Spells - Planar Ally - Is it possible? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Spells - Planar Ally - Is it possible?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
guest1920839743
Jun 03, 2012 22:27:44
Planar Ally - Is it possible?

Hello people,
say what do you think about this: I've been playing as an outsider (Ghaele - noble eladrin). I made a very balanced character, with great combat skills and spells. However, in our last game, my DM, using one of our greatest foes, "invoked" my PC through "Planar Ally" (he knows my name), the spell description says:

"Planar Ally, Lesser Conjuration (Calling)
Level: Clr 4
Components: V, S, DF, XP
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: One called elemental or outsider of 6 HD or less
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
"By casting this spell, you request your deity to send you an elemental or outsider (of 6 HD or less) of the deity’s choice. If you serve no particular deity, the spell is a general plea answered by a creature sharing your philosophical alignment. If you know an individual creature’s name, you may request that individual by speaking the name during the spell (though you might get a different creature anyway). You may ask the creature to perform one task in exchange for a payment from you. Tasks might range from the simple to the complex. You must be able to communicate with the creature called in order to bargain for its services.(...)"
(Progression: Planar Ally - 12 HD, Greater Planar Ally 18 HD)

Obviously, it was a trap, and I was "called" and caged in a place where none of my habilities or spells would work, was tortured, and lost all my gold and possessions (almost 5 million GP). And I didn't even have a chance of a saving throw! (see the spell description)

My goddess is Mystra, and of the god of our enemy (a Cleric of high level) is Cyric.

Is it possible?
If it is, I think I could go to my own plane and use this spell to "call" ours enemies to have fun...

(Sorry for any mistake, my english isn't very good)
#2
StevenO
Jun 03, 2012 23:01:38 Just because he "called" that does NOT mean you need(ed) to answer.

The spell should produce a creature but if you should notice all of the places were things are optional. When it says "you may request that individual by speaking the name during the spell (though you might get a different creature anyway)" you are being told that you can try for a specific creature (you in this case) but you aren't always going to get that creature.

The spell will get a creature but there are no promises that you get exactly who/what you want and even then you still need to negotiate price for service.
Obviously, it was a trap, and I was "called" and caged in a place where none of my habilities or spells would work, was tortured, and lost all my gold and possessions (almost 5 million GP). And I didn't even have a chance of a saving throw! (see the spell description)

Here you are getting screwed over by the DM because that should NOT happen. Now in all fairness you should NOT have 5,000,000 gp worth of stuff unless your well into the Epic levels (you should just have 760,000 at 20th-level/eCL) at which point even greater planar ally shouldn't be able to touch you. If you're so far over equiped it is the DM's right to be able to correct that.

#3
guest1920839743
Jun 03, 2012 23:35:57 I had an epic sword, that's why such overvalued possessions!
Ghaeles Eladrins have only 10 HD at level 20! (so you must be at least 29 to avoid being called by this spell...)

But, about the multiple possibilities of creatures is a good point!

However, I think the goal of the spell is to bring an ally, I mean, a creature that your God would "approve". Not a possible enemy.

For example, by reading the beginning of the spell, I think it shouldn't be possible (my interpretation) to any good cleric use Planar ally to call a demon (for example), ask anything to it, or even kill it and tahistidine possessions (the spell descriptions says "no saving throw and spell resistance"), and maybe even try to summon a specific demoniac enemy.

#4
StevenO
Jun 04, 2012 16:43:06 In all honesty, when I look in the MM it would appear to me that despite having only 10 HD a Ghaele Eladrin is still unplayable in a non-epic game as it doesn't have an LA listed. This is just something to be aware of because I don't know what equivalent character level (eCLevel) you group is supposedly playing at. Now if you're playing an epic campaign then having an epic weapon (+6 enhancement or total modifiers +11 or higher) makes more sense.

Here is a little something you should know, especially in character even if not in real life, but you NEVER tell anyone your REAL name. This is especially true when you're an outsider type and thus subject to certain things when your name is known. Maybe you're known a Joe but just because that is what people call you that does not make it you name.

The goal of the Planar Ally spell may be to bring in help and that is what it should do. I'll point out that it is not diety specific but remember that anyone who isn't going to consider helping isn't going to answer the call.
#5
Slagger_the_Chuul
Jun 12, 2012 9:50:43 Planar ally spells are designed to have your god send you a helper. The details of what happen on the other end aren't described, but presumably the deity can only send a creature over which it has authority, otherwise every god would be sending their enemies into traps.

If you're trying to trap an unwilling creature, the equivalent is found in the planar binding spells, which do allow a save to resist their effects, but which are given for arcane spellcasters, rather than divine ones. Obviously, as StevenO said (and I second pretty much everything he's said so far), keeping your real name a secret is important if you're an elemental or outsider in order to prevent enemies just spamming binding spells until you fail your save, but that's all part of a reasonable defense against a hostile effect.
In all honesty, when I look in the MM it would appear to me that despite having only 10 HD a Ghaele Eladrin is still unplayable in a non-epic game as it doesn't have an LA listed. This is just something to be aware of because I don't know what equivalent character level (eCLevel) you group is supposedly playing at. Now if you're playing an epic campaign then having an epic weapon (+6 enhancement or total modifiers +11 or higher) makes more sense.

