Dual-Casting And a Pet Efreeti?? Madness!!

[RaviStrife]

I'm surprised nobody has thought of this...A Permanent Rebuked Efreeti. Please poke holes in this (if there are indeed any =-D)
Classes Feats
1 Cloistered Cleric 1 Domains=Fire/Undeath DMM:Twin Spell,Sudden Max
2 Cloistered Cleric 2
3 Cloistered Cleric 3 Sudden Empower
4 Cloistered Cleric 4
5 Cloistered Cleric 5
6 Cloistered Cleric 6 Empower Turning
7 Bard 1
8 Cloistered Cleric 7
9 Cloistered Cleric 8Southern Magician(Divine Spells->Arcane For SC Entry)
10 Cloistered Cleric 9
11 Sublime Chord 1
12 Mystic Theurge CC10/SC2 DMM: Quicken
13 Mystic Theurge CC11/SC3
14 Mystic Theurge CC12/SC4
15 Mystic Theurge CC13/SC5 Extra Turning
16 Mystic Theurge CC14/SC6
17 Mystic Theurge CC15/SC7
18 Mystic Theurge CC16/SC8 Extra Turning
19 Mystic Theurge CC17/SC9
20 Mystic Theurge CC18/SC10
-----------Ok.-------------
So Here's the concept. Fire Domain Grants Turning/COMMAND in addition to regular turning. At level 1 Sublime Chord you gain access to the 5th lvl spell Planar Binding. Summon An Efreeti into one of your DIVINE Magic Circle: Chaos(s) and combine with Dimensional Anchor for one stuck Efreeti.
NOW THEN. We can't have room for error, as our relatively low SC level can't hold him for long. We need to make sure when we Rebuke him, he is good and commanded, with no chance of failure. Lets assume 16 CHA for this. As a refresher, the max HD you can rebuke is determined as Cleric level modified by your turning check. A DC of 13 ensures we have the 10HD result we need for this Efreeti. SO. +3 base Cha mod, +4 Cha from Eagles Splendor brings us to +5 on the turning check. Circlet of Persuasion (4k, DMG) adds +3= 8. Talisman of Undead Mastery(3k,MIC) adds +4=12+1 on the D20 = 13. Congratulations. For 7k GP, you can now command 10HD Fire creatures with no chance of Failure.
And Finally....Turning Dice. This part is much easier in comparison. Cleric Level 9 + Cha +5 = 14. Feat=Empowered Turning(Complete Divine) multiplies this by 1.5= 14*1.5 = 21HD. This is double the HD of the soon to be Soulless Efreeti...And enough to command him. Forever. Going forward, you can use a standard action to have him make wishes on command, 3 a Day, for the rest of your presumably luxurious life. And lets throw on some Mystic Theurge levels for versatility.
Please also note the Divine Twin and other metamagics at the beginning of the build- This allows you to play as a blaster, especially at the lower levels, with a TwinnedEmpowered Burning Hands for (3d4x1.5)x2 as early as LVL 3...pretty competitive.
Once again, If I'm missing something, or if there is a better way to go about this please let me know. Thanks for reading!

[Rei_Jin]

You can't use Southern Magician to qualify for Prestige Classes. It doesn't work that way.

[RaviStrife]

Southern Magician [General]
Your magical studies in Mulan lands have taught you spellcast-
ing techniques unknown in the north that blur the line between
arcane and divine magic.
Prerequisite: Mulan human, ability to cast 2nd-level spells.
Benefit: Once per day per two spellcaster levels, you can
cast a divine spell as an arcane spell, or vice versa. This
enables you to bypass arcane spell failure due to armor, or
gain additional benefit from spell that functions differently
for a divine caster instead of an arcane caster, such as true
seeing or magic weapon.
Sublime Chord-
Requires the ability to cast 3rd Level Arcane spells+ Bardic Music.
K(arcana) 13, Listen 13, Perform 10, P (Astrologer) 6, Spellcraft 6
I need a better explanation. Care to elaborate, please?

[Innis Cabal]

Because once you use it's abilities up you no longer count as meeting the pre-reqs for one.

[Zaq]

Yeah, by my reading, Southern Magician doesn't let most PrCs advance the wrong flavor of casting (even if your divine spells count as arcane, for instance, you don't have an "arcane casting class" to advance), but for Sublime Chord, which grants its own casting . . . I don't see the problem.

If this doesn't work, what the hell is Southern Magician even for, then? I can't see any other intended use.

