whenever some of the big-name wizards in FR lore are brought up, they are often compared to other wizards of great power. If you had to rank Elminster, Gromph Baenre, Halaster Blackcloak, Szass Tam, and Larloch in terms of wizardry alone, where would you put them? As far away as possible. In another universe should be far enough. ;}
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 24, 2020
1)
However, to answer you seriously: by wizardry alone (mastery of spells, experience with using them, creativity in making new ones and modifying existing ones, and understanding the underlying raw magic—and leaving out the… 2)
…sanity of the caster, their arsenal of enchanted items and spell library, and any divine assistance or favor), I’d put them like this:
Larloch a shade ahead of Halaster Blackcloak, then Elminster, then Gromph Baenre, then…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 24, 2020
3)
…Szass Tam. (With the Srinshee ahead of them all, and The Simbul and then Khelben just a whisker behind Elminster.)
If you do factor in sanity and rank them by effectiveness in battle, on their own and without items and not on… 4)
…their home turf with any wards, defenses, and so on, then the order shifts to Elminster a shade ahead of Larloch, then Khelben, Gromph, Halaster, The Simbul, and Szass Tam.
El’s strengths are his flexibility and vast practical…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 24, 2020
5)
…field and back-alley experience, as well as Weavemastery, and Larloch’s are his utter calm and his many, many years of patiently mastering a vast and growing library of spells.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 24, 2020
How about Ioulaum? I always considered he is the most powerful one. But he is unable to move freely as a downside. Ioulaum is one of the most CREATIVE/innovative spellcasters. Yet years behind re. current spells and castings, lacks back-alley/street-fighting experience, and can readily be fettered in any battle against a Weavemaster (such as El). So: just behind Larloch.#Realmslore
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 24, 2020
A pleasure. I really dislike ranking spellcasters against each other, as the real answer is always "it depends on the situation/what else they're doing, trying, or enduring at the time," but seeing my thinking can be DM-helpful.#Realmslore
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 24, 2020
