able to mop up fairly easily.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
If you know who the commander/general is I suppose using spells to get to the commander safely using Gate or something so you can cast Dominate Person/Monster on them and just command them to end their side of battle. Preferably in a way nobody would find out you did that. Then a Modify Memory so they never remember what you did. Like you make them think they learned you/their enemy actually had a secret weapon that could wipe them out so they have to retreat and leave you alone. Or that a deal got made to call it off. Or something.
Wizards can be very destructive - but they have far more effective options if they have enough knowledge and time.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
Feeblemind?
I have decided to make a bad signature
I worship JUSTIN BUCKNER
Thanks for reading!
Me and about 4 friends started Dnd at our school and apparently it's really popular now so yay!
Im gonna make a cult of Buckner thread soon.
AGAIN, Thanks for reading!
If this city is the Wizard's home, and he has his mage tower within the city walls...
Depending on the nature of the wizard he can cast aid large numbers of allies bolstering them magically. Improving their stats and weapons.
If the wizard is a necromancer and it is their home city, they aren't outnumbered. They have an army of the dead prepared and waiting to be summoned... it is conveniently laid out for them in the city cemetery.
Basically attacking a 20th level wizard at home is suicide.
Anyone who wanted to attack the city would probably seek to deal with the wizard prior to the invasion. Send an equally high level Rogue to back stab him.
Ok some reality. Yes a L20 Wizard is incredibly powerful, so are ancient wyrm dragons and demon lords/arch devils. But a L20so are the PCs of a well made party. And that party should be able to take the wizards out. If only because he can’t focus on any one PC only so the others are basically getting free shots at the Wizard regularly. Someone n the party is almost certainly going to outlast the wizards and deal a killing blow. That is how the game is designed.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
There's a whole thread on this. With some claiming (me included) that a wizard isn't going to last a round in combat against an army - and the other side claiming essentially that the wizard would wipe out the entire army, no contest, in a jiffy to go home for tea and biscuits.
I think the point really needs to be: Is the army commanders aware they'll face a high level wizard? If so, what plan do they have? And .. their plan really needs to be good enough that they're going for it.
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Really, Wizards aren’t best kitted for fighting armies; the only spell they have that lets them do damage from out of range of retaliation is Meteor Swarm, or possibly Wish to imitate something like Tsunami. Hypothetically they could try to make some kind of attrition play based on that if this is purely a by the numbers case of a 20th level character stomping on a lot of low CR mooks, but I believe both current and historical doctrine says getting one good punch in per day that kills enemies off in dozens only does you so much good against a force in the thousands. Druids are a little better set for kite-and-kill with Storm of Vengeance and Tsunami, but it’s dependent on them being able to get in position to hit from way back. Theoretically possible, but by the same token it’s equally possible an army from a high fantasy setting has doctrine to account for the risk.
Ultimately, while 4th tier full casters have the kit to do a lot of damage, they don’t operate on the kind of scale that lets them do the anime/comics move of casually strolling up and wiping out a whole city or army without mussing their hair. Even the biggest once to twice per day AoE’s only hit a city block’s worth of space at best, and most are a lot smaller. They can totally ruin a lot of peoples’ day, but in absolute terms PCs don’t have anything like a true nuke to try and field.
Whether a Wizard could gut an army or not depends on the size of the army, how resilient their morale is and whether they're anticipating a high level Wizard or not. An early Middle Ages army would either be scattered (and in real world logic, get obliterated by cavalry) or be in formation and be wiped out by Meteor Swarm. A larger army from a later (or earlier) period would survive...but again, if in formation, that's potentially 800 troops wiped out in a flash...it depends on how large the army is as to whether their morale breaks.
It really depends on the size and tactics of the armies in your world. In my world, armies are small, so logically would really struggle against a high level Wizard. But then, high level Wizards are super rare.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Trying to picture a battle against a high level wizard with a mideveal or ancient army gets interesting. The best modern analog of the Wizard is probably mobile (self propelled) artillery. Shoot and scoot at troop concentrations. So your best defense against them is highly dispersed archery - even at disadvantage to hit a couple of hundred archers shooting from 500-600 yards away ( max range) are going to have enough hits each round to take the Wizard out fairly quickly. Put the Wizard on an aerial. Mount and you have the equivalent of ground attack aircraft (A10/puff, etc) but again he has to get in range of concentrations and that puts him in range of archer AA fire. A tier 4 sorceror with the right metamagics is probably a better tool to take on an army with this way as you can outrange the AA.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
Mmm, I think it’s a bit generous to say Meteor Swarm can wipe any conventional formation; if we turn the circles into squares for simplicity you can cover a 160’ x 160’ square or an 80’ x 320’ line. That’s less area than the grassy space of a pro football field even before we shave the corners off. It’ll sure be impressive from ground level, but anything bigger than someone’s personal goon squad is unlikely to have a majority of its troops bunched in that tight. If you’ve got access to VGtM take a look at the goblinoid war camp map. You’ll be able to cover the command center and hit several other structures, but it won’t come close to wiping the camp out. And that’s something scaled so a scene centered on a party of PCs can cope with it, which imo puts it on the low end of the spectrum of army sizes.
It doesn't take a level 20 wizard to discourage dense formations, based on groups found in adventures I'd guess something like 1 in 20 of an army will be low level spellcasters, and even stuff as modest as shatter is decently efficient at the job, so you're probably not getting big clots of juicy targets. Against a line formation with 5' spacing, a 40' radius takes out 16 people, so that's 64 people with a single spell, which certainly won't make an army happy but isn't fatal.