EDIT:
Because once you use it's abilities up you no longer count as meeting the pre-reqs for one.

Your incorrect spelling and bizarre extraneous spaces aside, I have no idea what you're talking about.

[Rei_Jin]

By strict RAW, you'd still be casting a Divine Spell, you'd just be altering it to be considered an Arcane Spell for various purposes. It remains a Divine Spell for the purposes of gaining entry to Prestige Classes.

It's the same way that you can't use Precocious Apprentice to qualify for a Prestige Class that requires the ability to cast level 2 Arcane Spells. People love to trot these two feats out as a way to get early entry to Prestige Classes, but really, you might as well say that you can use your total score in a skill rather than base ranks to get into a Prestige Class. It just doesn't work that way.

[RaviStrife]

Better Answer! You, sir, get 1 Internetz. Back to the drawing board then....Anyone else have input on how to get the turning to work, short of relying on someone else for the summon?

[Big Fau]

By strict RAW, you'd still be casting a Divine Spell, you'd just be altering it to be considered an Arcane Spell for various purposes. It remains a Divine Spell for the purposes of gaining entry to Prestige Classes.

It's the same way that you can't use Precocious Apprentice to qualify for a Prestige Class that requires the ability to cast level 2 Arcane Spells. People love to trot these two feats out as a way to get early entry to Prestige Classes, but really, you might as well say that you can use your total score in a skill rather than base ranks to get into a Prestige Class. It just doesn't work that way.

Well, Precocious Apprentice is a bad example, since all you need to do is be a Focused Specialist Wizard (FS "eats" the spell slot granted by PA, and gives you two slots from your specialty school, qualifying you for 2nd level spell requirements).


Because once you use it's abilities up you no longer count as meeting the pre-reqs for one.

By that logic, a Wizard 15/Archmage 1 who casts all of his 7th level spells loses his Archmage level.

[atsumouri]

As stated on the phone bro ill be glad to be your gini summoning pact buddy if i get a wish or 2 here and there. :smallcool:

[atsumouri]

By that logic, a Wizard 15/Archmage 1 who casts all of his 7th level spells loses his Archmage level.

Hahahahaha Nice i like the way you think but man would that suck for the would be Archmage.:smalltongue:

[Shadowknight12]

Can't you make do with Lesser Planar Binding (from the Rune domain)? Surely there's a 6HD creature out there that can grant wishes.

[atsumouri]

Can't you make do with Lesser Planar Binding (from the Rune domain)? Surely there's a 6HD creature out there that can grant wishes.
as far as i have seen there isn't if u do find one please point it out to me. lol i would also be interested in a variant of this lol. i saw some talk of one online somewhere that was 6hd and had wish as spell like ability 1/day but could never find it.

[Requiem_Jeer]

Well, you could just bypass the whole planar binding bit and just plane shift to the City of Brass, where there are, IRRC, 240,000 Efreeti, and 10,000 Efreeti slaves. It can't be too difficult to go there, command an Efreeti, and order him to take steps to sever all ties he has, then you're off scot free if your low-key enough about it. Sure you'll piss off the Efreeti, but your plan would do that anyway.

Also, in the complete champion there are spells to boost your turning power, makes it take less effort to pump those numbers and you might be able to pull it off at an earlier level.

[WinWin]

Because once you use it's abilities up you no longer count as meeting the pre-reqs for one.

By my uderstanding, this does not wash. Otherwise prerquisites such as "must be able to cast (insert specific spell)" would be lost as soon as you cast that spell.


It's the same way that you can't use Precocious Apprentice to qualify for a Prestige Class that requires the ability to cast level 2 Arcane Spells. People love to trot these two feats out as a way to get early entry to Prestige Classes, but really, you might as well say that you can use your total score in a skill rather than base ranks to get into a Prestige Class. It just doesn't work that way.

A hyperbolic example does not support your preceding statement. Prerequisites are clear cut. If you can meet them, you qualify. Cleverly meeting prerequisites should entitle you for qualification; D&D is and always has been a game that rewards system mastery.

[Rei_Jin]

The last paragraph of that feats description is the part that matters.

It specifies that "The actual source of the spells power does not change, nor does it's means of preparation." That means that a spell that you gained from your levels in an Arcane Casting Class is Arcane in nature, and a spell gained from levels in a Divine Casting Class is Divine in nature.

[Darrin]

Can't you make do with Lesser Planar Binding (from the Rune domain)? Surely there's a 6HD creature out there that can grant wishes.

