Post/Author/DateTime	Post
OrcLord 09-08-07, 05:27 PM	I am wondering if the rules have ever addressed how many minions a person could control at one time? By minions, I mean a combination of summoned monsters / binded extra-planars / charmed monsters. If they are all under the instructions to attack anything you point at, or speak aloud, then this would make commanding your minions a free action. The only real limit I see is the number of times you can cast the above spells. As the durations can be quite long on these, it wouldn't take the party long to amass a small army to walk over the opponents?
Einvaldurinn_mikli 09-08-07, 05:39 PM	No limitation exists within the rules. Not on things like Dominate/Planar Binding and other stuff. Charm is hardly enough.
Mistress_Alexis 09-08-07, 05:45 PM	There should be limits, everything in the game seems to be designed to make it difficult for players have a decent number of useful minions so why should villians have such an easy time? Just saying they do for story purposes or making the game work isnt good enough, I'm not 8 anymore.
Einvaldurinn_mikli 09-08-07, 06:31 PM	There should be limits, everything in the game seems to be designed to make it difficult for players have a decent number of useful minions so why should villains have such an easy time? Just saying they do for story purposes or making the game work isn't good enough, I'm not 8 anymore. Hard? Whatever do you mean? Have you seen Planar Binding? It's as easy as that. Or Dominate X, or for some really nasty and downright evil permanent domination there is always necrotic cyst.
Stormbrand 09-08-07, 07:03 PM	I am wondering if the rules have ever addressed how many minions a person could control at one time? By minions, I mean a combination of summoned monsters / binded extra-planars / charmed monsters. If they are all under the instructions to attack anything you point at, or speak aloud, then this would make commanding your minions a free action. The only real limit I see is the number of times you can cast the above spells. As the durations can be quite long on these, it wouldn't take the party long to amass a small army to walk over the opponents? Hard? Whatever do you mean? Have you seen Planar Binding? It's as easy as that. Or Dominate X, or for some really nasty and downright evil permanent domination there is always necrotic cyst. Summon Monster spells only last one round per level. No need to worry about that creating a permanent army. Bound extra-planars are bargained with for temporary service, which is typically expensive. So with these the number of extra-planar minions possible is the number of bargains you can fulfill at once. Charm spells allow the victim to retain their own mind and life, so the charmed victim will help, but probably not leave their entire life behind to consistantly throw themselves in harms way for you. Dominate spells are trickier. They can create medium-term slaves but are a bother to maintain through repeat castings, and at the risk of creating lots of enemies. Careless use of Domination gets around, making numerous enemies who take exception to your treatment of others or even just see you as a rival or threat (who wants to be the next dominatee?). Necrotic Cyst is probably the best method, although is best combined with persuasion - the victim is always vulnerable to Cyst spells, so they will be at a disadvantage at any dealings with you and can be tracked down or harmed at any time through the Cyst. This gives the victim a very strong motivation to do what you say, and provided that this is not abused can create a useful long-term contact. Overall, Necrotic Cyst is a bargaining tool. Minions are best gathered through leadership and organisation, not simple spellcasting.