The stereotypical planar binding involves a very high risk with a very high reward. But it seems like that's only rarely the case: the only planar binding spell a wizard could prepare and cast to call a creature of higher hit dice than him is the greater version at level 15.
If anyone is familiar with the works of Jonathan Stroud in his Bartimaeus series, you know the potential that planar binding can bring to bear in telling amazing stories.
Yet it's just as easy to trivialize it. Putting the screws to an efreeti Malik for a +3 inherent bonus to Int, calling up boatloads of invisible stalkers, then skipping payment via circle of death, or even skipping the anchor and circle entirely with a dominate monster spell.
I'm too tired right now to think of my own, but if you have tips, tactics, tricks, or anecdotes regarding conjuration (calling) spells--specifically, how to make them feel epic without destroying the campaign--feel free to share them. I'll post my own once I get enough sleep to think up a few.
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Is the spell cast-able from a scroll or an item? It would be a lot more dangerous if pulled off with an item or even worse, the Use Magic Device skill. This is just an idea off the top of my head, haven't checked how well the rules back it up but it looks like it could be a good hook for an adventure.
Yet it's just as easy to trivialize it. Putting the screws to an efreeti Malik for a +3 inherent bonus to Int, calling up boatloads of invisible stalkers, then skipping payment via circle of death, or even skipping the anchor and circle entirely with a dominate monster spell.
I'm too tired right now to think of my own, but if you have tips, tactics, tricks, or anecdotes regarding conjuration (calling) spells--specifically, how to make them feel epic without destroying the campaign--feel free to share them. I'll post my own once I get enough sleep to think up a few.
I would allow the party to 'abuse' planar binding exactly once, and afterwards, you have a perfect recurring villain. You don't piss off a powerful outsider and happily live ever after.
The first point is not to use vanilla critters to be bound but make each of them a unique monster. The second is to really wokr out a deal with the summoner (where of course the summoned being tries to subtly screw him).
So the player has to get the specific name of the critter from somewhere, i.e. he can't just cast any old imp but he summons Burkúlfimph a Filth Imp exp 4 whose name he found in a tome on fiends.
Burkúlfimph, commonly known as Darksneaker (Filth Imp exp4)
This filth imp has taken his race’s talent for forgery, and turned it into an art form, which he has dedicated his entire existence. I cannot imagine why one would call this creature unless it was specifically to forge some document, as Darksneaker’s stench is almost overwhelming. He is almost unbelievably uncharismatic, and by all reports others of his order are even worse. Darksneaker can be useful however, and if not forced will usually do service for a service, rather than for monetary ends.
This is an example from this excellent Help with minions for planar binding spells! thread on enworld, which also contains an account of a wizard whose stacking deals with planar binding cought up with him in the end (See the posts by user Zappo). An excellent read!