Planar Binding - Alignment restrictions

Suggestions Should Be Posted in Their Respective Categories

Moderators: Moderator, Developer, DM

User avatar
Glowfire
Posts: 1813
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2016 9:14 am

Planar Binding - Alignment restrictions

Unread post by Glowfire »

Subject: Planar Binding does not summon a creature
Nachti wrote:Intentional.

http://bgtscc.wikia.com/wiki/Summoning
A extraplanar creature can only be summoned if its within one step of the caster's alignment.
The previous set of summons was just a "step-in-between to this update".

Though I am aware that some alignments will have lesser choices then before so I will add a few more next update.
I'm not sure what I feel about this option. Sure, in the past we just had -1- option for each spell so anything more than that is a huge improvement!

However, I'm a bit sad at being cut off from summoning demons as a LE character. My Epic Gate choices have come down from 5 to 3 selections. And no more shadow demons which I liked to think had some religious significance to my character.

The neutral options are still a bit so-so. I can't see my character summon a qorrashi who is HUGE in the Underdark. For Greater Planar Binding, that's my only neutral option as LE. Which I suppose is good in a way as before that there was no neutral option at all.

Are we set on this restriction?

Is the True Name binding of creatures into gems meant to supplement this...?
Power is the most persuasive rhetoric.
Friedrich von Schiller
User avatar
Endelyon
Posts: 3606
Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2014 4:24 am

Re: Planar Binding - Alignment restrictions

Unread post by Endelyon »

Interesting that the subject came up since I was discussing it in IRC this morning. I personally think that having summons directly locked by alignment is a huge step backwards from what we had following the March 2016 update that allowed more RP freedom in what could be summoned and used and didn't force you to give your alignment away mechanically.

We may move away from it entirely or loosen the restrictions quite a bit. I'll prod the devs about it.
User avatar
LISA100595
Retired Staff
Posts: 5201
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2011 12:23 pm

Re: Planar Binding - Alignment restrictions

Unread post by LISA100595 »

Endelyon wrote:Interesting that the subject came up since I was discussing it in IRC this morning. I personally think that having summons directly locked by alignment is a huge step backwards from what we had following the March 2016 update that allowed more RP freedom in what could be summoned and used and didn't force you to give your alignment away mechanically.

We may move away from it entirely or loosen the restrictions quite a bit. I'll prod the devs about it.
I agree with this to a point. I would not want to see a Good character summoning a Demon or Devil and the same for an Evil Character summoning a Planetar or other Angel for example. So the ones on the top and bottom of the spectrum of alignment should not be accessible but Everything in between is fine I think. :)
Lady Elvina Aira-S'efarro - The Order of the Silver Rose
Salaria - Bounty Hunter half-sister of Darius Brothers
Angelina Northstar - Holy Warrior of Tyr / Knight of the Silver Rose
Matilda Stonehold - Honorable Sheild Dwarf
Loriah Swift - Morninglord of Lathander
User avatar
Asmodea
Posts: 353
Joined: Sun May 17, 2009 4:33 pm

Re: Planar Binding - Alignment restrictions

Unread post by Asmodea »

It does seem pretty weird that the Lawful/Chaos axis is as restrictive as the Good/Evil. There is very little stopping a LE character from wishing to and being able to sensibly deal with or use a CE Demon. For example.

As a note I am generally against the restrictions entirely but at the very least this does seem a bit intensive.
Player of Isabella Villame
---------------------------------------------
"You are what you often do."
User avatar
Nyeleni
Recognized Donor
Posts: 1432
Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:09 pm
Location: Catalonia

Re: Planar Binding - Alignment restrictions

Unread post by Nyeleni »

I must admit I am against restrictions too. Why shouldn't a good char be able to summon devils and demons or an evil one the counterpart. Maybe add that the summoner has to pass some save to control the creature.

If it fails the creature harms the summoner and disappears. I thought first of having it attack the summoner as an independent being but this could possibly be misused somehow.
Truman Capote, Breakfast At Tiffany's
"... - it's better to look at the sky than live there. Such an empty place; so vague. Just a country where the thunder goes and things disappear."
User avatar
Glowfire
Posts: 1813
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2016 9:14 am

Re: Planar Binding - Alignment restrictions

Unread post by Glowfire »

Asmodea wrote:It does seem pretty weird that the Lawful/Chaos axis is as restrictive as the Good/Evil.
This, and being unable to summon more of the neutral options.

I don't think its necessary for my LE character to summon good aligned outsiders. If that ever becomes necessary, I'd prod a DM about it.


Endelyon makes a good point of that it gives away your alignment, which I hadn't considered but was always something which bothered me in the past with these spell.


