r/dndmemes Karsus Expert Nov 08 '24

Good Job WotC Lore meme

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u/ecologamer Nov 09 '24

Wasn’t the eye and hand of vecna things well before they actually created the backstory of vecna? Like his eye and hand were super powerful items, but that was it about the info on vecna. Or am I misremembering the sequence of events

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u/Laranna Nov 09 '24

That is 100% right. Vecna was always a Lich but his eye and hand appeared before he did. Probably an Evil PC from one of the creators home games

(Like Mordenkanen, Tenser, & Elminster)

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u/Git777 Nov 09 '24

No, Vecna is an anagram of Vance, as in Jack Vance the author of the Dying Earth series, which is where DnD lifted it's magic system from. Jack Vance is a white dude.

368

u/TobiasCB Nov 09 '24

Fun fact! The requirement of preparing spells and then forgetting them after casting is called Vancian magic, also named after Jack Vance. In D&D you see this in spellcasters who need to prepare their spells, and lore wise it's how magic the gathering works.

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u/Schackrattan87 Nov 09 '24

Huh! I didn't know that about magic lore. You learn something new every day. :)

121

u/felix_the_nonplused Rules Lawyer Nov 09 '24

In the dying earth books, wizards had to capture demons in geometric thought prisons. When you cast the spell you’re pointing the demon at one weak spot in the construction and out pops the spell effect. Then the demon is gone and you have to reseal a new one in.

Needless to say this was much more dangerous in the books than when it was borrowed for DnD. As a result wizards also carried guns for most of their combat needs. Guns usually don’t try and crawl out of your soul through your eyeballs.

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u/Ed2Cute Nov 09 '24

"Usually"? Even once is too many.

1

u/cheesenuggets2003 Cleric Nov 11 '24

Clearly you haven't needed a gun more than you needed your eyes to stay seated.