Abusing monster abilities

[VirgilCaine]

Shambling mounds gain 1d4 Con each time they are damaged by electricity.

There's a special metal in Volo's Guide to All Things Magical (which is 2e and FR, but there you go) that damage's anyone that touches it with electrical damage.

You could easily design a 0th or 1st level spell that deals one point of electrical damage automatically and still utilise the crazy possibilities of Shambling Mounds. Make a few wands of the spell and zap it for an hour or two and you have a ridiculously hard-to-kill well-camouflaged creature.

The problem is controlling Shambling Mounds.

 

[AuraSeer]

The OP used Lesser Planar Ally as an example, and that's "conjuration (calling)" which I think doesn't have that same issue.

Right. The planar ally spells work, as do other Calling effects. That advantage is offset by the fact that Called critters tend to need payment for their services. (Planar binding doesn't require payment though... and I am suddenly struck by the idea of a bound lantern archon being used, unwilling, as a torch factory. That seems like an adventure idea I need to write up.)

But it's an instantaneous spell. The magic's already over.

Are you sure about that? In my copy of the SRD, continual flame is listed as Permanent.

 

[catsclaw227]

Are you sure about that? In my copy of the SRD, continual flame is listed as Permanent.

You are correct, it is a permanent spell, and can be dispelled and would likely be, if the summoned archon pops away.

But I think his argument about it being a SLA instead of a spell has merit. IANARL, so I don't know how the RAW covers this. In my game it would be an interesting world-building thing like Kamikaze Midget says.

 

[DMH]

I like the idea of an extraplanar force conscripted to do some good work for the town or army via planar ally and related spells. That high-level cleric is spreading Good by lighting his town, giving the thieves and muggers less places to hide, making people feel safer knowing that they're being watched over by celestial beings themselves.

I believe that idea inspired this:http://towercoda.net/index.php option=com_content&task=view&id=64&Itemid=31

 

[Slife]

Are you sure about that? In my copy of the SRD, continual flame is listed as Permanent.

Oops. Screwed that one up.

 

[pawsplay]

I've always been more fascinated by the notion of using Summon Monster to summon a lantern archon and telling it to shoot a baby dead.

 

[Prince of Happiness]

I've been known to dry myconids and brew them into a tea. Very mind-expanding. What, why are you looking at me like that? I can quit any time I like.

 

[BullMarkOne]

Shambling mounds gain 1d4 Con each time they are damaged by electricity.

Combined liberally with shocker lizards, or a ring of shocking grasp this can be fairly entertaining.

 

[I'm A Banana]

I believe that idea inspired this:http://towercoda.net/index.php opti...id=64&Itemid=31

A 404 error?

 

[DMH]

I don't see a break in my post??