Nope. But you could bind a 4HD mirror mephit to create a simulacrum efreet for you.

[WinWin]

The last paragraph of that feats description is the part that matters.

It specifies that "The actual source of the spells power does not change, nor does it's means of preparation." That means that a spell that you gained from your levels in an Arcane Casting Class is Arcane in nature, and a spell gained from levels in a Divine Casting Class is Divine in nature.

No.

It means that if you prepare spells as a priest, you still prepare the spell as a priest. If you have any strictures on how the spell can be used, such as a Code of Conduct or Specialist training, those strictures are still in effect.

The part of the feat that is of relevance is

"You can cast an arcane spell as a divine spell, or vice versa..."

I have yet to see a prestige class requirement that demands a character prepares spells a certain way. I have seen many prestige class requirements that make mention of how spells are cast. Such as Sublime Chord and 3rd level arcane spells.

When you use the Southern magician feat in conjuction with a 3rd level cleric spell...It becomes an arcane spell. Of 3rd level.

[Jack_Simth]

As you're proposing a 20 level build anyway, you could just go straight Cleric, Gate in the Efreeti, and then Command it. For that matter, you could Gate in Two Efreeti, and Command them both with the same Rebuke attempt.

[erikun]

Why not just use Leadership to get a Wizard cohort to cast Planar Binding for you? You are already focusing on a high Charisma modifier, and Leadership can't be any cheesier than attempting to qualify for Mystic Theurge with a single class.

[RaviStrife]

Ok, so it seems like theres no inherent problem with rebuking Efreeti (My original worry with this). I'm still trying to see if there is ANY way to do this earlier. As it stands, it seems much easier just to take straight cleric to 11, have leadership from lvl 6 or 9, and simply have the wizard cast the associated spells. Also, starting at lvl 12, you could have 2 Efreeti commanded at a time (or 3 at 18!!!!)
Anyone else? I would LOVE to start game breaking pre-Lvl10....

EDIT-- My bad! Was thinking about a reference I saw to a 6HD Genie equivalent. You're right...LVL 10 seems to be the cap.

[erikun]

Actually, looking at things again, I'm not too sure this would work.

The only way you can command undead through Rebuking is if you have twice the levels as the undead have hit dice. Rebuking fire elementals works the same way. Efreeti have 10 HD; that means you'd need to be 20th level to command even one.

How are you commanding anything at that low of a level, much less commanding three 10 HD Efreeti at 18th? (You are limited to commanding a total number of HD equal to your level through rebuking methods.)

[RaviStrife]

No.

It means that if you prepare spells as a priest, you still prepare the spell as a priest. If you have any strictures on how the spell can be used, such as a Code of Conduct or Specialist training, those strictures are still in effect.

The part of the feat that is of relevance is

"You can cast an arcane spell as a divine spell, or vice versa..."

I have yet to see a prestige class requirement that demands a character prepares spells a certain way. I have seen many prestige class requirements that make mention of how spells are cast. Such as Sublime Chord and 3rd level arcane spells.

When you use the Southern magician feat in conjuction with a 3rd level cleric spell...It becomes an arcane spell. Of 3rd level.

Thank You. I'm aware there is some controversy over how this would affect entry, but it's nice to hear another point towards the concept. I really think the original idea would be crazy strong.
Good idea on the Mirror Mephit- but I'm not too terribly hot on the concept of giving a summoned creature access to 3 wishes, even under compulsion. Seems like a recipe for disaster...
Failing that, though- given the same gear (Circlet of Persuasion and Talisman of Undead Mastery) you could theoretically command him as early as level 6. The issue is mainly GETTING a Efreeti TO me. Assuming the DM allows it, Candle of Invocation(8400gp, DMG) could get a Efreeti to me in relatively short order. Alternately, you could have a party member assist you in the initial summon in exchange for a wish or two...Finally...And this is a really cost intensive one, you could have a have a 9th level NPC wizard cast planar binding for (NPC Spellcasting, PHB - Caster LVL X * Spell lvl^2) 9*50^2=22500 GP + Dimensional Anchor 9*40^2=14400gp+22500 = 36900 gp. Trouble with this is the Efreeti gets a will save against the summoner, and then you're out alot of gp. Any other ideas for getting one to this plane on a more permanent basis (~lvl 6) ?

[Zaq]

You could drop the Undeath domain in favor of the Magic domain (alternatively, you could take Contemplative for the Magic domain), which would give you a good chance of being able to use a scroll of the appropriate Planar Binding spell.

