[Cerek the Barbaric]

<font color=plum><font color=red>Raistlin</font> - Defeated a diety (Takhisis) on her home plane by himself. Any PnP gamers will know that killing a diety on their home plane is most likely the greatest challenge any character could face. Is easily the most powerful mage in Krynn.

<font color=yellow>Elminster</font> - The chosen champion (and possible consort) to Mystra, Goddess of Magic in the Forgotten Realms. Power level is equal to a demi-god. Can fight with a sword as well as a staff and/or spells.

<font color=silver>Gandalf</font> - the original fantasy wizard and the mold after which all others are patterned. Gandalf is also not mortal. He is a Maiar, which in Tolkien's Middle Earth, is roughly the equivalent of a lesser god. Wields incredible power, but doesn't do so openly. He can also fight with a sword as well as a staff or spells.

That's a rough breakdown of the advantages each mage has in the conflict. Any of the three could win on any given day. Any of the three could also be beaten on any given day.

Gandalf has the most innate power of the three (Elminster got a lot of help from Mystra whenever the yogurt hit the fan). Raistlin is the weakest of the three (at least on paper), but he still managed to defeat a diety on her homeplane, so he could defeat Elminster and Gandalf both under the right circumstances. I'm not impressed with Raistlin's "ruthlessness". It may be intimidating from a human standpoint, but it isn't jack squat compared to the sheer evil and power of a Balrog - and Gandalf defeated the balrog in single combat.

Of course, Elminster went down to Hell (or Hades or whatever) and slaughtered entire hordes of demons on their homeplane. They may not be as powerful as the resident diety of that plane, but their power is increased on their homeplane and the sheer numbers should have been enough to complete smother Elminster.

So all three have faced - and defeated - unimaginably powerful foes.

One thing is for sure, you would have to watch from a safe distance, but it would be an awesome spectacle to behold.</font>