Yitzi
2011-06-20, 08:18 PM
One of the balance issues in D&D (not a major one, but one significant enough, and different enough from most others, to call for special attention) is that of allies. Even leaving aside stuff like chain-gating solars (which, by the way, doesn't work if the solars don't want to cooperate; Gate provides no special power to overcome their innate Magic Circle against Evil), calling spells potentially allow you to call in allies substantially more powerful than yourself and take credit for them winning the battle for you. Various spells (most notably Charm and Dominate, but potentially also Polymorph Any Object) can also gain allies which can then help you win fights without taking a share of the XP. And then of course there's Leadership...even with its limitations (means CHA can't be a dump stat, need to share equipment or have him get weaker as the levels go on, 2 less level, probably lower ability scores) the cohort still will probably increase effectiveness by at least 30-40%, which is a bit much for a single feat.
So, here's my ideas to fix them:
Calling:
1. A called creature reduces gained XP, calculated as follows:
After winning the fight, calculate (for each party member) the experience gained for defeating every called creature that fought alongside you (as per DMG page 38). If any creature is 8 levels than the party member (and therefore would provide no XP), it doesn't count; if it is 8 levels higher than the party member (and would therefore provide no XP) it counts as infinite. Divide the result by 300 times your ECL. The called creatures count as this portion of a party member when dividing the listed XP by the number of party members to calculate actual XP.
2. A called creature also takes a share of the treasure (above and beyond any spent to gain their aid). For each party member, find (on the table on the DMG p.38) the XP for ECL equal to the encounter level and CR equal to the party member's ECL (in essence, reverse the numbers.) Again, if the ECL is too low for any XP this is 0; if it's too high this is infinite. Then do the same for each called ally (using ECL equal to encounter level and CR equal to the ally's CR). Add all the numbers (for party members and allies) together, and divide each ally's result by this sum. This is the portion of the treasure, by monetary worth, taken by that ally; the party may choose which portion it is (so long as it comes out to the right value.)
If the encounter level is more than the highest-level ally CR or party member ECL by at least 8, then the denominator will be 0, so this method won't work. In such case, the division of treasure, like the XP award, must be determined by the DM.
If the encounter level is less than the highest-level ally CR or party member ECL by at least 8, then the denominator will be infinite, so this method won't work. In such case, all party members and allies with the highest ECL/CR present split the treasure evenly (and, for party members, afterward split it with the entire party.)
3. Called creatures are not PCs, but rather NPCs whom the character has some degree of influence over (depending on the details of the calling spell; in the case of Gate (assuming it's not changed by house rules), they probably might as well be PCs.). (This is actually RAW, and simply is worth re-elaborating.)
Allies gained by other spells:
1. If the spell has duration of at least 24 hours, such allies split XP as described under Calling, but do not split treasure.
2. Allies gained by spells are not PCs, but rather NPCs whom the character has some degree of influence over (depending on the details of the spell; Dominate gives enough influence that they might as well be PCs, Charm Person and Suggestion somewhat less so.) (This is actually RAW, and simply is worth re-elaborating.)
Leadership:
1. The Leadership feat gives followers as described, but does not provide cohorts. There is, however, a new feat, Improved Leadership (prerequisites: Character level 9th, Cha 13, Leadership) that allows you to gain cohorts as described.
2. Cohorts and followers are not PCs, but rather NPCs whom the character has some degree of influence over. (This is actually RAW, and simply is worth re-elaborating.)
3. A leader can choose his cohort's race, primary class, and alignment (subject to DM approval), but no more. He may advise the cohort regarding matters such as feat, skill, and spell choice and multiclassing, but it is the cohort's decision whether to follow the advice. (RAW seems to indicate this anyway, but is not clear.)
Monster abilities:
1. Whenever a creature has a spell-like ability that imitates a spell with variable XP cost, it can only imitate the usage with minimal cost unless the description indicates otherwise.
2. A djinni's Wind Walk and a nightmare's Astral Projection and Etherealness can only target the "caster" themselves.
3. Any ability that cannot be used by a summoned creature also cannot be forced by any means of commanding or controlling a creature. The only exception is a noble djinni granting wishes to its captor; even in such case, the capture must have been by natural means rather than a spell such as Planar Binding.
So, here's my ideas to fix them:
Calling:
1. A called creature reduces gained XP, calculated as follows:
After winning the fight, calculate (for each party member) the experience gained for defeating every called creature that fought alongside you (as per DMG page 38). If any creature is 8 levels than the party member (and therefore would provide no XP), it doesn't count; if it is 8 levels higher than the party member (and would therefore provide no XP) it counts as infinite. Divide the result by 300 times your ECL. The called creatures count as this portion of a party member when dividing the listed XP by the number of party members to calculate actual XP.
2. A called creature also takes a share of the treasure (above and beyond any spent to gain their aid). For each party member, find (on the table on the DMG p.38) the XP for ECL equal to the encounter level and CR equal to the party member's ECL (in essence, reverse the numbers.) Again, if the ECL is too low for any XP this is 0; if it's too high this is infinite. Then do the same for each called ally (using ECL equal to encounter level and CR equal to the ally's CR). Add all the numbers (for party members and allies) together, and divide each ally's result by this sum. This is the portion of the treasure, by monetary worth, taken by that ally; the party may choose which portion it is (so long as it comes out to the right value.)
If the encounter level is more than the highest-level ally CR or party member ECL by at least 8, then the denominator will be 0, so this method won't work. In such case, the division of treasure, like the XP award, must be determined by the DM.
If the encounter level is less than the highest-level ally CR or party member ECL by at least 8, then the denominator will be infinite, so this method won't work. In such case, all party members and allies with the highest ECL/CR present split the treasure evenly (and, for party members, afterward split it with the entire party.)
3. Called creatures are not PCs, but rather NPCs whom the character has some degree of influence over (depending on the details of the calling spell; in the case of Gate (assuming it's not changed by house rules), they probably might as well be PCs.). (This is actually RAW, and simply is worth re-elaborating.)
Allies gained by other spells:
1. If the spell has duration of at least 24 hours, such allies split XP as described under Calling, but do not split treasure.
2. Allies gained by spells are not PCs, but rather NPCs whom the character has some degree of influence over (depending on the details of the spell; Dominate gives enough influence that they might as well be PCs, Charm Person and Suggestion somewhat less so.) (This is actually RAW, and simply is worth re-elaborating.)
Leadership:
1. The Leadership feat gives followers as described, but does not provide cohorts. There is, however, a new feat, Improved Leadership (prerequisites: Character level 9th, Cha 13, Leadership) that allows you to gain cohorts as described.
2. Cohorts and followers are not PCs, but rather NPCs whom the character has some degree of influence over. (This is actually RAW, and simply is worth re-elaborating.)
3. A leader can choose his cohort's race, primary class, and alignment (subject to DM approval), but no more. He may advise the cohort regarding matters such as feat, skill, and spell choice and multiclassing, but it is the cohort's decision whether to follow the advice. (RAW seems to indicate this anyway, but is not clear.)
Monster abilities:
1. Whenever a creature has a spell-like ability that imitates a spell with variable XP cost, it can only imitate the usage with minimal cost unless the description indicates otherwise.
2. A djinni's Wind Walk and a nightmare's Astral Projection and Etherealness can only target the "caster" themselves.
3. Any ability that cannot be used by a summoned creature also cannot be forced by any means of commanding or controlling a creature. The only exception is a noble djinni granting wishes to its captor; even in such case, the capture must have been by natural means rather than a spell such as Planar Binding.