Mephistopheles, I see your logic, but here's where I found the difference. Here's the entry for "Calling Creatures":
Calling Creatures: The second effect of the gate spell is to call an extraplanar creature to your aid (a calling effect). By naming a particular being or kind of being as you cast the spell, you cause the gate to open in the immediate vicinity of the desired creature and pull the subject through, willing or unwilling. Deities and unique beings are under no compulsion to come through the gate, although they may choose to do so of their own accord. This use of the spell creates a gate that remains open just long enough to transport the called creatures. This use of the spell has an XP cost (see below).
If you choose to call a kind of creature instead of a known individual you may call either a single creature (of any HD) or several creatures. You can call and control several creatures as long as their HD total does not exceed your caster level. In the case of a single creature, you can control it if its HD do not exceed twice your caster level. A single creature with more HD than twice your caster level can’t be controlled. Deities and unique beings cannot be controlled in any event. An uncontrolled being acts as it pleases, making the calling of such creatures rather dangerous. An uncontrolled being may return to its home plane at any time.
It seems to me that the first paragraph is defining the "Calling" ability in overview. With the spell you can
A) call a "particular being" or
B) call a "kind of being". They come either willing or unwilling. It also notes the length of the spell and that it takes XP.
The second paragraph seems to define the conditions used when calling type A or B. The first line says "
If you choose to call a
kind of creature instead of a
known individual..." That means if you've chosen type B. In the PHB it goes on to state "...for instance, a bearded devil or a ghaele eladrin - you may call either a single creature (of any HD) or several creatures." Then it goes on to state the HD limits of the spell.
It never says "
If you choose to call a known individual..." and list an HD requirement or if they are controlled or uncontrolled. After the text on HD limits, it does restate, "Deities and unique beings cannot be controlled in any event..." That indicates that if you didn't choose "a kind of creature" then the HD (and control) limits don't apply - because it's a "unique" creature. If the limits applied to BOTH a "kind of creature"
and a "particular being" then why does that paragraph start with "If you choose..." and use "instead" to differentiate the two seperate types? Why not just say, "When you call a creature you may call either a single creature (of any HD) or several creatures..."?
It's logical to see that being able to call and control a specific person
would unbalance this spell. It also seems clear to me that the designers took steps to prevent that - that's
why there's a division between "kind of creature" and "particular being". If the rules for both are identical, why bother with a distinction?
And how many "unique" beings (ala the Tarrasque) are there anyway? Why bother with a clause that applies to only a single creature?
Saeviomagy said:
The text of the spell makes it quite clear that a known individual and a unique being are seperate and discrete cases, and while a given individual MAY be a unique being, this is certainly not the case for every individual.
A specific individual
IS unique. Are you claiming that there is an entire race of people who are indentical in exactly every way to you? Are you not unique being? Isn't there only one Saeviomagy who lives where you live, posts on ENworld, drives your car and eats at your breakfast table?
You are a "particular being". And as a "particular being" you are "unique". There isn't another "particular being" exactly like you.
At least, that's how I see it.