Multiple Gates and controlled creatures

[Particle_Man]

The spell Gate has a limit on the number of HD a creature can have and still be under your control. I was wondering if that limit is per Gate spell or not. (i.e. Could you summon 1 really big creature that you can still control (barely) with one Gate spell, and then the next round cast a second Gate spell and get a second really big creature that you can still control (barely)).

If not, maybe this will be the one thing that a wizard/sorceror could do with Summon Monster IX that can't be done with Gate: Repeat the spell to summon lots and lots of controlled critters.

Just wondering a) what you think and b) if anyone ever said anything official about it.

 

[Oni]

I don't know if there has been any offical word on this, but as I interpret it, it means that that HD limit is per gate spell cast. There is no mention of culmulative effect. If you look at Animate Dead however, they specifically mention HD limits over multiple castings of the spell.

Gate says:

"If you choose to call a type of being instead of a known individual---for instance, a barbezu or a ghaele eladrin---you may call either a single creature (of any HD) or several creatures. If several creatures, you can call and control them 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."

That is the affect on a single casting of the Gate spell. If you were to cast it again you get the effect over again as it does not give any indication otherwise as it does in Animate Dead.


In my opinion Gate is over powered and completely overshadows Monster Summoning IX. I think that house-ruling it so that the HD limit applies to multiple castings is a fine idea. (I am also of the opinion that the powers that be would probably take some exception to abuse of gate, and most of the creatures you summon wouldn't like to be put into mortal danger for your own ends, and most of them are powerful enough to inact planar travel on their own, and so they may very well come back under their own power and lay down the law so to speak.)