[Taqwus]

Well... let's say you absolutely max-out initial magic in a path. Level 10. No pretender starts with more than 3 in a path, so that's 7 levels of points. Isn't that something like 8 x (1+2...+7) = 224 design points, even assuming that you're taking an S10 Oracle (0 initial cost, S3 start). Pretty hefty.

If memory serves, empowerment cost is 30 gems for level 1 to 2, and goes up by 15 per level.

So level 10 to 11 is 30+(9*15) = 165 gems.
Level 11 to 12, 180 gems
Level 12 to 13, 195 gems.
Level 13 to 14, 210 gems.
Level 14 to 15, 225 gems.

That's 975 pearls. Maybe fewer -- say, 2 points of boosters are still available, but you're still committing hundreds of gems to a single commander (and in this case, one that moves only via Teleport and has few equipment slots) who might be Feebleminded by an assassin with the Staff of Kurgi and winged shoes, mass Astral Geysered into Perpetual Doom Horror Snacktime, or sent to Inferno/Cocyctus with blood magic. That sort of gem count might be better used in summons; it'd buy five Angelic Choirs led by very strong Seraphim, for instance. Or a completely demented number of Astral Windows to monitor an enemy empire. So there are obvious questions as to what would be worth that expense and risk.

Wish balance depends on what else is being modded. If you're adding monstrously magically strong pretenders, for instance, Wish should be expensive because those pretender types are going to be wished-for.