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I also am wary of the new trend at WOTC. More than that, I really fear a "mainstreaming" of the hobby that would be required for the growth level that some are considering. To make the industry larger, you'll need to appeal to a wider audience. To do that, you'll need to change the product...

The problem that Spell is having is simple. You are trying to make real-world sense out of a system designed for narrative amusement. It is not a scientific model. The game world uses the same process as making a movie, or reading a book. "Suspension of disbelief" is essential - and you...

Another option is to have the BBEG take the "Bond Bad Guy" approach. The PCs burst in - and there's the wizard! He calmly stands, looks at the PCs, and says "So, here you are. What took so long? Well, it doesn't really matter. I'm sorry to disapoint you so, but I have other pressing...

This is a different view of the text than I had - but I can see your viewpoint. If I concede to your view, then I believe that the calling feature of Gate would indeed be problematic at best - more likely broken. The text of the spell certainly becomes more muddled the closer you examine it...

Mephistopheles, I see your logic, but here's where I found the difference. Here's the entry for "Calling Creatures": It seems to me that the first paragraph is defining the "Calling" ability in overview. With the spell you can A) call a "particular being" or B) call a "kind of being". They...

If the PCs are gated somewhere, they will 1) not be forced to go, but can choose to; 2) if they go, they will not be controlled, and 3) they can leave at will anytime they choose. They are "unique" beings. There's only one John the 7th level fighter from the wrong side of Greyhawk, or...

My case and his are the same. Mine just was funny. :) His example was based on PCs sending in a CR 30 creature to fight the battle - one "a few CR above his level" so that he gets lots of XP for no loss. That's the exact setup I presented. The problem here is again players wanting something for...

Here's how I see it: 1) "Extraplanar" is a modifier to a creature type. Just like some creatures are "cold" creatures - those creatures have the "cold" subtype, and that has specific game effects. It doesn't just mean they need a jacket. See the entry for "Angel, Solar" on page 12 of the...

You failed to read the entire spell. Of note: 1) "second effect of the gate spell is to call an extraplanar creature to your aid" The mage must be an extraplanar creature. Also, your definition of "aid" must be different than mine. 2) The above point is irrelevent because the spell...

Or the BBeG casts Dispel Magic on the Astrally projected party. *POOF* they disappear. Sure 9th level magic is powerful - but the enemies also have access to the spells, knowledge, and counter-measures required to make combat challenging for high level play. Unless you are sending your...

I think there are more ways to keep challenges balanced than you are accounting for. Sure, Gate is powerful. However: first, the players are toying with creatures of far greater power - and that can bring role-playing consequences or even direct retribution (say from a deity who's tired of the...

Ah, clearly I have misjudged you. I recognize now the least-square approach your arguments use. Obviously I should have countered with Kingman's Gambit. Had I done that, you surely would have seen the error of your wicked ways. Perhaps in the future, you'll remember to gloss the rabbit...

Bah. Banning spells just because they are powerful is a sad replacement for not wanting to take the time to make the powerful stuff work the way they were intended. If your solution to dealing with powerful stuff is to ban it, then you should keep your campaign under 15th level or so. A good DM...

The 20th level fighter in my campaign can dish out 200+ points of damage per round, given the right circumstances. The mage can come close, but only a few times before those spells are gone - but he can do it usually regardless of the abilities of the enemy. That's fairly balanced. I don't...

I don't find gate that bad. I assume it's the "creature calling" part that you object to. First it has a 1000 XP cost. Second, you are somewhat limited (to 2x caster level) in the HD of the creature if you intend to use it to fight. Sure you can get more, but a DM would be an idiot if he...

Bah. Those spells are only "broken" when used in a campaign with a DM who either 1) is unprepaired for the level of play he has chosen or 2) is just running the same style of scenario he's been using since 1st level. I'm running a campaign that has reached the beginnings of epic level, and...

Having run my current campaign from pre-first level (starting when the PCs were children) up to 21st level (at the current day) and making plans for the future, I've experienced a shift in game play. D&D at low levels (1st to around 9th) is almost a totally different game than at mid-levels...

If you rotate the map, there is a problem if you intend for your new map to be scientifically acurate with regards to weather patterns. Basically, the flow of air will be drastically different, which will totally change the climate. Mountains will no longer block the air flow, resulting in a...

He wasn't helpless. He was armed with a basket of scorpions! :eek: Unfortunatly, he was disarmed and suffered some non-lethal reprisals!

Many seem to be forgetting that one of the major factors with a Vow of Poverty (or nearly anything in the BoED) is the *roleplaying* aspect. It's integral. Essential. I'd be interested in the background story of a man who has devoted his life to giving everything he has and obtains to others...