A planetar may not do it for money - but that doesn't mean he will do it for free either. If the planetar is pulled away from his current job he may have to pay someething else to do it. Maybe there's some charity/organization that needs monetary help and/or resources. Regardless, the planetar isn't going to put the money on a pile and sit on it - it will be used for a good purpose.
In my opinion though, it's always in the good creatures best interest to promote good by having the characters do good deeds. These equivalent deeds should generally cause the characters to use resources equal to what the payment would have been.
Three times, my characters have arranged for planetar assistance. Both times it cost the party a service of some sort.
1st time: The planetar was involved in a planning strategy to hold a portal in the astral. Because the characters had pulled him from this session and delayed other planned works, the characters were tasked with holding the portal once the current crisis was (hopefully) over. The characters ended up successfully holding the portal but one of them died and they used up resources equivalent to a CR of their level. No treasure was gleaned but the characters got experience points a job well done.
2nd time: The characters pulled an Archon away from guarding a tomb/prison for a long term guard mission. Somewhat foolishly they offered a service again. When the tomb came under attack the characters were awakened and sent there before the tomb could be breached. Again the party fought creatures equal to their level and someone else died. Again, the reward was a job well done and the xp's.
3rd time: The party pulled a planetar for a guard mission. They wanted something monetary - so the priest was charged with creating a magic set of armor for the local ruler. No value was given (just a vague, suit of armor worthy of the ruler) - but the priest is in the process of making a +5 suit of full plate armor with a half dozen glamors on it. He's doing this of his own volition.
In my opinion though, it's always in the good creatures best interest to promote good by having the characters do good deeds. These equivalent deeds should generally cause the characters to use resources equal to what the payment would have been.
Three times, my characters have arranged for planetar assistance. Both times it cost the party a service of some sort.
1st time: The planetar was involved in a planning strategy to hold a portal in the astral. Because the characters had pulled him from this session and delayed other planned works, the characters were tasked with holding the portal once the current crisis was (hopefully) over. The characters ended up successfully holding the portal but one of them died and they used up resources equivalent to a CR of their level. No treasure was gleaned but the characters got experience points a job well done.
2nd time: The characters pulled an Archon away from guarding a tomb/prison for a long term guard mission. Somewhat foolishly they offered a service again. When the tomb came under attack the characters were awakened and sent there before the tomb could be breached. Again the party fought creatures equal to their level and someone else died. Again, the reward was a job well done and the xp's.
3rd time: The party pulled a planetar for a guard mission. They wanted something monetary - so the priest was charged with creating a magic set of armor for the local ruler. No value was given (just a vague, suit of armor worthy of the ruler) - but the priest is in the process of making a +5 suit of full plate armor with a half dozen glamors on it. He's doing this of his own volition.
