I don't see any limit on using multiple Planar Bindings. Given that each binding will last up to a week and a half, and if one is so inclined to make use of the spell with proper preparations (Magic Circles, Dimensional Anchors, calling diagrams) to begin with, I'm seeing a 12th level Sorcerer using this spell in multiples to easily have a dozen or so Glabrezus ready in a week's time for his next outing. And probably 9 or so Vrocks available for an hour/day after that. All available by RAW, see where this is heading....
I'm seeing you do that and upset everybody at the table who then all have to wait over an hour for you to finish your round.
However, having multiple planar bindings isn't entirely a bad idea. I like having them stay off-stage as options when you need them (you never want to show people all your cards).
Well the rest of the party is involved, at least for the 1st binding, in case of that rolled 1 Cha check. After the first day of binding, they can go to the tavern or bounce around town to gather information.
I'd propose some kind of limit on binding spells. What would be fair? Perhaps 1/day, due to the strenuous/careful nature of the casting? It would still allow multiples over time.
This is an option for a wizard, but considering the risk and trouble that you have to go though in order to bind that many demons/devils it makes sense only to do it when you are planning something special like attacking a huge fortress or something and in most of those cases in makes sense to send and the bindes ahead to soften them up without them knowing who you are. That way there is far less risk and your turns don't take forever.
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Yeah, the price of Planar Binding isn't that you can't do it as many times as you like, you can. The price is that the things you bind don't like you. In fact, they likely actively dislike you and want to eat your face, and will take every opportunity to screw you over. And every time you do it increases the group of extraplanar creatures who are likely to actively dislike you and wish you ill.
Planar Ally is a lot better from this perspective, but comes with its own problems.
Generally, binding creatures with less in the way of mental capacity, and (importantly!) binding creatures that _want_ to do what you want them to do, makes life much easier. Elementals, especially smaller ones, are much easier to control and aren't made of nearly as much concentrated malice as evil outsider types. Good outsider types, if summoned in a good cause, are more likely to be helpful rather than inherently contrarily malicious.
Also, I figure there's sort of an unwritten treaty between wizards: "you don't do unrestricted summoning, I won't do unrestricted summoning". Someone who gets everyone annoyed at him is likely to get _lots_ of people teaming up to hammer him.
Won't, say... "Timmy, the baker's boy" accidentally stumble upon this Demon summoning and end up horribly slaughtered - thus sparking an investigation by the local law enforcement and diverting all this effort into getting the Paladins off the party's back?
Or a pigeon poops on one of the marking of the summoning circle, setting the next target free.
Or once the Abyss starts to notice the goings-on, a Succubus is sent in undercover to make this Sorcerer an offer he can't refuse.
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I feel I should point out that summoning demons is an evil and chaotic act. Thus, if your sorcerer summoned a dozen Glabrezu and 9 Vrocks, he would probably end up being chaotic evil.
That's...realy debatable. I don't want to turn this thread into an alignment debate, so let's just leave this at 'depending on your GM'.
As a general rule, I wouldn’t summon anything that you couldn’t personally defeat in combat. I seriously doubt 12 Glabrezu and 9 Vroks would take very kindly to being bossed around by some scrawny little mortal.
Another thing to keep in mind, summoning an inherently evil entity that can turn any out of context comment into reality warping event (wish) is usually a bad idea too.
This is why devils are a better bet than demons.
Not that they won't want to eat the binder's face, but Infernal is a much more structured language than Abyssal, and you can use it to issue complex commands... which the devils will feel somewhat obligated to follow, due to that "lawful" groove they've got going. To the letter, not the spirit, so you have to be careful.
But properly worded instructions to lawful/evil outsiders are generally safer than even the most explicit set of commands issued to chaotic/evil outsiders.
Yeah, the price of Planar Binding isn't that you can't do it as many times as you like, you can. The price is that the things you bind don't like you. In fact, they likely actively dislike you and want to eat your face, and will take every opportunity to screw you over. And every time you do it increases the group of extraplanar creatures who are likely to actively dislike you and wish you ill.
Planar Ally is a lot better from this perspective, but comes with its own problems.
This is something that has always bugged me, especially when trying to play a Binding Conjurer.
What, exactly, do you do after you've made your deal? Let's assume, for argument's sake, that we're trying to summon a Glabrezu:So you're a wizard and you're in your tower, and you've got your permanent MCaE inscribed into the floor, and it's set with a permanent Dimensional Anchor so that your buddy can't just teleport away, and you've got bunches of things that his abyssal nature just hates to give you bonuses on your roll. And then you cast, you make your deal, and... then what? Clearly you don't just let the thing out of the Circle and just trust that it won't try and rip you to shreds?
TL;DR - How does the summoning situation progress immediately after the deal is made?
What you're looking for is the opposed Charisma check -- it submits to your will, or vice versa. (Another reason for calling big brutes rather than clever demons is that they're likely to have low Charisma.) You can negotiate rather than try and force it -- but some creatures are more likely to make deals and sign contracts than others. Devils, yes. Angels will keep their word if given. Demons... it's a raw will-to-will contest.
The way I handle it is that the planar binding spells constrain the creature to perform the service you requested and they agree to (if you beat their willpower down by making the charisma check). They _don't_ constrain the creature in other ways, and it's usually free to carry out the service in its preferred way. It's bound to do _what_ you specified, but _how_ is a bit iffier.
This is why you have one circle enchanted to keep the creature in till you make a deal, and another one around you to keep it out. It's also why the standard deal includes things like "Don't kill me after I break the circle to let you out."
I don't see any limit on using multiple Planar Bindings. Given that each binding will last up to a week and a half, and if one is so inclined to make use of the spell with proper preparations (Magic Circles, Dimensional Anchors, calling diagrams) to begin with, I'm seeing a 12th level Sorcerer using this spell in multiples to easily have a dozen or so Glabrezus ready in a week's time for his next outing. And probably 9 or so Vrocks available for an hour/day after that. All available by RAW, see where this is heading....
You could treat it like undead with a control limit = to 2x caster level in HD, would make for 1-2 scary things instead of a menagerie