The Greatest Wizard the World has Ever Known

[Irthos Levethix]

Six gentlemen are sitting in a well-furnished study, smoking various pipes and sipping at various decanters of multi-hued liquids, discussing the laws of physics and the means of telling them to sit down and shut up.  While each most definitely has a unique appearance, all appear to be brethren of a sort.  The robes, the distinct staves placed about within arms reach, and safely away from the reach of others, the palpable aura of power suffusing the room; all indicate that these are not men to be trifled with, and should be treated with the utmost respect.

Suddenly, a sharp word is spoken, a hush fills the air, like the calm before a storm, and a *CraCK* of power lights the room, splitting the ceiling like an overripe fruit.  As your eyes regain focus, all six men stand facing each other, staffs at the ready, fingers tracing symbols in the air as silent words spill from their lips.  "This is not a good place to be...." you think, as you slowly inch away from their notice......

So, imagine that the greatest literary wizards met up, got pissed off at each other, and had an arcane duel to the death.  Raistlin is there, as is Gandalph and Dumbledore, Pug, Elminster and Merlin.  Who would win?  Why?

[Straw_Man]

Who's writing it? 

As I see it it'd be a tossdown between Pug and Raistlin. Both have taken out God-like beings.

As written if Elminster isn't winning Mystara comes down and smites the poor bastard fighting him.

[Tshern]

Wtf? Why would Gandalf be there? Plus, you forgot some people who'd beat the everliving snot out of all of those simultaneously. Namely DC Comics' golden boy Dr. Fate.

[Irthos Levethix]

I wrote it, sitting here at my PC at work.  Consider all of them to be at the height of their power.

I +1 Raistlin for the win, he did take down the gods.

And feel free to add any other iconic wizards, but lets keep them from literature.  No movies, no video games.

[Straw_Man]

Which author I mean. Like I said, if Greenwood's writing it Elminsters undefeatable. Hickman and Feist seem pretty balanced, where as Tolkien .... you know, I have no idea how he'd write it. Gandalf powers up to the translucent? The plaid? Who knows?

[Tshern]

Are comics considered literature? If so, refraining from cosmic entities and the like, I am so totally tossing my coin to Dr. Fate.

[Irthos Levethix]

Are comics considered literature?

Good question.  I mean, it is written and printed, complete with pretty pictures.  I'd still say no though, based off my 8th grade teacher disallowing a book report on "The Death of Superman".  But, Ms. Snagglepus isn't here, so howbout popular opinion on whether comics should be allowed.



On a side note, who the fuck is Dr. Fate?

[TheWordSlinger]

I vote yes for comics=literature, and would also like to know who this Dr. Fate character is.
I would also move to include Rand al'Thor in this battle of Arcane Might, because I'm currently reading the Wheel of Time series (about halfway through Crown of Swords) and I must say that The Dragon Reborn could wipe the floor with Gandalf's white clothed behind.

[altpersona]

id go with fate also.

the writer matters alot, elminster is the og cheater of mystra..

it would be nice to think merlin would win, but realistically he was a bad ass in a world with nearly no magic..

if jk was writing it dumbbeldore would win, because the whole world lovers him, and love conquers all..

i have to say it comes down to initiative anyway... who ever wins casts time stop and goes directly to win and collects $200

[Straw_Man]

I vote yes for comics=literature, and would also like to know who this Dr. Fate character is.
I would also move to include Rand al'Thor in this battle of Arcane Might, because I'm currently reading the Wheel of Time series (about halfway through Crown of Swords) and I must say that The Dragon Reborn could wipe the floor with Gandalf's white clothed behind.

But could he stay sane doing it?

And a +1 to why Dr. Fate is up there. What I've read in Books of Magic and watched on JSA doesn't put him on that power level.

Is power the only consideration for the contest? Because I'd like to include John Constantine from Hellblazer 

[TheWordSlinger]

But could he stay sane doing it?

Who cares? He'd probably fight better crazy, Breaking the World sounds pretty devestating to me...

[PhaedrusXY]

elminster is the og cheater of mystra..

[Tshern]

Watching JSA says nothing of Fate's real abilities. On panel he has brutally manhandled cosmic representatives of chaos and whatnot...

[ninjarabbit]

I have to nominate Dr Doom for this one. The guy is a gesault wizard/artificer and would have taken the world over many times over if it wasn't for those meddling superheroes.

[altpersona]

doom is a putz, i have never seen him do much beyond bark orders / threats, and shake his fist.

[Tshern]

Except that Doom's magic sucks balls. He is not too competent a mage, even Marvel 616 Earth has half a dozen more competent wizards around. Talisman, Shaman, Dr. Strange... And even those combined get utterly decimated by Fate.

Edit: Unless you of course count the stupidity we know as Doom vs Beyonder here. Remember that that event didn't officially happen as it was retconned by Marvel.

[ninjarabbit]

Well then I'll get a job writing at Marvel Comics and make Doom teh uber-wizard

[tarbrush]

I vote yes for comics=literature, and would also like to know who this Dr. Fate character is.
I would also move to include Rand al'Thor in this battle of Arcane Might, because I'm currently reading the Wheel of Time series (about halfway through Crown of Swords) and I must say that The Dragon Reborn could wipe the floor with Gandalf's white clothed behind.

Noooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!  Save yourself!!!!

As the mighty QC directs "Friends don't let friends read Jordan"

I reread the series about a year ago and managed to entirely omit one book (8 I think) without actually noticing, so glacial and intorverted is the plot.

[Straw_Man]

so glacial that I got bored. I stopped at the book which covered the span of a few hours  :confused

[Irthos Levethix]

Dr Doom is an all-out loser in this contest.  Anyone that can be repeatedly defeated by the freaking "Fantastic" Four is a douche.  In fact, I nominate Dr. Doom for Douchebag of the Week. 
Rand 'al Thor seems more like a sorcerer to me than a wizard, he didn't read books on how to channel, thats one of the issues that's driving him nuts. 
These two examples pose the question : What defines the wizard?  Answer : Players Handbook, pg 55.
So now Dr. Doom sucks twice.  And while I could google Dr. Fate, it won't be the same xp as reading the comics, so could you please elaborate a bit on him? 

I think the real contest would come down between Pug, Raistlin, and Elminster.  Sure, E's got Mystra, but he would be fighting two guys that each took down gods, by themselves.  So.....

Of course, Galdalf's a wild card because Tolkien never really demonstrates his power.  He's supposed to be big, and badass (so he's metal?) but he never DOES anything, not really.  He took down a way advanced Balor... meh.  I'm of the mind that if he's supposed to be an "angel" or something, then he loses by default.

And Dumbledore loses because he touches little boys.