Failing that, you could just put a few cross-class ranks into UMD, then pop a Guidance of the Avatar before you use your scroll.

[RaviStrife]

Actually, looking at things again, I'm not too sure this would work.

The only way you can command undead through Rebuking is if you have twice the levels as the undead have hit dice. Rebuking fire elementals works the same way. Efreeti have 10 HD; that means you'd need to be 20th level to command even one.

How are you commanding anything at that low of a level, much less commanding three 10 HD Efreeti at 18th? (You are limited to commanding a total number of HD equal to your level through rebuking methods.)

Good Question. If you look at the Commanding rules again, you'll find you don't need double the cleric level to command. You need to Equal the HD with cleric levels, then do double that on your rebuke attempt turning damage. hence 6 (level) + 5(cha mod after eagles splendor) + 2d6. Even with minimum rolls thats 13- Just over double 6.

EDIT- 10 HD Creature. My bad. I was poring over some other guide regarding wishing and thought I read something about a 6HD equivalent which grants wishes. Mixing up my HD...good point.

[erikun]

Turn (rebuke) undead (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/specialAttacks.htm#turnOrRebukeUndead)

Destroying Undead
If you have twice as many levels (or more) as the undead have Hit Dice, you destroy any that you would normally turn.

Evil Clerics and Undead
Undead that would be turned are rebuked instead, and those that would be destroyed are commanded.

Commanded
At any one time, the cleric may command any number of undead whose total Hit Dice do not exceed his level.


These are three seperate sections, independant of each other. You may only destroy undead if you have twice the level of their hit dice, and you may only rebuke undead (or elementals) if you would have destroyed them while turning. The commanding rules are for how many undead (elementals) you may command at once, not the rules for how you get them under your command.

It says nothing about the results on your turning checks.

[RaviStrife]

Turn (rebuke) undead (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/specialAttacks.htm#turnOrRebukeUndead)

Destroying Undead
If you have twice as many levels (or more) as the undead have Hit Dice, you destroy any that you would normally turn.

Evil Clerics and Undead
Undead that would be turned are rebuked instead, and those that would be destroyed are commanded.

Commanded
At any one time, the cleric may command any number of undead whose total Hit Dice do not exceed his level.


These are three seperate sections, independant of each other. You may only destroy undead if you have twice the level of their hit dice, and you may only rebuke undead (or elementals) if you would have destroyed them while turning. The commanding rules are for how many undead (elementals) you may command at once, not the rules for how you get them under your command.

It says nothing about the results on your turning checks.


Perfect! This is what I needed to rule it out. Thank you for showing me that, we've clearly been misinterpreting that. So either we need LVL 20 for rebuking (free wishes with no xp cost is still hardcore) OR we'll have to go the arcane/bargaining route. Still was fun to run the numbers...Thanks again!

[Douglas]

Perfect! This is what I needed to rule it out. Thank you for showing me that, we've clearly been misinterpreting that. So either we need LVL 20 for rebuking (free wishes with no xp cost is still hardcore) OR we'll have to go the arcane/bargaining route. Still was fun to run the numbers...Thanks again!
That doesn't quite rule out pre-20 commanding. There are magic items, and maybe feats and spells, that increase your effective cleric level for turn/rebuke. I don't have a list handy, but I know there are some. Get +5 turning level from those (note I'm specifically talking about bonuses to your effective cleric level, not bonuses to the turning check or damage), and you could command Efreeti at level 15, for example.

[Telonius]

Cleric7/Thaumaturgist5 could achieve the same thing. Planar Cohort:


Planar Cohort

A 5th-level thaumaturgist can use any of the planar ally spells to call a creature to act as his cohort. The called creature serves loyally and well as long as the thaumaturgist continues to advance a cause important to the creature.

"Remaining Alive" would be a cause important to the Efreeti, so you have a permanent cohort, no binding shenanigans or lost caster levels necessary.

[Urpriest]

Cleric7/Thaumaturgist5 could achieve the same thing. Planar Cohort:



"Remaining Alive" would be a cause important to the Efreeti, so you have a permanent cohort, no binding shenanigans or lost caster levels necessary.

The Efreet's level adjustment makes this somewhat impractical.

[Telonius]

The Efreet's level adjustment makes this somewhat impractical.

The Efreet in the monster manual doesn't have a level adjustment, so the ECL is always going to be equal to the HD, which is 10. The Thaumaturgist's current level is 12, so no problems there. (I don't have Savage Species, though; there might be some different rules for it in there).

