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There are a few abilities that increase the HD of creature summoned with Planar Binding and Planar Ally, like Darkfire Pact and Augment Calling.
Some people feel that the added HD increase both the limit to the HD of the strongest creature summoned and the total HD, while other feel that those are different limits and only abilities that specifically say that they increase the maximum HD of the summoned creature increase that value, while abilities that increase the total number of HD summoned don't touch the HD limit of the strongest creature.
So, the question that I hope people will FAQ:
For the planar Ally and Planar Binding spells the limit of the HD of the strongest creature summoned and the total number of HD summoned are the same limit and raising one automatically raise the other or they are 2 different limits and raising one don't change the other?
Perhaps both situations are correct.
Perhaps one is.
I see it as unclear, though lean towards the weaker version, so if I pick one over the other...
The weaker one.
This has already been FAQed in the other thread you are part of.
I am just going to Ctrl-C Ctrl-V these two posts across from the other thread.
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I like how all of this is completely mute because the planar binding spell gives you two options
a)conjure a single creature with up to 12HD
b)conjure up to three creatures of the same kind with up to a total of 12HD
At least one of the "12HD" numbers gets changed to 14HD
There are no other constraints on what can be conjured.
Now, people here are arguing that the HD increase only applies to the second option.
Great. In fact, lets forget about the first entirely for a reason I will explain momentarily. Here is our "new" spell.
a)conjure up to three creatures of the same kind with up to a total of 14HD (side note - "same kind" means no earth elemental tacked on)
In the target line, the text becomes
Targets up to three elementals or outsiders, totaling no more than 14 HD, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart when they appear
OK...so I take the new spell's option a). I choose to conjure a Monadic Deva Angel. Great. That is a single creature. 1 creature is within the bounds of "up to three creatures". 1 is less than or equal to 3. And since there is just one creature, the conjured creatures are all obviously of the same kind. Now, the Deva is 14HD. I am allowed up to...14HD. Oh joy, I am just within the limits. The angel is a legal target. As it turns out, the first option in the spell that we forgot about isn't even necessary (but was probably put there for clarity). It is actually included in the "up to 3" option.
Are we done?
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This spell functions like lesser planar binding, except that you may call a single creature of 12 HD or less, or up to three creatures of the same kind whose Hit Dice total no more than 12. Each creature gets a saving throw, makes an independent attempt to escape, and must be individually persuaded to aid you.
The spell gives you two options. One is a single creature. One is between zero to three creatures (that's what "up to three" means).
Let me reiterate. The spell says it behaves like lesser planar binding...
except that you may call a single creature of 12 HD or less
, or
up to three creatures of the same kind whose Hit Dice total no more than 12.
Because of the wonderful world of how words work, the term "or" means* that at least one of the sets of conditions must be fulfilled. Either 1 creature of up to XHD(X=12 or X=14, doesn't actually matter) or up to three(0-3, because that's how English works) creatures of up to 14HD(must be 14HD because the feat needs to change at least one HD number). I showed above that a single creature of 14HD fulfills the second set of conditions, therefor it satisfies the constraints of the spell described in that sentence, because English.
*I am assuming the "or" is inclusive - it could be interpreted as "exclusive or" but that would mean you couldn't summon a single creature unless you had the +2HD feat AND you rule that the HD increase only applies to the "up to three" option(and then only a 13-14HD creature). This is clearly nonsense
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That's all of the posts
As a side note, you must conjure creatures of the same kind. That means that if high HD single creatures aren't allowed, the ONLY way this feat can be used is for 2 7HD creatures with planar binding or 2 10HD creatures with greater planar binding. You can't get three creatures because they all have to have the same HD and going 1HD over for each of them means 3 extra HD, exceeding the feat bonus(because they have to be the same kind of creature, barring class leveled or templated creatures). The feat doesn't even function with lesser planar binding despite saying it does, because you can only conjure 1 creature with lesser planar binding.
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Snowblind, you are supporting my position.
This spell functions like lesser planar binding, except that you may call a single creature of 12 HD or less, or up to three creatures of the same kind whose Hit Dice total no more than 12.
If you treat the two conditions as alternative to each other you have two choices:
"you may call a single creature of 12 HD or less"or you can call something that isn't a single creature and fulfill the second condition
"up to three creatures of the same kind whose Hit Dice total no more than 12"
But if you call a single creature you fall under the first condition.
If you can call a single creature under the second set of condition the first phrase has no uses and no reason to be.
The feat allows for 2 additional HD of creatures of the same type.
It alters the spell.
It allows for MORE CREATURES, up to 2HD worth.
Is there something wrong with my statement?
If so, WHAT?
I mean, seriously, does it or does it not add 2 additional HD of creatures to the spell?
Arguing that the spell specifies how many creatures you can summon is like arguing that the spell also specifies how many hit dice you can summon.
The feat alters an existing spell.
You are allowed to summon up to 2HD extra worth of outsiders with it.
They pluralized it.