D&D 5E Wish Spell Use

[Reynard]

I have a question regarding the use of the wish spell to emulate spells of 8th or lower level: when it says the spell need not meet the requirements of the actual spell, what does this mean exactly?

Context: I have a player intending to use a wish to cast simulacrum on a dragon. Simulacrum clearly states it only works on humanoids and beasts. Is this a "requirement? " In other words, can a wish version of a spell ignore the limitations inherent in a spell? Could you use a wish to cast a dominate person on a creature otherwise immune to mind affecting spells, for example.

My interpretation is that they mean components and such, but it is a wish. Is there an official ruling on this? If not, how would you rule as DM?

Thanks.

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[Lanefan]

No idea about official rulings, but my guess is the "need not meet the requirements..." clause is there to allow a DM to let Wish break some rules and borders if so desired. Which in other words means it's up to you as DM to decide whether this idea can work or not, keeping in mind that with this decision you'll be setting a precedent within your game as to what Wish can (or can't) do: relevant if they're high enough level to have a Wish-caster in the party.

 

[Reynard]

No idea about official rulings, but my guess is the "need not meet the requirements..." clause is there to allow a DM to let Wish break some rules and borders if so desired. Which in other words means it's up to you as DM to decide whether this idea can work or not, keeping in mind that with this decision you'll be setting a precedent within your game as to what Wish can (or can't) do: relevant if they're high enough level to have a Wish-caster in the party.

They gained one through an especially fortuitous DoMT experience.

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[Lanefan]

They gained one through an especially fortuitous DoMT experience.

Ah, then that lets you off all kinds of hooks.

Nothing says a Deck wish has to work like a hard-cast wish; those Decks break all kinds of otherwise-hard rules anyway, and so as it's a Deck wish I'd be more inclined to let it do whatever the character wants it to.

 

[Shiroiken]

Assuming the basic "cast an 8th level spell" usage, I believe requirements refers to it being on your spell list and known/prepared, not a limitation on the spell itself, but I could be wrong. You could still use it to create a simulacrum of a dragon or dominate a creature immune to mind affecting spells, but that would go under the third (unlimited) use of wish, which can have severe unforeseen consequences (depending on the creativity and cruelty of the DM).

 

[Blue]

"Requirements" isn't a game term. If I parse it as an english language term, a requirement (something you need to do X) is a different animal than a limitation. So I would probably rule it can get around anything you need to cast the spell, but can't do things like target an invalid creature.

But even there, it's a 9th level spell. I'd be inclined to be more permissive. For example True Resurrection requires touching a creature that has been dead for less than 200 years - could I let it get away with not having the creature to touch, or dead over 200 years? Yeah, probably.

And as [MENTION=29398]Lanefan[/MENTION] pointed out, a Deck of Many Things is a quantum accident already - it doesn't seem to follow any rules except it's own internal logic so you can get away with doing whatever you think will produce the best story without needing to worry about setting a precedent. (Just make sure your players know that.)

 

[Dausuul]

The text of wish says "you don't need to meet any requirements." In other words, you don't have to have it on your class list, or have the material components, or have it prepared, etc.

It doesn't say anything about the target of the spell not having to meet the spell's requirements, and it also doesn't say the spell itself can do anything it couldn't normally do. So I agree with your interpretation: No simulacrum on a dragon.

 

[Sebastrd]

Is the target dragon friendly? If so, I'd make damn sure the simulacrum dragon had a goatee, ifyaknowwhatImeanandIthinkyoudo...

 

[Charlaquin]

“Wish is the mightiest spell a mortal creature can cast. By simply speaking aloud, you can alter the very foundations of reality in accord with your desires.”

I’d be inclined to allow such a spell to reproduce the effects of Simulacrum on a dragon, yes.

If you’re worried about this being too powerful, you could rule that the effect is too dissimilar from the spell it is reproducing and therefore doesn’t count as the reproducing of a spell option; the PC takes damage and has their strength reduced as if they had wished for something outside the scope of reproducing a spell. Alternatively, you could rule that it’s the Deck of Many things that casts Wish, not the player, and therefore it is the Deck, not the PC, that takes the damage (probably destroying the deck in the process), and/or the Simulacrum is loyal to the Deck, not the PC.

 

[ArchfiendBobbie]

Sure, go for it. I don't see why not. You're warping the fabric of reality.

At the same time, won't the gods take issue if the players warp it often enough or heavily enough? I would caution the players that doing too much damage with Wish may have the god of magic wanting to have a thunderbolt or three with the character about it.