One of my PCs, an archivist/thamategurist (sp?), is planning on using the various planar ally spells since he gets a substantial cost reduction from his PrC. The thama-whatever its called is the PrC found in the DMG that focuses on summoning planar beings. Fortuneately, the SCAP gives several good planar allies that are all named and can be used (Nidrama, Celeste, and various beings from Occipitus like the couatl). He plans on using one of the planar ally spells once each chapter to get the outsiders assistance with the quest(s), using the day-per-level timeframe. This may and may not allow the outsider to assist with the entire chapter.
My questions are: Will using this frequently over-power the party? Will there be a substantial power level increase with Nidrama walking around with the party all the time, or some other outsider with around 12-HD? Who controls the NPC outsider, me or him? Should there be any type of restrictions? How much, if any, of a discount should I give if the player's goals and the NPC outsider's goals "match" (meaning, and outsider gets called to fight a bunch of evil demons, which would match its goals...see the spell description)?
My group started out as 6-players but we have since lost 1, dropping us to 5. Will having an ally outsider help this? I just worry that the outsider will out-shine the party. We're starting chapter 7 next week.
Thanks!
As for the npc these spells are part of the powers and should be carefully monitored by the dm but are no more powerful than a slay living.
It's even more interesting in a quest with planar powers participating.
Keep in mind that when you Call a creature with one of these spells, if they die, they're really dead. If they intend to Call (and keep Calling) a specific NPC, such as Nidrama, she should expect a reasonable amount of care for her well-being; if she's there full-time for a certain adventure, a full share of the treasure would be a reasonable expectation. (She can use this treasure to purchase items which will help her survive better. I know the spell details the expected costs, but this would be a reasonable exception; perhaps the items purchased with her share revert to the party whenever the spell ends, but she gets them back the next time she's Called.)
One of the problems I had with Nidrama's story arc is that she shows up near the end as a fallen celestial, with not a lot of explanation as to why.
Having been Called a bunch of time and asked to adventure with a bunch of non-celestials could cause that to happen.
Will it still be possible to Call her after she falls?
One of the problems I had with Nidrama's story arc is that she shows up near the end as a fallen celestial, with not a lot of explanation as to why.
Having been Called a bunch of time and asked to adventure with a bunch of non-celestials could cause that to happen.
Will it still be possible to Call her after she falls?
Sure...all you need is an outsider of a certain hit dice that matches at least one of your alignments. It works out well because I actually used Nidrama to raise dead one of the PCs, which would be atributed to directly affecting mortal lives, which could cause her to "fall."
My questions are: Will using this frequently over-power the party? Will there be a substantial power level increase with Nidrama walking around with the party all the time, or some other outsider with around 12-HD? Who controls the NPC outsider, me or him? Should there be any type of restrictions? How much, if any, of a discount should I give if the player's goals and the NPC outsider's goals "match" (meaning, and outsider gets called to fight a bunch of evil demons, which would match its goals...see the spell description)?My group started out as 6-players but we have since lost 1, dropping us to 5. Will having an ally outsider help this? I just worry that the outsider will out-shine the party. We're starting chapter 7 next week.
Thanks!
I don't think it will overpower the party even if the outsider comes with the party on a full-time basis. However make sure the player knows it helps at a cost. I don't like the idea of an angel or a demon being paid like vulgar mercenaries. Perhaps it could be fun to give the compensation a special flavour. For exemple a demon should demand souls for payment which means the PCs must let it actually kill someone who owns a soul every day or more depending on the payment (one dead for a 1000 gold or more depending on the fiend power). A good Outsider could ask for a sacrifices of gold and precious gems to a temple of a good deity or to perform some acts of good like establishing a orphanage or to help the destitutes or make right some wrongs with their hard-earned gold.
Hence I think you should be in control except when it comes to fighting and using the outsider special powers. IMHO, it's more fun for the player to actually control this side of things.
One of the restriction you could apply I just think of comes from the Tome of Magic. The FiendBinder is well-designed PrC which allows their members to control a bound fiend if they succeed in performing a Truename Check. However a Truename check is a standard action which means it's whether the fiend or the PC who acts every round. Perhaps you could work out a house rule using this. However it makes the Outsider more or less a weapon and not really an "ally".
Concerning discounts, again I'm not really a fan of this kind of things. Let the player discuss or perform Diplomacy checks to make a price less steep or to tone down some demands. If the Outsider called really has an interest in the PCs quest then it will be more than happy to help for half the price. I think it's the way it's put in the PHB. And it should definitely help your party to compensate the member they just lost.
Hope this helps.
Bran.