Fiendish Summoning Feat [Archive] - Wizards Community

Fiendish Summoning Feat [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ender
08-06-04, 08:59 PM Many fiends and other nasty outsiders have the ability to summon allies in a pinch. Such as, once per day an ice devil may attempt to summon 2d10 lemures or 1d6 bearded devils with a 50% chance of success.... etc.

Would it be unreasonable for a fiend to have the option of selecting a feat that would improved his chances for a successful summon? Say, instead of a 35% chance, it becomes a 50% chance? Does a feat like this exist in any sourcebook? (I have already checked the MM, BoVD, Savage Species, and the Planar Handbook and have found nothing like this.)

If one were to design such a feat, what increase of percentages would be reasonable?--ie, good enough to be worth a feat, but not so good that every fiend would want to take it.

Any thoughts or opinions on this topic are appreciated.
green_yawgmoth
08-06-04, 09:15 PM There isn't one printed, but I could see something like this being viable:

Improved Summoning [Vile]
You have refined some of your evil power, making more demons/devils respect your heed.

Prereq: Ability to summon a demon or devil with limited success from a class or racial ability.
Benefit: When summoning a demon or devil, you have an additional 15% chance for your summon to be answered.
Special: You may take this feat more than once. Its effects stack.

How's that?

http://img30.photobucket.com/albums/v91/yawgmoth/kittyjig.gif
Black Jack Davey
08-07-04, 04:50 AM I like it.
Shemeska the Marauder
08-07-04, 08:22 AM It's a good idea and I like it. The problem w/ fiendish summoning is that, depending on what fiend is using the ability and what they call, they may be putting themselves in some level of debt to whoever answers the call. Makes it interesting for NPCs that last beyond a single encounter ;)
kliate
08-07-04, 12:01 PM For those DMs who want to avoid the issue, one Bearded devil summoning another COULD be the repayment of debt. Just don't expect the summoned bearded devil to be enthusiastic about having to 'pay' when it means being torn from his torture room filled with screaming elf maidens.
CzarGarrett
08-07-04, 12:21 PM Or it could be that there is a 35% chance for a devil of equal power, but then a 45% chance for a devil of lesser power.
ender
08-07-04, 07:05 PM Originally posted by Shemeska the Marauder
It's a good idea and I like it. The problem w/ fiendish summoning is that, depending on what fiend is using the ability and what they call, they may be putting themselves in some level of debt to whoever answers the call. Makes it interesting for NPCs that last beyond a single encounter ;)

I was actually thinking about this. The prospective baddie that prompted it was actually an ultraloth, supposedly the officers of the yugoloth armies. While I'm aware that summoning is supposed to put the summoner in the summonee's debt, but then it also kind of makes sense that a general might be able to summon some of his canoloth flunkies on a whim, then just tell them to get back to work digging latrines (or whatever it is that yugoloth flunkies do).

green_yawgmoth, i like the feat very much. Do you think 15% might be pushing it too much?
green_yawgmoth
08-07-04, 09:37 PM Originally posted by ender
green_yawgmoth, i like the feat very much. Do you think 15% might be pushing it too much? I don't think 15% would be too bad, but anything more would definitely be over the limits of a nonepic feat. I think I'll go edit my first post. :D

http://img30.photobucket.com/albums/v91/yawgmoth/kittyjig.gif
Black Jack Davey
08-08-04, 12:09 AM I think a more powerful fiend could probably summon weaker ones and not be in debt to them. The weaker ones could answer the call hoping to gain the favor of that more powerful fiend. Even if it means leaving the screaming elf maidens for a little while.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ender 08-06-04, 08:59 PM	Many fiends and other nasty outsiders have the ability to summon allies in a pinch. Such as, once per day an ice devil may attempt to summon 2d10 lemures or 1d6 bearded devils with a 50% chance of success.... etc. Would it be unreasonable for a fiend to have the option of selecting a feat that would improved his chances for a successful summon? Say, instead of a 35% chance, it becomes a 50% chance? Does a feat like this exist in any sourcebook? (I have already checked the MM, BoVD, Savage Species, and the Planar Handbook and have found nothing like this.) If one were to design such a feat, what increase of percentages would be reasonable?--ie, good enough to be worth a feat, but not so good that every fiend would want to take it. Any thoughts or opinions on this topic are appreciated.
green_yawgmoth 08-06-04, 09:15 PM	There isn't one printed, but I could see something like this being viable: Improved Summoning [Vile] You have refined some of your evil power, making more demons/devils respect your heed. Prereq: Ability to summon a demon or devil with limited success from a class or racial ability. Benefit: When summoning a demon or devil, you have an additional 15% chance for your summon to be answered. Special: You may take this feat more than once. Its effects stack. How's that? http://img30.photobucket.com/albums/v91/yawgmoth/kittyjig.gif
Black Jack Davey 08-07-04, 04:50 AM	I like it.
Shemeska the Marauder 08-07-04, 08:22 AM	It's a good idea and I like it. The problem w/ fiendish summoning is that, depending on what fiend is using the ability and what they call, they may be putting themselves in some level of debt to whoever answers the call. Makes it interesting for NPCs that last beyond a single encounter ;)
kliate 08-07-04, 12:01 PM	For those DMs who want to avoid the issue, one Bearded devil summoning another COULD be the repayment of debt. Just don't expect the summoned bearded devil to be enthusiastic about having to 'pay' when it means being torn from his torture room filled with screaming elf maidens.
CzarGarrett 08-07-04, 12:21 PM	Or it could be that there is a 35% chance for a devil of equal power, but then a 45% chance for a devil of lesser power.
ender 08-07-04, 07:05 PM	Originally posted by Shemeska the Marauder It's a good idea and I like it. The problem w/ fiendish summoning is that, depending on what fiend is using the ability and what they call, they may be putting themselves in some level of debt to whoever answers the call. Makes it interesting for NPCs that last beyond a single encounter ;) I was actually thinking about this. The prospective baddie that prompted it was actually an ultraloth, supposedly the officers of the yugoloth armies. While I'm aware that summoning is supposed to put the summoner in the summonee's debt, but then it also kind of makes sense that a general might be able to summon some of his canoloth flunkies on a whim, then just tell them to get back to work digging latrines (or whatever it is that yugoloth flunkies do). green_yawgmoth, i like the feat very much. Do you think 15% might be pushing it too much?
green_yawgmoth 08-07-04, 09:37 PM	Originally posted by ender green_yawgmoth, i like the feat very much. Do you think 15% might be pushing it too much? I don't think 15% would be too bad, but anything more would definitely be over the limits of a nonepic feat. I think I'll go edit my first post. :D http://img30.photobucket.com/albums/v91/yawgmoth/kittyjig.gif
Black Jack Davey 08-08-04, 12:09 AM	I think a more powerful fiend could probably summon weaker ones and not be in debt to them. The weaker ones could answer the call hoping to gain the favor of that more powerful fiend. Even if it means leaving the screaming elf maidens for a little while.