Thanee: You can make just about any request you like of a planar ally. However each deity tends to send a particular creature for each version of the spell. I will need to search for the rules on this, but Mayaheine is likely to send Archons or other LG-aligned outsiders for each individual spell. In other words, every time you cast lesser planar ally, you will always get a particular type of creature (perhaps a hound archon). If I can’t find Mayaheine’s list, I will choose which creatures are keyed to each spell and let you know in advance so that you know which types of creatures you are likely to get for each spell. You will always get the same type of creature unless you specifically request an individual (who may or may not answer according to my discretion).
In the case of the
Planar Ally spell (the 6th level one), it would then most likely be the Trumpet Archon, I guess... LG and 12 HD (for the three spells I would expect the following from a LG deity... Lesser: Hound Archon; Standard: Trumpet Archon; Greater: Planetar). The Trumpet Archon is one of the two I meant (the Ghaele Eladrin is the other).
According to the rules “a spell-like ability has no verbal, somatic, or material component, nor does it require a focus or have an XP cost.” Hence if the creature has raise dead as a spell-like ability, it would technically cost nothing for them to cast it. However if the creature actually casts spells as opposed to having spell-like abilities, the creature will require the actual material component in addition to the normal cost for the planar ally spell. A summoned creature on the other hand “refuses to cast any spells that would cost it XP, or to use any spell-like abilities that would cost XP if they were spells.” In general, whether a creature is summoned or called, it is hesitant to use any spells or abilities that do or would cost gold pieces or XP. They will typically require a service in lieu of an actual gift of gold pieces in order to prove that the person receiving the spell or ability is worthy of their deity’s cause. I hope that makes sense.
Yep. As I said, I wouldn't really expect the material component to come for free (it's a spellcasting ability, no spell-like ability), even though that would certainly be nice.
Anyways, this might be a good "fallback spell" (we would have to keep a bunch of diamonds ready, though; or at least appropriate amounts of gold, as I suppose a creature that has the spell prepared (i.e. in its typical spell list) also has the material component around, otherwise it would be a bit silly to actually prepare it, so paying it in gold should work, too)... will have to think about whether that is better than to have
Summon Monster VI at the ready (which is also quite nice... always good to have another fighter around
). At the very least, it would give us access to raising the dead if necessary.
A note about dispel magic: Not that I am trying to convince you to take it, Thanee, but dispel magic is still enormously useful at high levels because of the simple fact that it can be used as an area dispel when fighting many enemies at once. With the opportunity to keep rolling a dispel check on each spell affecting a target at least once, you often have a fairly good chance to dispel one effect on all targets in the area. A target with four spells active means you get up to four chances to dispel one effect on the target so your chance to roll high is improved.
It's all about opportunity costs...
But as said, our Warlock has
Dispel Magic at will, so there is no real need to have it, too. I will probably get
Greater Dispel Magic later.
Bye
Thanee
