20th level power - Who do ya trust?

[Andor13]

So there are a couple of "What would you do as a 20th Level 'X'" threads floating around, and I thought it might be interesting to invert the question a bit.

Suppose instead of being offered 20th level powers in a class, you had the chance to grant one person 20 levels in a class. You get to pick the person, and the class. That's it. You make no build choices in any way. You have no control over what they do, most explicitly including no ability to undo the gift. If you give your best friend 20 levels in Wizard and they decide to say thank you by trapping your soul in a miniature glass unicorn you are SOL.

No historical figures, ideally it should be someone you know but if you really want to make the Pope a 20th level Cleric, or Kim Jong-Un a 20th level Dread Necromancer, I suppose you can. If you want to give your kid brother, who always wanted to be a rock star, 20 levels in Bard you can do that too.

Is there anyone you trust that much? And what class would you give them?

[MaxiDuRaritry]

The twin brother I see every day in the mirror, and I'd say spell point generalist wizard.

[Deophaun]

Risen Martyr. Don't much care who. They're not my problem after 10 levels.

[Ghen]

I would pick my father to be a 20th lvl favored soul. I know I don't get to decide what he does after that point build-wise, but I'm assuming that he would put his +5 ability point increase into Dexterity. Since his parkinsons disease has taken his score there to zero, this would effectively be restoring his ability to move.

I would also find it very interesting from a scientific standpoint to observe him and see if he is capable of casting spells, since the divine power of favored souls must come from a god of some kind. Note that if he couldn't cast, it might just be that his relevant score isn't high enough to allow for casting (wisdom or charisma, I can't remember which and I'm away from my books), but if he COULD cast something... that would definitely be interesting, to say the least.

It's also possible that he may simply choose not to attempt to cast anything, ever. Be it for fear of answering this question, or the belief that humanity should never really "know" and it should always be a faith-thing, or whatever other reason. Who knows.

[Elricaltovilla]

I'd trust my brother with it, and he'd trust my expertise to help him pick appropriate feats and spells and stuff.

My girlfriend I feel similarly about. She thinks much more highly of me than I do.

[GabesHorn]

I give myself 20 Wizard

[Quertus]

I really wouldn't trust anyone with this kind of power, myself included. If I had to, I might...

Give myself the power of a 20th level Wizard (yes to spell points).

Make Red Fel - or certain very evil politicians - into 20th level Paladin's.

Give 20 levels in... something that gives immortality... to the person I thought was the best example of humanity.

Make a bid for divinity, and make the girl who most recently flashed me a 20th level Cleric of me.

[Deophaun]

Make Red Fel - or certain very evil politicians - into 20th level Paladin's.

Even if they fall, they're still 20th level warriors. A single feat could get them immortality.

[Telonius]

My wife, 20 levels of Cleric, for much the same reason I'd pick Cleric for myself. They're hard to screw up with bad feat choices, and can choose different spells each day. After about a week, and all of our various ailments and physical issues have been taken care of, it'd still keep some everyday utility (Heroes' Feast, Endure Elements, most of the Divination line).

[Calthropstu]

I made this exact thread a few weeks ago.
It died with everyone saying "I wouldn't trust anyone."

I would go say my daughter and go Oracle, but ONLY after she was 25.

I pick Oracle because it has a real price for its power, and I like that.

[Jack_Simth]

I made this exact thread a few weeks ago.
It died with everyone saying "I wouldn't trust anyone."

I would go say my daughter and go Oracle, but ONLY after she was 25.

I pick Oracle because it has a real price for its power, and I like that.

Not everyone, but it's one of those questions where there's not much to say. With the "what would you do with X" threads, you can state personal planned methods, thoughts about what effects others' planned methods might have, and so on, which means there can be a fair amount of back & forth. This question basically amounts to "a name and a class, maybe a tiny amount of reasoning behind it" - but that's a one-and-done. Your choice is entirely subjective, and few can really comment on it (it's unlikely that you know my father, for instance, and even if you do happen to know him, it's unlikely you've connected me to my screen name to make the connection).

[Celestia]

Well, my mom would become a supervillain. My sister would also probably become a supervillain. My dad would probably do nothing. I have no other family of note, and I have no friends. I guess I have no one to give powers to.

[Andor13]

The twin brother I see every day in the mirror, and I'd say spell point generalist wizard.

I give myself 20 Wizard

I see I wasn't explicit enough. It's give someone else class levels. If you could give them to yourself it's merely a 'pick your class' thread.

Well, my mom would become a supervillain. My sister would also probably become a supervillain. My dad would probably do nothing. I have no other family of note, and I have no friends. I guess I have no one to give powers to.

Well I did say you could use anyone living if none of your circle of aquaintances make the cut. You could always just give Jon Stewart 20 levels in Barbarian just for lols.

[MaxiDuRaritry]

I see I wasn't explicit enough. It's give someone else class levels. If you could give them to yourself it's merely a 'pick your class' thread.

What, you think I'd give something like that to someone else? No.

[Elricaltovilla]

Not everyone, but it's one of those questions where there's not much to say. With the "what would you do with X" threads, you can state personal planned methods, thoughts about what effects others' planned methods might have, and so on, which means there can be a fair amount of back & forth. This question basically amounts to "a name and a class, maybe a tiny amount of reasoning behind it" - but that's a one-and-done. Your choice is entirely subjective, and few can really comment on it (it's unlikely that you know my father, for instance, and even if you do happen to know him, it's unlikely you've connected me to my screen name to make the connection).

I very much agree with this. The problem with giving others class levels is that we can't know what they'll do with them. So discussion can't go much further than "I pick this person for this reason... Here's hoping I didn't **** this up."