Savage Species includes a 20-level monster class. The abilities are sufficiently close to the 3.5 version that the Effective Character Level should be the same (giving a Level Adjustment of +10).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 guest1920839743 Jun 03, 2012 22:27:44	Planar Ally - Is it possible? Hello people, say what do you think about this: I've been playing as an outsider (Ghaele - noble eladrin). I made a very balanced character, with great combat skills and spells. However, in our last game, my DM, using one of our greatest foes, "invoked" my PC through "Planar Ally" (he knows my name), the spell description says: "Planar Ally, Lesser Conjuration (Calling) Level: Clr 4 Components: V, S, DF, XP Casting Time: 10 minutes Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels) Effect: One called elemental or outsider of 6 HD or less Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: No "By casting this spell, you request your deity to send you an elemental or outsider (of 6 HD or less) of the deity’s choice. If you serve no particular deity, the spell is a general plea answered by a creature sharing your philosophical alignment. If you know an individual creature’s name, you may request that individual by speaking the name during the spell (though you might get a different creature anyway). You may ask the creature to perform one task in exchange for a payment from you. Tasks might range from the simple to the complex. You must be able to communicate with the creature called in order to bargain for its services.(...)" (Progression: Planar Ally - 12 HD, Greater Planar Ally 18 HD) Obviously, it was a trap, and I was "called" and caged in a place where none of my habilities or spells would work, was tortured, and lost all my gold and possessions (almost 5 million GP). And I didn't even have a chance of a saving throw! (see the spell description) My goddess is Mystra, and of the god of our enemy (a Cleric of high level) is Cyric. Is it possible? If it is, I think I could go to my own plane and use this spell to "call" ours enemies to have fun... (Sorry for any mistake, my english isn't very good)
#2 StevenO Jun 03, 2012 23:01:38	Just because he "called" that does NOT mean you need(ed) to answer. The spell should produce a creature but if you should notice all of the places were things are optional. When it says "you may request that individual by speaking the name during the spell (though you might get a different creature anyway)" you are being told that you can try for a specific creature (you in this case) but you aren't always going to get that creature. The spell will get a creature but there are no promises that you get exactly who/what you want and even then you still need to negotiate price for service. Obviously, it was a trap, and I was "called" and caged in a place where none of my habilities or spells would work, was tortured, and lost all my gold and possessions (almost 5 million GP). And I didn't even have a chance of a saving throw! (see the spell description) Here you are getting screwed over by the DM because that should NOT happen. Now in all fairness you should NOT have 5,000,000 gp worth of stuff unless your well into the Epic levels (you should just have 760,000 at 20th-level/eCL) at which point even greater planar ally shouldn't be able to touch you. If you're so far over equiped it is the DM's right to be able to correct that.
#3 guest1920839743 Jun 03, 2012 23:35:57	I had an epic sword, that's why such overvalued possessions! Ghaeles Eladrins have only 10 HD at level 20! (so you must be at least 29 to avoid being called by this spell...) But, about the multiple possibilities of creatures is a good point! However, I think the goal of the spell is to bring an ally, I mean, a creature that your God would "approve". Not a possible enemy. For example, by reading the beginning of the spell, I think it shouldn't be possible (my interpretation) to any good cleric use Planar ally to call a demon (for example), ask anything to it, or even kill it and tahistidine possessions (the spell descriptions says "no saving throw and spell resistance"), and maybe even try to summon a specific demoniac enemy.
#4 StevenO Jun 04, 2012 16:43:06	In all honesty, when I look in the MM it would appear to me that despite having only 10 HD a Ghaele Eladrin is still unplayable in a non-epic game as it doesn't have an LA listed. This is just something to be aware of because I don't know what equivalent character level (eCLevel) you group is supposedly playing at. Now if you're playing an epic campaign then having an epic weapon (+6 enhancement or total modifiers +11 or higher) makes more sense. Here is a little something you should know, especially in character even if not in real life, but you NEVER tell anyone your REAL name. This is especially true when you're an outsider type and thus subject to certain things when your name is known. Maybe you're known a Joe but just because that is what people call you that does not make it you name. The goal of the Planar Ally spell may be to bring in help and that is what it should do. I'll point out that it is not diety specific but remember that anyone who isn't going to consider helping isn't going to answer the call.
#5 Slagger_the_Chuul Jun 12, 2012 9:50:43	Planar ally spells are designed to have your god send you a helper. The details of what happen on the other end aren't described, but presumably the deity can only send a creature over which it has authority, otherwise every god would be sending their enemies into traps. If you're trying to trap an unwilling creature, the equivalent is found in the planar binding spells, which do allow a save to resist their effects, but which are given for arcane spellcasters, rather than divine ones. Obviously, as StevenO said (and I second pretty much everything he's said so far), keeping your real name a secret is important if you're an elemental or outsider in order to prevent enemies just spamming binding spells until you fail your save, but that's all part of a reasonable defense against a hostile effect. In all honesty, when I look in the MM it would appear to me that despite having only 10 HD a Ghaele Eladrin is still unplayable in a non-epic game as it doesn't have an LA listed. This is just something to be aware of because I don't know what equivalent character level (eCLevel) you group is supposedly playing at. Now if you're playing an epic campaign then having an epic weapon (+6 enhancement or total modifiers +11 or higher) makes more sense. Savage Species includes a 20-level monster class. The abilities are sufficiently close to the 3.5 version that the Effective Character Level should be the same (giving a Level Adjustment of +10).