I've decided to start messing around, building a demiplane fortress. It's in the style of an old Japanese castle, with a garden and a koy pond in the center and a few trees.
In any case, that's not the issue. I'm wondering how one can use the "gate" function of create greater demiplane. Is it possible to attach the gate function to an object rather than a place? Like enchant a small bauble to "open" the gate to my demiplane. Something similar to a Cubic gate, but that doesnt open on a random spot.
I basically just want to be able to get into my demiplane from anywhere I am.
Other options I've thought of:
Build a small room, deep underground (basically a closed cube) and attach the gate to there. I would teleport there when I wanted to enter it. I would make it extremely familiar so as to avoid any teleport mishaps. The difficulty would be bringing people inside it (I'm a magus, so I cant get greater teleport).
In any case, that's not the issue. I'm wondering how one can use the "gate" function of create greater demiplane. Is it possible to attach the gate function to an object rather than a place? Like enchant a small bauble to "open" the gate to my demiplane. Something similar to a Cubic gate, but that doesnt open on a random spot.
I basically just want to be able to get into my demiplane from anywhere I am.
The spell specifically states it opens to ONE location on another plane. That's pretty clear; your portal's terminus isn't mobile, because locations generally don't move. Sure, there are things like relative motion of the planets and stars, but most locations don't move relative to their immediate surroundings. Most vehicles (ships, for example) probably don't count as locations.
I'd concentrate on keeping the gate hidden/secure rather than isolated. A permanent Phase Door can be extremely effective at keeping the unwanted out (no solution is perfect, depending on your level of paranoia).
Ya, I'm pretty paranoid. I'll have to think about the phase door. Maybe block the door with a foot of adamantine?
Ya, I'm pretty paranoid. I'll have to think about the phase door. Maybe block the door with a foot of adamantine?
A really good mundane secret door would be better, preferably in a spot no-one would think to scry with Detect Secret Doors. In a pinch, a goodly hunk of stone you can cast Shrink Item on as required is basically foolproof - not a secret door, and won't detect as magic unless it's just been recently shrunk.
For extra paranoia, create dozens of these in the same location. Fill the false ones full of traps (magical and mundane), any of which can set off some form of alarm (Alarm spell or otherwise) to alert you to the fact that someone's meddling. Keep the real passage free of traps so you don't kill yourself, and you can ignore all the other ones basically forever.
There's no combination that is perfectly GM proof, of course. Don't waste all your time and gold trying. Do enough to keep the riff-raff out and save your money for defenses inside your demiplane.
Create a 10'x10' tunnel 100' long, and put your portal at the end of it. Nothing can get through this without teleporting or walking down the 100' tunnel, because the dimensional space to do so doesn't exist. Now pack a permanent Mage's Private Sanctum at the friendly end of the tunnel. Anyone entering can't see into your demiplane down the tunnel, so they can't teleport further than they can see without grave risk. But your guardians can see out and activate your many, many defenses. Bonus points if you can rig the place to dispense lava or acid on demand (sloping the tunnel down towards the portal is useful here), but a golem pushing some kind of 10'x10' spiky-death whirly-gig device works too.
You can just Dimension Door past all that, of course. You know where to land safely.
I dont necesarily need it to be DM-proof (it's mostly a vanity project at this point). Still, the basic rig you're proposing is workable Helic. I'm already planning to get craft construct, so the defenses wont be too expensive either.
A gelatinous cube would be good though. They're 10x10 feet arent they? Perfect "cleaning" system.
bump
You don't need greater teleport to get to your gate; you can just cast plane shift to get to the plane... or cast create demiplane, lesser again as that transfers you to your demiplane as part of the casting.
He's a Magus, they don't get Plane Shift. He can hire a Wizard to create the demiplane (as well as other permanent magics), but Plane Shift IIRC isn't on his spell list.
I was planning to buy some scrolls, it's included in the price I indicated earlier.
Planeshift can be on his spell list with the right arcana if I recall correctly.
Plane shift is too high level. Unfortunately.
Well, as far as I can tell, any create demiplane casted expands the size of your original plane. Although I'm not clear about whether or not we are able to "will" ourselves into the plane. I'll have to check.
Actually, you have it backwards. Any create demiplane spell will get you to your demiplane, you have to be specifying that you are casting it to increase the size of the demiplane & in that instance you actually have to be there.
Which spell are you using to create this demiplane fortress? Lesser Create Demiplane is also a 7th level Wizard/Sorcerer spell that does not appear on the Magus list and cannot be added bis Arcana for the same reason that Plane Shift cannot, its level is too high.
But anyone can hire a Wizard to make a demiplane for them, including the subsequent casting of Greater Create Demiplane to include a portal to another dimension (in this case, a portal from the Demiplane to the Prime Material at a spot the Magus designates.