Looking forward to seeing what the devs think. IMO if there's isn't a particular strain on the server by giving players many options, then there shouldn't be an issue with it.
Power is the most persuasive rhetoric.
Friedrich von Schiller
User avatar
dedude
Retired Staff
Posts: 1550
Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2016 11:21 am

Re: Planar Binding - Alignment restrictions

Unread post by dedude »

Nyeleni wrote:I must admit I am against restrictions too. Why shouldn't a good char be able to summon devils and demons or an evil one the counterpart.
1) We are not talking about summoning. Summon spells have no alignment restrictions.
2) The called being is not allowed a chance to break free of the binding, which is should be allowed to. Planar calling spells are crazy dangerous.
3) A called planar being is not required to obey your command, you actually have to convince it, and most likely pay it. An angel is VERY unlikely to agree to help an evil caster, and we can't really represent this scenario well enough through scripting. You are all welcome to ask a DM to help you call on a being of opposite alignment, that is fair game. But just using the spell on your own comes with a few assumptions, like that the caster and called creature has a reasonable chance of coming to an agreement of service.


That said, the restrictions are going to be relaxed a bit, but not removed.
Tsidkenu

Re: Planar Binding - Alignment restrictions

Unread post by Tsidkenu »

It used to be the case that if you summoned an imp (Lesser Planar Binding) without Pro from Evil it would immediately turn hostile after you summoned it and attack you.

Maybe a similar thing could be utilised in the case of evil summoning good (they turn hostile and attack if caster does not have Pro from Good; even then they will refuse and simply return to where they came from), and demons/devils will do the same, albeit with more willingness to bargain with a good or neutral-aligned summoner.
User avatar
Nachti
Retired Staff
Posts: 1221
Joined: Sun Jan 16, 2011 6:57 am

Re: Planar Binding - Alignment restrictions

Unread post by Nachti »

Actually I want to move forward to more polymorph changes & underdark prcs. I dont want to be hold back by summons anymore... and player dont want too much changes.

I will propably change the alignments once more and add some more creatures over the time, but no other change from my side anymore.
User avatar
izzul
Posts: 968
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:12 pm

Re: Planar Binding - Alignment restrictions

Unread post by izzul »

sorry for posting in this thread but i cant seem to find the thread where is says

Cast Epic Gate = no Solar summoned for

Neutral good

Chaotic good

alignments
Azzizuleia Tyrielmrande-[Permadeath PC]
Eilondruil Eldanyar-Corellon Larethian[Battle Historian]
Iz Azul-Red Knight[Active]
Krueger-Trader viewtopic.php?f=55&t=56617
Mystera Electra-Mystra[Goat Girl]

"give to yourself, took from others-Integrity and Justice"
User avatar
Hawke
Posts: 1245
Joined: Sun Aug 01, 2010 6:11 pm

Re: Planar Binding - Alignment restrictions

Unread post by Hawke »

That does not sound right Izzul. As Neutral Good, you should be able to do both Good summons.
If the text is this color, I am on duty, everything else is just my humble opinion.
User avatar
izzul
Posts: 968
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:12 pm

Re: Planar Binding - Alignment restrictions

Unread post by izzul »

Hawke wrote:That does not sound right Izzul. As Neutral Good, you should be able to do both Good summons.
i might need help looking at my characters that cannot summon these. please do help :oops:
Azzizuleia Tyrielmrande-[Permadeath PC]
Eilondruil Eldanyar-Corellon Larethian[Battle Historian]
Iz Azul-Red Knight[Active]
Krueger-Trader viewtopic.php?f=55&t=56617
Mystera Electra-Mystra[Goat Girl]

"give to yourself, took from others-Integrity and Justice"
User avatar
Nachti
Retired Staff
Posts: 1221
Joined: Sun Jan 16, 2011 6:57 am

Re: Planar Binding - Alignment restrictions

Unread post by Nachti »

I will fix it in a few days,izzul.
User avatar
izzul
Posts: 968
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:12 pm

Re: Planar Binding - Alignment restrictions

Unread post by izzul »

Nachti wrote:I will fix it in a few days,izzul.
thank you Chambordin, the only "other" lantern wielder i have ever seen ;)
Azzizuleia Tyrielmrande-[Permadeath PC]
Eilondruil Eldanyar-Corellon Larethian[Battle Historian]
Iz Azul-Red Knight[Active]
Krueger-Trader viewtopic.php?f=55&t=56617
Mystera Electra-Mystra[Goat Girl]

"give to yourself, took from others-Integrity and Justice"
User avatar
metaquad4
Posts: 1532
Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2012 12:51 pm

Re: Planar Binding - Alignment restrictions

Unread post by metaquad4 »

There are good reasons for a good character to summon an evil outsider, just as an evil character might summon a good one.

For example, a classic one is a good character summoning an evil outsider for the purpose of interrogation. Or to use an evil outsider to attack an evil enemy (pitting two enemies against one another). Even a LG character might do this. Not every LG character is a paladin or follows the paladin code. Something that is forgotten a lot, imo.

Evil characters, of course, would have no qualms using good outsiders for their own ends (corrupting them, using them as meat shields) perhaps in a similar tactic to how a good character might pit two enemies against each other.

If it helps sweeten the pot, planar binding has no alignment attached to it (you aren't making a deal with the outsider, you are forcing it to bend to your will).
aka aplethoraof (on discord too)
Post Reply

Return to “Suggestions and Discussion”