Considering a Druid/Thurmaturgist, I just need that spell...

[RUMBLETiGER]

(This is actually for a Pathfinder game, but the DM is pretty open to both Pathfinder and 3.5 material, so any tips from either would be helpful.)

I'm currently playing a game as a level 7 Halfling Druid and having a blast. I've surprised myself with summoning much more often then I'd have thought I would, and more than how I intended the build when I first created the character (I've found spamming Sturges is a cruel and effective way to kill many things).

I'd love all the benefits of the Thurmaturgist class, I feel it would suit the direction this character is going, however there's that pesky Lesser Planar Ally spell requirement.

I took the Spell Focus (Conjuration) feat already because I want Augment Summoning regardless if I can get this PrC or not.

Question: Does anyone know any creative ways a Druid could get this spell added to his list?

 

[Jackinthegreen]

See if you can ask your DM if your character can go on a quest or something to get the spell and then qualify for the class.

By the way, is Ashbound available to you and compatible with the fluff of your character? It's Extend for free after all, if you need it.

 

[Grogg of the North]

The only way I can think of for a druid to get LPA is a bit tricky. Taking levels in contemplative gives you access to a domain and if your deity has the Summoner domain you can get LPA. The only deities (that I could find) that have Summoner domain don't seem very druid friendly, Contemplative requires 13 ranks in Religion and you have to have had a pow wow with your deity or agent thereof.

I think your best bet is for your druid to go on a holy quest to gain the knowledge/magicks to call upon his deity's allies and herald.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

I do realize my request is essentially saying "I want my already awesome Druid to have an even cooler spell on his spell list" and therefore difficult to make happen, I just figured I'd toss it out there in case anybody knew a trick I didn't.
Contemplative could be cool, however my Druid has no deity. Hm... maybe he could pick one up along the way, the campaign has plenty homebrewed ones.

Ashbound would be excellent as a feat, however I don't meet the fluff, this character has no issues with arcane magic.

 

[Dozen]

Well, nowhere does the Extra Spell feat's entry say you can't gain spells off list.

On a more serious note, grab the Planar Touchstone feat, schedule a trip to Amoria, Elysium, pay a visit to White Weather Bridge, and boom, you can cast Planar Ally. It's not the Lesser version, granted - I'd allow it anyway, seeing it's better than what the PrC is asking for.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The FAQ- there is no errata for it- says you can't choose spells off-list. Take that as you will.

 

[Dozen]

The FAQ- there is no errata for it- says you can't choose spells off-list. Take that as you will.

Annnd to quote from Complete Arcane:

Extra Spell is generally used to learn a specific spell that the character lacks access to and would be unable to research.

Geez, I could have been fooled. Now the FAQ you mentioned:

The Extra Spell feat allows you to choose a new spell, but it does not remove the restrictions of how you would normally pick your spells—so they must be picked from your own spell list.

Back to Complete Arcane, an example build:

Bendrik Sogoth: Male human fighter4/sorcerer 3/Suel arcanamach 6;...Extra Spell† (accuracy†)

Accuracy? A Warmage/Wu Jen spell. Not at all on the Sorcerer/Suel Arcanamach list. Do The Wizards of The Coast have no idea what they are talking about again? Imagine that.

I suspect the FAQ's author didn't exactly ask CAr's what the intended use was. Full and partial casters get two spells per level. In the form the FAQ wants it to be, Extra Spell is pretty much useless to everyone but Sorcerers and kin - with your experience I'm sure you can see even then it's a subpar choice.

 

[radja]

why not rewrite the prestige class? change entry requirements to summon nature's ally IV (same level as lesser planar ally), change class skills a bit by dropping knowledge(planes) and adding knowledge (nature), change first level benefit (need to think about that one.. +1 hp/level maybe?). Change 5th level benefit to act on Summon nature's ally, up to 8th (that's 18HD monsters. Your final cohort may be a bit weaker than the planar equivalent, but you can chose another cohort each time you gain a new spell level) and you're done. All in all, it shouldn't be too hard to balance. What would worry me more as a DM is the sheer number of actions for 1 druid, 1 animal companion, 1 nature's cohort and various summons... but that's a different problem, really.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

On a more serious note, grab the Planar Touchstone feat, schedule a trip to Amoria, Elysium, pay a visit to White Weather Bridge, and boom, you can cast Planar Ally. It's not the Lesser version, granted - I'd allow it anyway, seeing it's better than what the PrC is asking for.

Hot Dog! This is the exactly the sort of obscure-but-perfect suggestion I was hoping somebody could pull up. It took me a while to go thru the book and find this, even after you told me what I was looking for. The DM runs a sandbox campaign, I'll have to ask if it's possible to go this route, but this was the kind of suggestion I was looking for. It would stand to reason that a higher-powered version of a spell requirement should meet the requirement.

why not rewrite the prestige class? change entry requirements to summon nature's ally IV (same level as lesser planar ally), change class skills a bit by dropping knowledge(planes) and adding knowledge (nature), change first level benefit (need to think about that one.. +1 hp/level maybe?). Change 5th level benefit to act on Summon nature's ally, up to 8th (that's 18HD monsters. Your final cohort may be a bit weaker than the planar equivalent, but you can chose another cohort each time you gain a new spell level) and you're done. All in all, it shouldn't be too hard to balance.

The reason I'd not re-write it is is because I'm a fan of RAW, however unbalanced and/or obscure the rule is. I hold the (occasionally disproven) belief that 3.5 contains enough ideas that one should be able to craft any concept with the right combination of book-provided sources.
That said, I'd accept it if my DM made the offer to tweak the requirements. Just because I like the rules doesn't mean I'd not accept a change in my favor. Above all I honor the rules that DMs get final say and that the game should be fun for all.

What would worry me more as a DM is the sheer number of actions for 1 druid, 1 animal companion, 1 nature's cohort and various summons... but that's a different problem, really.

Indeed, this would be quite the ridiculous build, wouldn't it?

 

[radja]

entirely by RAW, there is a simpler and less obscure method to be able to cast a 4th level spell. Any spell up to 5th level. A simple ring of spellstoring would do the trick, by RAW they allow the wearer to cast the spell stored. Just ask someone else to cast lesser planar ally into it. Disadvantage is that you have to keep it on and filled, or you'll lose your thaumaturgist abilities.