Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

How does binding a true name work mechanically?

I found one tome so far, but it had no name in it. At least nothing in description indicated that it did.

So... mechanically....

What would I need to do if the tome had a name to bind it to something?

dedude wrote:https://wiki.bgtscc.net/index.php?title ... rue_Naming

Nope. It doesn't answer my question.

True name, mechanically, is WHAT? An item? A hidden variable you don't see? Or perhaps I can target a gem with a spell and enter random text into it?

Yes it does. It is just simpler than you think. The true name is just a name. Like your name is “NegInfinity”. You can target a gem with a spell and enter any string you like into it, but you have to be really lucky to pick one that actually match a planar being.

dedude wrote:Yes it does. It is

So, it is the
"I can target a gem with a spell and enter random text into it" option.

The wiki does not mention it.

By the way. The wiki also mentions lore:planes check being run. Does this check run during any attempt to cast binding spell on any focus with any string?

If the Dusty Tome is one with a true name in it there will be an activated ability that can be used on self.

If this is selected, your character will perform a check related to the True Name in question. I for example found one requiring an unusual skill check I was not prepared for and thus could not uncover the True Name on the first attempt.

Once you have a True Name, then comes the "target a gem" part.

NegInfinity wrote:

dedude wrote:Yes it does. It is

So, it is the
"I can target a gem with a spell and enter random text into it" option.

The wiki does not mention it.

wiki wrote:How to call a planar being using its true name

To call a planar being by its true name you need a Planar Focus. The only known material to be able to function as a focus is a diamond. Three tiers of diamonds can be used:
Diamond: lesser beings up to 15 HD
Canary Diamond: beings up to 20 HD
Blue Diamond: higher beings with no known limits
If you target one of these gems with a planar calling spell, you will be able to inscribe it with a true name, and then call on that being for negotiation.

NegInfinity wrote:By the way. The wiki also mentions lore:planes check being run. Does this check run during any attempt to cast binding spell on any focus with any string?

It is run when you inscribe a name/string into the gem. If passed, you get a bit of lore about the specific being that has the name.

Diamore wrote:If the Dusty Tome is one with a true name in it there will be an activated ability that can be used on self.

Actually all Dusty Tomes have that activated ability. There is no way to know if a tome contains a name other than reading it (passing the skill check).

dedude wrote:If you target one of these gems with a planar calling spell, you will be able to inscribe it with a true name, and then call on that being for negotiation.

No, "inscribe" can be implemented in dozen different ways.

The wiki does not say that a "dialog box for entering the name will pop up and the name is any string".

That's the reason for the question.

You are 100% correct, the wiki does not say that.

The wiki really needs more specifics. For instance when I tried to summon a true name I had acquired it told me that I am not strong enough. I am level 26 though so I am not certain it means I need to be stronger or if it means I need a more powerful gem? Perhaps it means I need a stronger spell to bind it with? Maybe someone in QC can test these things and edit the wiki so we know the specific text for each of these because it is kind of an ooc mechanical thing that you can't figure out without a plethora of characters of various levels, gems that cost up to 2 million gold, and books that cost 150k each per shot.

I added this to the wiki:

Requirements for a successful calling

• The called being must be available, i.e., not be called by someone else and not be recovering from a death.
• Each being has a minimum required calling spell level. If you use a spell that is too weak the being is able to resist your call entirely.
• Each being has a minimum required caster level. If your caster level is too weak the being is able to resist your call entirely.
• The gem used as focus must be of sufficient quality to bind the being. See above.

The in-game feedback message should be sufficient to determine which of these is the reason that a calling failed.

What exactly is the purpose of having the true name? What power does this grant? I don't understand the purpose of these tomes at all.