[Urpriest]

The Efreet in the monster manual doesn't have a level adjustment, so the ECL is always going to be equal to the HD, which is 10. The Thaumaturgist's current level is 12, so no problems there. (I don't have Savage Species, though; there might be some different rules for it in there).

No. That's not how ECL works, and you know it. LA - is like Con -, it isn't the same as LA +0. LA - means unplayable. Further, those sources that do give it an LA, such as Savage Species, give it LA +9, for ECL 19.

[Keld Denar]

That doesn't quite rule out pre-20 commanding. There are magic items, and maybe feats and spells, that increase your effective cleric level for turn/rebuke. I don't have a list handy, but I know there are some. Get +5 turning level from those (note I'm specifically talking about bonuses to your effective cleric level, not bonuses to the turning check or damage), and you could command Efreeti at level 15, for example.

Most of the items that boost turning level are pretty specific. For example, the Phylactery of Undead Turning requires that you are able to turn undead, and only functions FOR turn undead. IIRC, Sacred armor from the A&EG is similar. I don't recall whether or not the Ephod of Authority would work that way, or Improved Turning, or the Rod of Defiance/Lyre of Restful Souls from LM. Thats pretty much all of the items that increase your effective turning level.

[Telonius]

No. That's not how ECL works, and you know it. LA - is like Con -, it isn't the same as LA +0. LA - means unplayable. Further, those sources that do give it an LA, such as Savage Species, give it LA +9, for ECL 19.

By that reading, you can't use any of the elementals (which are summon-able by Planar Ally) as a Planar cohort. The only legal cohorts in Core at level 12 would be:

Azer (LN)
Dretch (CE)
Hell Hound (LE)
Howler (CE)
Nightmare (NE)
Flamebrother Salamander (Any Evil)
Shadow Mastiff (NE)
Triton (NG)
Xill (LE)
Yeth Hound (NE)

So if you're a Good Thaumaturgist who isn't spending his time in the water, you're basically stuck with a flaming dwarf until level 13. This doesn't strike me as very reasonable.

(Full list of MM1 creatures summon-able by Planar Ally, who aren't LA -, spoilered)
Hound Archon (ECL 11)*
Azer (ECL 6)
Bralani (ECL 11)*
Couatl (ECL 16)*
Dretch (ECL 4)
Succubus (ECL 12)
Vrock (ECL 18)
Erinyes (ECL 16)
Chain Devil (ECL 14)
Bearded Devil (ECL 12)
Janni (ECL 11)*
Hell Hound (ECL 7)
Nessian War Hound (ECL 16)
Howler (ECL 9)
Lillend (ECL 13)
Nightmare (ECL 10)
Rakshasa (ECL 14)
Flamebrother Salamander (ECL 8)
Average Salamander (ECL 14)
Shadow Mastiff (ECL 7)
Triton (ECL 5)*
Xill (ECL 9)
Yeth Hound (ECL 6)

* = Good creatures, grand total of five four [EDIT: Janni are actually Neutral...] creatures.
Several others have LA that aren't -, but wouldn't become available as cohorts until Epic.
Trumpet Archon (ECL 20)
Astral Deva (ECL 20)
Hezrou (ECL 19)
Nightmare (Cauchemar) (ECL 19)

[Urpriest]

By that reading, you can't use any of the elementals (which are summon-able by Planar Ally) as a Planar cohort. The only legal cohorts in Core at level 12 would be:

Azer (LN)
Dretch (CE)
Hell Hound (LE)
Howler (CE)
Nightmare (NE)
Flamebrother Salamander (Any Evil)
Shadow Mastiff (NE)
Triton (NG)
Xill (LE)
Yeth Hound (NE)

So if you're a Good Thaumaturgist who isn't spending his time in the water, you're basically stuck with a flaming dwarf until level 13. This doesn't strike me as very reasonable.

