Do archfiends grant spells in your campaigns? And if so how?

[Olive]

I am trying to decide how the archfiends (demon prices, archdevils and the big loths) grant spells IMC. I'm currently tossing up between using the fiend of blasphemy PrC in the FF (which, unless I'm reading the rules wrong, limits clerics to 12th level) or granting them some sort of divine rank while in their sanctum (i have heard of several people using this method, including Sep).

But I'm interested in how others do it. So tell me. nswer the poll and describe below.

 

[RangerWickett]

Ever watched the anime The Slayers? In it, a main character regularly pledges herself to dark forces for powerful destructive magic. I've considered using something like that in my games, but it's only come up with villains, so I've never had to flesh out the rules.

Basically, the demon would exact some sort of tithe from the petitioner, probably in the form of a part of their soul, or XP. So the spellcaster performs a ritual, makes a modified character level + Charisma check (DC = 10 + spell level), and if she succeeds, she pays XP equal to twice the cost of an equivalent spell scroll. The ritual takes 1 round per spell level, and if she's interrupted and fails a Concentration check, the spellcaster suffers some nastiness. Typically, she takes 1d6 points of damage per spell level, but other stuff could happen, like the spell being misdirected, or the demon itself showing up. If the mage is killed by a backfired spell in this way, her soul is taken by the demon she was pledging herself to.

 

[Olive]

Basically, the demon would exact some sort of tithe from the petitioner, probably in the form of a part of their soul, or XP. So the spellcaster performs a ritual, makes a modified character level + Charisma check (DC = 10 + spell level), and if she succeeds, she pays XP equal to twice the cost of an equivalent spell scroll. The ritual takes 1 round per spell level, and if she's interrupted and fails a Concentration check, the spellcaster suffers some nastiness. Typically, she takes 1d6 points of damage per spell level, but other stuff could happen, like the spell being misdirected, or the demon itself showing up. If the mage is killed by a backfired spell in this way, her soul is taken by the demon she was pledging herself to.

That's a pretty cool sounding sytem. Balanced and risky (most risky systems have no balance). So does the caster do that every time they want a spell? It would also work really really well with the BoVD dark craft/sacrifice rules.

 

[Nifft]

IMC, there are no evil gods. Arch-Devils and Demon-Princes fill that role, and there are several cults dedicated to popular ones.

-- N

 

[johnsemlak]

I voted Archfiends are effectively gods and grant spells.

My question, what is the problem with this option? Are there any reasons that can't be the case?

That said, I'm a bit of an oldtimer who still refers to the 1e Deities and Demigods which said Demon Princes, Archdevils, and so forth are Lesser Gods. I never really changed from that.

 

[Alzrius]

A Planescape product from 2E (Faces of Evil: The Fiend IIRC) had the answer to this that I still like to use today:

Archfiends themselves can't grant spells per se. However, they make a deal with an evil god (usually one of compatible alignment), wherein the Archfiend does favors for that god (or that god's church) such as sending minions to aid in that god's endeavors, etc. and in return that god grants spells to those who pray to the Archfiend. Note that in this setup, the person praying to the Archfiend has no idea the spells are coming from someone other than said Archfiend.

 

[Nightfall]

Arch fiends in my SL campaigns CAN grant spells and thus sponsor cults. Htye are not actual gods however. If any of the SL gods found out, worlds of pain will be inflicted as they don't like their authority being treaded on. Belsameth, Chardun and Vangal, don't mind arch fiends. Just as long as they keep their noses clean.

 

[jester47]

Yes.

It's not important.


Aaron.

 

[Yair]

Archfiends don't grant divine spells in my campaign, to give them a different feel from evil deities (particularly ones living in the Abyss). They do have cults and spellcasting servants, however, as they 'coach' sorcerers - thus granting arcane spells (of sorts).
Ironically, they ARE Demigods, really, but in my campaign demigods don't grant spells...

 

[Gez]

My homebrew's cosmology is complex.

Gods are only one of the various types of entities that may give spells... Archfiends and spirits are others. Plus, there are the Gods, and the Hidden Gods. And so much more...