What are the best Planar Bindings?

[Nifft]

Ahem...

Planar Binding, Lesser
Target: One elemental or outsider with 6 HD or less

Humanoids and Class Levels
Creatures with 1 or less HD replace their monster levels with their character levels. The monster loses the attack bonus, saving throw bonuses, skills, and feats granted by its 1 monster HD and gains the attack bonus, save bonuses, skills, feats, and other class abilities of a 1st-level character of the appropriate class.

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Are you implying that a non-Humanoid would keep its single racial HD if it gained class levels? Pixies (Fey), for example? The text you've quoted strongly implies the opposite -- even if the section title is "humanoids", the actual quoted text says "creatures".

-- N

 

[frankthedm]

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Are you implying that a non-Humanoid would keep its single racial HD if it gained class levels? Pixies (Fey), for example? The text you've quoted strongly implies the opposite -- even if the section title is "humanoids", the actual quoted text says "creatures".

-- N

I say yes. The section's title calls out the creatures that section applies to. The FAQ does say otherwise though.

 

[Nifft]

I say yes. The section's title calls out the creatures that section applies to. The FAQ does say otherwise though.

This is the problem with quoting in isolation. Above what you quote, this appears:

Class Levels

Intelligent creatures that are reasonably humanoid in shape most commonly advance by adding class levels. Creatures that fall into this category have an entry of "By character class" in their Advancement line. When a monster adds a class level, that level usually represents an increase in experience and learned skills and capabilities.

Thus, the definition of reasonably humanoid is creatures with an entry of "By character class" in their Advancement line.

Lantern Archon fails (and I'm willing to concede that); but Pixie does indeed say otherwise.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Sejs]

Although the thread has lain fallow for quite a while, it would be great if you could dig that up for me, please!

Sure. It'll take me a little while to recompile everything, but I should still have the notes or be able to reconstruct from memory anything that's missing.

Part of the concept I was working with stemmed from the fact that most of the time the things you see Called are demons, devils, etc.. extraplanar beings with an inherrant morality. It was getting stale, so I wanted to move away from that model and instead go for a more elements of creation sort of kick. In the end, stealing inspiration from here and there, I cooked up 10 beings, one for each of 10 categories: earth, fate, fire, ice, light, nature, shadow, thunder, water, and wind.

You want a full statblock per, or just a quick overview? Just a heads-up in advance, some of the critters are a little .. let's say 'flexible' with the rules, but that's almost solely with regard of tweaking creature type so they can be Called. One of those 'change the type, but don't recalculate stats' kinda deals.

 

[Plane Sailing]

You want a full statblock per, or just a quick overview? Just a heads-up in advance, some of the critters are a little .. let's say 'flexible' with the rules, but that's almost solely with regard of tweaking creature type so they can be Called. One of those 'change the type, but don't recalculate stats' kinda deals.

The full statblock would be great if you have the time, but I don't want to take advantage of your willingness to be nice

 

[moritheil]

I've always touted the use of this spell to call up low-charisma monsters that can easily be forced to do your bidding. Word your commands carefully!

EDIT: I am used to working with Planar Binding, not the Lesser version. Once the HD cap moves up a bit, dozens of more useful creatures (inevitables, chaos beasts, more powerful outsiders) become available. Offhand, elementals are what I use if only the Lesser version is available. Be sure to note their low charisma! On off days, wizards use their spell slots scribing scrolls, but sorcs should use them to call up fodder.

 

[Plane Sailing]

EDIT: I am used to working with Planar Binding, not the Lesser version.

Actually I've got access to Planar Binding now too, so I've made some edits to my original post so that 12HD creatures can come to play too.

I was having a quick scan through the monster manual to compare relative CR for given HD and as nameless mentions, Ghaele Eladrins and Trumpet Archons are king of the hill. Too bad I'm a CE sorcerer, eh? Might be fun forcing them to do some work for me from the 'greater good' angle though

I'll speak to my DM about the possibility of having half-fiendish creatures of various kinds as servants, as that seems like a useful and likely possibility.

 

[robberbaron]

In my capacity as PS's DM I'll add my 2p.

I think that if you cast the Binding to get a, say, Hound Archon, you would get a random standard one.
If you spend the time researching and asking questions of other bound Archons, you may get information that enables you to call a specific Hound Archon with Class levels.
With your CHA you are bound (sorry) to get some info.

Same principle for templated critters.

Oh, and MM1 only.

 

[Plane Sailing]

In my capacity as PS's DM I'll add my 2p.

I think that if you cast the Binding to get a, say, Hound Archon, you would get a random standard one.

If you spend the time researching and asking questions of other bound Archons, you may get information that enables you to call a specific Hound Archon with Class levels.

Excellent, that seems a very fair way of handling things.

What about elementals with advanced HD? The standard large elemental is 8HD, would it be OK to summon one that was advanced to 12HD?

Cheers

 

[Someone]

With Lesser Planar Binding, a bit of time and supporting spells (magic circle, dimensional lock), there are a huge range of useful outsiders of 6HD or less that can be summoned.

Edit: With Planar Binding this goes up to 12HD

So which ones give the most 'bang for the buck'? Which ones do you recommend summoning and why?

I'm thinking at the moment of Djinni for transport, Succubi for infiltration or assassination missions, large Elementals for brute force work... but what else?

Cheers

I used once a hound archon for discreetly scouting a haunted forest. Teleport + detect evil at will + wolf form + track + scent + good skills.

Edit: I used a trick directly from Sepulchrave's story hour: as soon the archon fell on the trap I told him it was only for our protection and we just wanted to speak with him, and that as soon he agreed on that I would erase the circle. He agreed, we set him free, and then the party member with the highest Diplomacy skill convinced the archon to help us scout the forest. Don't try this with Chaotic outsiders!