[Telonius]

Thinking a bit more about my answer ... I don't think I'd ever have married someone I wouldn't trust with being a 20th-level character. Maybe that ought to go in the relationship advice thread?

[Ruethgar]

My brother, 20th level sorcerer and hope to the nine divines he remembers what I said about Mirror Mephits to grant me some divine ranks and what 3.5 says about sorcerer spell selection so he can pick up the ones I keep mentioning in conversations along these lines.

[Andor13]

I very much agree with this. The problem with giving others class levels is that we can't know what they'll do with them. So discussion can't go much further than "I pick this person for this reason... Here's hoping I didn't **** this up."

I am finding the responses interesting, especially the 'yes, because' ones, but to be fair I was at least in part motivated by the sheer sociopathy displayed by a few posts in the 20th level Wizard thread. I was curious to see if that degree of self-interest was strong enough to prevent someone from handing out the power to save the world, for fear of not being the benefactor. And on that score, I have my answers.

[zlefin]

I'd have to do some research to find a suitable candidate. In the past, Mr Rogers would've been a good choice by all accounts.
Not sure about who would be a good choice today. But I'm sure someone could be found with enough looking.

class-wise, I'd have to consider, some classes create more potential problems than others; many of the martial classes wouldn't really be that much of a threat to the world, just a boost, so it wouldn't be too problematic on average if they didn't turn out well.

I'd have to review the alternate casting classes to see which ones have options that could turn out poorly/be used for evil. Maybe the healer class? haven't read that one in awhile.
of course, I'd also look to cheese the questioni by picking a class with some strict requirements which would limit the person. (i.e. picking Paladin means I don't have to worry as much about them turning evil since it'd cause a power loss)

[Elricaltovilla]

I am finding the responses interesting, especially the 'yes, because' ones, but to be fair I was at least in part motivated by the sheer sociopathy displayed by a few posts in the 20th level Wizard thread. I was curious to see if that degree of self-interest was strong enough to prevent someone from handing out the power to save the world, for fear of not being the benefactor. And on that score, I have my answers.

I think in practicality people would be a lot more time with their abilities than they describe on the internet. The (quasi)anonymity of the forum lends itself to extreme statements. Then you have people who are playing characters or personas on the forum with more extreme views or others that take it as an opportunity to joke around.

I'd posit that this gets you a pretty skewed image of how someone would act when given that much power.

[Peat]

I'm turning my cat into something with immortality.

[Calthropstu]

I'm turning my cat into something with immortality.

This sounds like a cat-astrophy of epic proportions. "All hail muffins."

[MaxiDuRaritry]

Now that I think about it, I would probably go with Ellen DeGeneres. Because she's awesome. And I would probably go with wizard 20. Because wizards are the best.

[Calthropstu]

Now that I think about it, I would probably go with Ellen DeGeneres. Because she's awesome. And I would probably go with wizard 20. Because wizards are the best.

This would be truly horrifying.

And explaining why would violate forum rules.

[Troacctid]

It seems rude to give someone phenomenal power without asking permission first. After all, it's a major life change that carries a lot of responsibility and is likely to result in lots of attention. If I had the power to grant this sort of thing, I'd want to talk it over with the person first.

Of course I might consider giving 20 levels of Mountebank to someone I'd like to see literally go to Hell, but ultimately that's too risky if they manage to get loose, so I don't think I'd go for it.

[MaxiDuRaritry]

This would be truly horrifying.

And explaining why would violate forum rules.

Meh. She'd have my vote for Queen of Everything.

All hail our Not-So-Evil Overlady!

[ExLibrisMortis]

It's a hard choice between Commoner 20--the "nobody can be trusted with this much power" principle--and Artificer 20--the "greatest advancement in science and technology" ideal. For the former, I'd probably go with my father, who is very responsible and will pick Knowledge skills in any case, which shouldn't break the game world too much (as compared to Diplomacy). For the latter, uh... can I pick Einstein? I just like the idea of Einstein returning to Earth as an artificer 20.

[GrayDeath]

Puh.....I dont know anyone I would TRULY trust with the higher Power Stuff (if I am honest including myself, but being myself I would give myself the benefit of the doubt^^).

So I would probably make my Mom a Healer 20. And hope she doesnt realize chain gating. ^^

Now back to playing, 10 Minutes break over ^^

[Buufreak]

I would pick my father to be a 20th lvl favored soul. I know I don't get to decide what he does after that point build-wise, but I'm assuming that he would put his +5 ability point increase into Dexterity. Since his parkinsons disease has taken his score there to zero, this would effectively be restoring his ability to move.

I would also find it very interesting from a scientific standpoint to observe him and see if he is capable of casting spells, since the divine power of favored souls must come from a god of some kind. Note that if he couldn't cast, it might just be that his relevant score isn't high enough to allow for casting (wisdom or charisma, I can't remember which and I'm away from my books), but if he COULD cast something... that would definitely be interesting, to say the least.

It's also possible that he may simply choose not to attempt to cast anything, ever. Be it for fear of answering this question, or the belief that humanity should never really "know" and it should always be a faith-thing, or whatever other reason. Who knows.

You're good people. I like that.

It seems rude to give someone phenomenal power without asking permission first. After all, it's a major life change that carries a lot of responsibility and is likely to result in lots of attention. If I had the power to grant this sort of thing, I'd want to talk it over with the person first.

That's a solid point. That said, I'm certain my brother would gladly take 20 levels of X caster, and I know his morals and thoughts well enough to be fairly certain he wouldn't go supervillain with it.

... but I have been wrong before.

[MaxiDuRaritry]

I guess I could always give a full complement of levels in violet fungus to Kim Jong-un.