Summoning up a shopkeep, balanced for first level?

[the Jester]

Hmm, kinda reminds me of a magic item imc- the portable store.

I like it, but I think I'd make it 2nd level, maybe 3rd. Being able to get the right item at the right time is pretty sweet. Alternatively, you could make the casting time 1 minute.

 

[frankthedm]

why is cold iron allowed but not silver?

[IMaGel]http://wizards.com/dnd/images/FC2_Gallery/101487.jpg[/IMaGel] No silver, no holy symbols... I wonder what kind of merchant that could be...

Higher level versions would have a harvester devil for the shopkeep with magical items and negotiable prices.

One item per caster level, 1 minute casting time , good ideas...

 

[Eolin]

No silver, no holy symbols... I wonder what kind of merchant that could be...

Higher level versions would have a harvester devil for the shopkeep with magical items and negotiable prices.

If that is what you're shooting for, make it as low level as possible and ignore the balance issues -- it'll be balanced by the negotiation.

Even with the first level one:
"You're in a 100 foot hole and need rope? I'll give it to you, but you'll need to do me a favor later...."

 

[Stalker0]

I can see this spell being 2nd level...but guys come on, 3rd level...4th!!!

All this is doing is speeding along the transaction of MUNDANE items. Its not like yeah old magic shop, I'm buying rope and trail rations. And I'm paying for it, double the normal price with no change...that's basically a spell with a material component.

I say 2nd level, and have fun with it.

 

[FireLance]

I can see this spell being 2nd level...but guys come on, 3rd level...4th!!!

That's because they are determining the level of the spell according to flavor preference or some notion of the "effort" required for the spell to perform as described, instead of game effect.

 

[WhatGravitas]

I say 2nd level, and have fun with it.

Seconded. Compare with Rope Trick: Rope Trick is (essentially) a summon inn. Summon merchant the the same level of "handy".

 

[Cheiromancer]

Seconded. Compare with Rope Trick: Rope Trick is (essentially) a summon inn. Summon merchant the the same level of "handy".

I concur. The items are such as can be routinely purchased in any village, so the summon inn comparison is a good one.

 

[Pyrex]

That's because they are determining the level of the spell according to flavor preference or some notion of the "effort" required for the spell to perform as described, instead of game effect.

Agreed.

In most games the effect is plenty balanced for a 2nd level spell. The trick is coming up with how to make it work given the number of higher level effects it's replacing.

Within the D&D framework, the hypothetical Order Form spell I posted above was the only way I could pair the intended result (Summon Shopkeeper) with the amount of "effort" available to a 2nd level spell.

 

[Sigurd]

Seems like a setting element masquerading as a spell.

I'd give it no level but have it be bought by an action or gift in the game world. Even a feat might be more appropriate. Presumably it wouldn't be only spellcasters who could open this portal.

On the All Hallows eve when the fabric between the worlds is the thinnest. A character must take an item of high value 1000gld plus and offer it to __zot__. If __zot___ comes and gets the item you have established a relationship if not,,, the item bursts into flames - sorry.

The character's keep the relationship so long as it suites __zot___.

* Whoever zot is.


You might be able to be introduced by another customer. Wizards might be able to travel to the plane of _zot_ (say Sygil) and demonstrate they are worth dealing with. A very rare spell might also work but not one found by novices. If its too easy a spell it would actually reduce the setting - I don't have to learn about your shopkeepers I have this spell.
In some cases it might be a huge advantage. Perhaps this would allow you to buy a lot of water in the middle of a drought\fire storm. I think you'd have to make it very setting dependent.

 

[GreatLemur]

While the whole idea does sound a little bit on the silly side--kinda Discworld, even--it is extremely interesting, and could fit nicely into certain kinds of non-silly campaigns (particularly ones with a lot of Planescape elements).

I think comparisons between this spell and simply being able to walk to town and buy what you need are pretty flawed. Obviously, this spell is intended for when access to a normal shop ain't an option. You know: You're stuck in a dungeon with nothing but undead monsters and the gold you stole from them, and you're gonna starve to death before you find your way out. That kind of thing. This spell isn't about merely expediting an action that you could accomplish anyway (buying mundane gear), but about summoning up any of a very wide array of different items out of nowhere, and expending gold as if it was a material component.

So it's hugely flexible, and could come in extremely handy. Given the inventory restrictions, however, and the fact that you have to pay immediately, this is obviously an extremely situational spell. It's not something any Wizard will memorize daily unless he's got a lot of slots of its level available. So, despite the spell's tremendous flexibility, I'm leaning towards 2nd level. Maybe 3rd level, if there was some kind of option to delay payment. ("They took all our money and equipment, but if you sell us a few swords on credit, we can get it all back in an hour.")

Seems like a setting element masquerading as a spell.

I'd give it no level but have it be bought by an action or gift in the game world.

This sounds like a great place for the Unearthed Arcana incantation rules.