(Full list of MM1 creatures summon-able by Planar Ally, who aren't LA -, spoilered)
Hound Archon (ECL 11)*
Azer (ECL 6)
Bralani (ECL 11)*
Couatl (ECL 16)*
Dretch (ECL 4)
Succubus (ECL 12)
Vrock (ECL 18)
Erinyes (ECL 16)
Chain Devil (ECL 14)
Bearded Devil (ECL 12)
Janni (ECL 11)*
Hell Hound (ECL 7)
Nessian War Hound (ECL 16)
Howler (ECL 9)
Lillend (ECL 13)
Nightmare (ECL 10)
Rakshasa (ECL 14)
Flamebrother Salamander (ECL 8)
Average Salamander (ECL 14)
Shadow Mastiff (ECL 7)
Triton (ECL 5)*
Xill (ECL 9)
Yeth Hound (ECL 6)

* = Good creatures, grand total of five creatures.
Several others have LA that aren't -, but wouldn't become available as cohorts until Epic.
Trumpet Archon (ECL 20)
Astral Deva (ECL 20)
Hezrou (ECL 19)
Nightmare (Cauchemar) (ECL 19)

Nonetheless, that is how level adjustment works. If Efreet had ECL 10, then you could play one at tenth level. If Elementals had ECL +0, then you could play an elemental. Neither is true.


Starting Level of a Monster PC

Monsters suitable for play have a level adjustment given in their statistics. Add a monster’s level adjustment to its Humanoids and Class Levels to get the creature’s effective character level, or ECL. Effectively, monsters with a level adjustment become multiclass character when they take class levels. A creature’s “monster class” is always a favored class, and the creature never takes XP penalties for having it.

[Telonius]

Nonetheless, that is how level adjustment works. If Efreet had ECL 10, then you could play one at tenth level. If Elementals had ECL +0, then you could play an elemental. Neither is true.

So basically, at Level 12, Druids can be Summoning Huge Elementals at will. For everybody else - even with a prestige class specifically devoted to summoning things and consorting with planar creatures - you either spend tons of XP and gold (Cleric) or risk massive vengeance (Wizard/Sorcerer), to Call them; and either way you're spending minimum 10 minutes casting it (more for a Wizard, since you need the Magic Circle in place). All the Elementals must have signed up for some kind of cosmically awesome "Do Not Call" list. Though I guess that would be about par for the course for Druids getting Nice Things...

[Urpriest]

So basically, at Level 12, Druids can be Summoning Huge Elementals at will. For everybody else - even with a prestige class specifically devoted to summoning things and consorting with planar creatures - you either spend tons of XP and gold (Cleric) or risk massive vengeance (Wizard/Sorcerer), to Call them; and either way you're spending minimum 10 minutes casting it (more for a Wizard, since you need the Magic Circle in place). All the Elementals must have signed up for some kind of cosmically awesome "Do Not Call" list. Though I guess that would be about par for the course for Druids getting Nice Things...

Druids summon these elementals with the Summon Nature's Ally spells. Clerics and Wizards both have Summon Monster. The elementals may be weaker, but the other stuff they get is more versatile. None of them do so at will, so I have no idea what you're talking about on that front.

[Telonius]

"At will" in the more colloquial sense - since they can turn any of their spells into summoning spells at equivalent level. Since they're most likely getting three 6th-level spell castings a day (22Wis is trivial at 12), they'll basically have an elemental helper whenever they want to.

[erikun]

Anyone with the Summon Elemental reserve feat can literally summon elementals as will.

Also, I'm not sure how we diverged onto this point. Summoning an elemental through a spell summons the creature named Elemental (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/elemental.htm), not just any elemental (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/typesSubtypes.htm#elementalType)-type creature that happens to match the characteristics. So no, Summon Nature's Ally V does not allow you to summon Efreeti (they are outsiders anyways, now that I read it again).

And yes, the core rules may be poor and arbitrary... but are we really surprised at this point?

[Urpriest]

"At will" in the more colloquial sense - since they can turn any of their spells into summoning spells at equivalent level. Since they're most likely getting three 6th-level spell castings a day (22Wis is trivial at 12), they'll basically have an elemental helper whenever they want to.

A Cleric or a Wizard has the option of preparing all of their spells as Summon Monster if they really feel like it. The only reason they don't is because other spells are better choices. So your Druid who keeps his elemental around all day has no actual advantage beyond flexibility. That's hardly enough to justify blatantly ignoring the ECL rules for a cohort.

[sreservoir]

I have yet to see a prestige class requirement that demands a character prepares spells a certain way

I think MotAO does, and ultimate magus -- although UM also requires a spellbook, so it wouldn't help anyway.

[WinWin]

forgot about those. Probably because I have never played them. Thanks.


As for the concept of controlling an efreet...I found a little gem that may be of use to a Chameleon.

Bone Talisman (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mb/20040721a)

Seems pretty clear cut. Grants a single use of Turn Undead with an effective turning level equal to caster level. How this interacts with other sources of turning and Domain abilities is a little tenuous. I know how I want it to work...