[none]

[snip]
> There's a problem with that.  Age modifiers to attributes (if I remember
> correctly) cannot take any individual member of a race above their racial
> attribute limits.  This puts the smartest Elves (Grey Elves, with a Int
> 19) in a position where they still can't quite make it to the rarified
> realms of 9th level spells, without outside magical influence.  Ioun
> Stones, while providing a boost (the only Int increasing magic item I can
> think of) still top out at Int 19.  This leaves the Elf so close to 9th
> level spells he can taste it, but he can't quite get there.  (Of course,
> if I'm wrong about age modifiers, I withdraw the entire argument.)

IDHTDMGIFOM but IIRC the level limit for an elven mage is 15. With a 18
intelligence, he can make it to 18th level. With a 19 int, he can make
19th level. That, combined with their huge lifespan (remember what they
say about liches?) would give them magics to dread. Of course, if IIDRC,
I'm sure someone will correct me.

> I felt the magical reputation of Elves was a combination of the legends
> of the Sidhe and the fact that the Elven mages have so much more time on
> average to practice with and fine tune the spells they are capable of
> mastering.

Agreed. And to come up with new ones via spell research (I use the GNSB as
an idea-source).

[snip]

> Potions of Longevity eventually fail, and Wishes put a god-awful strain
> on the body (effectivly neutralizing the benefits of Wish-gained youth).
> That's why lichdom becomes such a popular option for high-level mages.
> Perhaps the bulk of the population on that planet is made up of
> archmage-level liches.  (Shiver)  That's DEFINITLY a story for another
> time.  :)

Potions of Longevity fail, but Elixirs of Youth do not. And if you could
make a Beaker of Endless Elixirs of Youth, for instance, you're set for
the next 200 years of so. Or if you could find the equivalent of an
Athasian potion-fruit tree and cast permanency on it (that's one potion
fruit every 1d6 days for at least 100 years) you could not only keep
yourself young but probably all your collegues [sp?] too. That's without
even considering higher-level magics. Besides which, aging from Wish can
be done away with by a high-level priest (Restore Youth, reversed Age
Creature. Sphere of Time, ToM). I think lichdom is a popular option not
because of the lack of aging, but the other securites against dying. (Have
you read the Korel the Necromancer stories?) You can return from your own
death, and you don't have to depend upon anybody to do it. Plus, you don't
need to eat, sleep, or do anything but work on the magic which you love so
much.

> Rich Gant
> "The chart has just three words on it:  'Lichspace.  STAY AWAY!'."

<grin>

JFTR
Hemlock