Summoning Stuff

[Shirt Guy John]

Sounds nice.... really nice!

Exp penalties would be what then, if the wizard didn't return the favor? 200 per HD? Would any kind of save be allowed? Or how 'bout a diplomacy check to reduce the penalty to something like 150 per HD or less (Minimum 100 per HD)?

Great fun for roleplaying, and greater fun for the DM

 

[Vhane]

You got it. Diplomacy should ony reduce the cost 25% though. No save you reaped the benefit now pay up.

 

[Shirt Guy John]

Coolness!!

I think I like this one now, and might actually use it.

Behold the power of the message boards! Turning a moderately okay feat into something my summoner would take.

 

[Limper]

Would you fellows keep this up? Any other ideas? Good work all, thank you for your insights.

 

[Shirt Guy John]

Anything else people wanted? I've been looking at Psionics, and I think Creation powers (ie. Astral Constructs) would be really cool. Maybe the Elemental Summoning Feat would be better for Astral Construct Spells? Change it so that it adds +2 PP to the cost and lets you slap any elemental or shadow or cold template onto the constructs. Nice or no?

If anyone's got anything else that they would suggest, I'd be glad to try my hand at it, and even more glad to see it online.

 

[Limper]

I've always thought a permanancy type effect would be very cool on Astral Constructs.

Would adding elemental templates involve infusing the Construct with a modicum of sentience?

Probably best as an additive power rather than a feat.

 

[green slime]

I think the ideas here are really great, too.

So a question remains unanswered; EXACTLY how much should the XP penalty be, if the caster is unwilling to do a service for planar cohort? 200 XP/ Cohort HD? Or is that HD of defeated monsters? Could this be paid off in Magic items/jewelry/coin? At what exchange rate?

Diplomacy check would be 10+CR of planar cohort, and reduce the XP penalty by 25% (to 150 XP per HD)

This opens up the oportunity for the
Extraplanar Negotiator feat;
Requirements: Knowledge (the Planes) 10 ranks, Diplomacy 5 ranks.
Benefit: granting +4 bonus to Charisma checks when dealing with Extraplanar creatures, and reducing the XP penalty for not returning a service to a planar cohort by 50% (100XP per HD) on a successful Diplomacy check.

I like the owing a service; It would be pretty cool, the summoner could end up getting summoned by his planar cohort at an importune moment...

I think I'd rather have it as a psionic feat, but as a power would be great as well. +2 would place it as a 2nd level power (as ecto-puppet). Suddenly there isn't much flexibility for the poor metacreative psion wishing to specialize in Astral Constructs... Perhaps a feat would be better after all. Why not have both?

The Astral constructs/Elemental template would need some consideration... Isn't the ability to fly normally one of those you purchase? The air template would grant that for free... But I didn't feel that it was a problem for arcane spell wielders...Hmm... I'll need to grab a look at my books again.

On second thoughts I think that the XP cost should be lower...around 20 XP per HD, I mean you want the summoner to actually use his cohort on occasion. Secondly, if he can "buy off" the service, with magic items and suchlike, it should be at a cost of 50gp per XP. This is in line with the cost of Item manufacture, and would be 1000gp/HD... quite expensive....

 

[Limper]

The XP cost should be high it would only come into play IF the mage decided he didn't want to follow through with his end of a bargain. If its a problem for the wizard maybe he should pick his friends better.

 

[Shirt Guy John]

Maybe this would work better if the requests were roleplayed, and maybe if the ally didn't always ask for something in return.

 

[green slime]

Most players I know would rather have their characters leap through hoops of burning fire than lose hard-earned XP, so I really don't think that is a real problem.

Besides, as the XP is per HD, it adds up quite a bit. A 12th level mage summoning his planar cohort, a Large Earth Elemental (Summon Monster VI), (8HD) upon refusing a request, forfeits 160 XP, or an item(s) of 8000gp value.

Perhaps refusing the request also carries with it a penalty in the form of a chance to longer being able to access the planar cohort for a length of time? 1 day/10 XP? And that the length grows with each refusal? 1 week/10 XP second time round, then 1 month/10 XP, then 1 year/10 XP, 1 decade/10 XP.

Also, the planar cohort should be able to refuse any item, or insist upon a certain thing being done. But it shouldn't be quest-like in its magnitude.