Aside from that, I think the once permanency is used to 'lock' the created plane into existence, every further casting by the originator will bring him (and allies) to the same spot on your very own, specially created demiplane of existence. It is not a pocket dimension hidden in a fold of the plane the spell is cast on, like Mage's Magnificent Mansion would be. Although, the definition of 'demiplane' does seem to cover that as well.
The spell specifically allows for it to be cast again from within the demiplane to extend its duration or size, or add other features (such as dominant traits or even portals).
There is no 'secret door' or gate.
Greater Create Demiplane lets you add one (a portal, that is). Since the Magus lacks access to Plane Shift, this is a pretty necessary addition.
@ Kayerloth
Actually, I've got UMD (and pragmatic activator, so INT=>UMD), so I'm just going to use scrolls to create my demiplane. I asume that isnt unnaceptable (UMD works on anything, no?) so I'll just buy a bunch of scrolls and create evrything myself.
I'll talk to my DM when we get closer to level 20 (whe're going to level 25) and see what he thinks of cubic gate. I'm already planning on building a mecha-worm (I've got craft construct) because the campaign is mostly underground, and he seems to be open to that. So I can only hope he'd be open to cubic gate.
@ Kayerloth
Actually, I've got UMD (and pragmatic activator, so INT=>UMD), so I'm just going to use scrolls to create my demiplane. I asume that isnt unnaceptable (UMD works on anything, no?) so I'll just buy a bunch of scrolls and create evrything myself.
Hmm...I'd suggest going the scroll route for the first casting, to make you the primary owner of the demiplane. After that, contract out. It's an expensive endeavor and the cost of the scrolls exceeds the cost of hiring a Wizard to do it for you, never mind the other problematic aspects (having Permanency scrolls made at specific costs, chance of failing UMD and chances of scroll failures).
The best bet would be to subcontract ALL of it to a Wizard you trust and use a Wish spell to get the 'ownership' transferred to your character (which should be well within the power level of a Wish spell).
Unfortunatey, I've yet to find a wizard to trust (despite being an all spellcaster campaign, the others are all spontaneous spellcasters). I do have a spellslinger ally (the DM is using the relationship rules, and I've got fellowship with them).
Still, I'm level 6 and I've already got +14 on UMD. I'll have +20 by level 12, +28 by level 20. So a limited chance to fail. Would I be allowed to take 10 if I took my time?
Yes, it's expensive, but not too bad by level 20. How much do level 17 (at least) wizards cost to hire? Although I do have an ally that might help me out.
I've had some fun with the design. The basic thing (a small fortress) only takes one casting. And I have plans for up to 17 more castings (make a whole forest around the fortress). I'm having a lot of fun.
Unfortunatey, I've yet to find a wizard to trust (despite being an all spellcaster campaign, the others are all spontaneous spellcasters). I do have a spellslinger ally (the DM is using the relationship rules, and I've got fellowship with them).
Still, I'm level 6 and I've already got +14 on UMD. I'll have +20 by level 12, +28 by level 20. So a limited chance to fail. Would I be allowed to take 10 if I took my time?
You can never take 10 on UMD (see the 'special' section of the UMD skill write up). Also, you may be facing 2 UMD skill checks per scroll, 1 for a spell not on your list, another to emulate the casting stat necessary (if your INT is below 17-19, depending on the spell). Even at level 20 you need a 34 UMD check to emulate 19 INT, so you need to roll 6+ (25% failure rate).
Make friends with a Wizard. Marry his daughter or something. :D
Aha, lucky for me, I recently found a tome of understanding, that will allow me to reach above 19 int! Our crazy summoner managed to rob a dragons hoard.
Plus, I think the spellslinger could still be used, Despite the fact that conjuration is in her oposition schools, once whe're in peace time, it wont be too bad to use a couple of spell slots.
Well then it's champagne wishes and caviar dreams for you!
Yeah, I'm totally going to make a party castle. Whenever we're on downtime, I'll give raging parties for inter-planar beings and various powerful entities.
An alternate method one could use is make a Simulacrum of a Cauchemar Nightmare (pg 216 Bestiary 1),
It can Plane Shift 1/hour,
It's Huge size for lot's of luggage capacity
As an Outsider it doesn't need to eat or sleep
And as Simulacrum it's under your control
If you really are paranoid consider creating a tiered demi plane. The inner plane is only accessible via a gate on the outer plane. The outer plane is a magic dead plane filled with non-magical traps. The outer plane is reached by a hidden door is some safe location like the room you need to teleport to.
In order to get to your lair someone is going to have to be able to follow your teleport. Go through the first gate. Find the second hidden gate without the use of magic while avoiding the mechanical traps.