The Caller (pure summoning base class, 3.5, PEACH)

[dspeyer]

I started wondering if it would be possible to take summoning and turn it into a tier 3 class of its own. This resulted.

The Caller

In my need, I cried out to the emptiness... and my cry was answered.

A sufficient dedication to a cause can reach beyond one's own plane and bring down help. Callers do not set out to be callers; they simply care so much that when they call for help, it comes.



LevelBABFort SaveRef SaveWill SaveSpecial123456789
1st0002enthusiasm +15————————
2nd1003overreach6————————
3rd111373———————
4th2114speak to summons84———————
5th2114853——————
6th3225mindlink to summons864——————
7th3225enthusiasm +28653—————
8th4226summon multitude8764—————
9th433687653————
10th5337prolong spell87764————
11th5337877653———
12th6448monsters of unusual skill 877764———
13th6448enthusiasm +38777653——
14th7449distant summons8777764——
15th755987777653—
16th85510monsters of extraordinary talent87777764—
17th85510877777653
18th96611easy enhancement877777764
19th96611summon champion877777775
20th106612summon dragon877777777


Hit die: d6
Skills: 4+int
Class Skills: bluff, concentration, diplomacy, knowledge (arcane), knowledge (nature), knowledge (religion), knowledge (the planes), spellcraft
Weapons and Armor: Callers are proficient with simple weapons, light and medium armor, and non-tower shields.

spellcasting: Callers cast divine spells spontaneously from their entire class list. Their class list contains all Summon Monster, Nature's Ally and Undead spells, plus Summon Babau Demon, Summon Bearded Devil, Summon Bralani Eladrin, Summon Elemental Monolith, Summon Greater Elemental and Summon Hound Archon. A caller cannot summon a creature with an alignment opposed to his own in either dimension (though a true neutral caller can summon anything). Caller casting is charisma based.

enthusiasm: Callable monsters are happier to fight for someone who shares their values. This manifests as a morale bonus on attacks, damage and skill checks of +1 per matching dimension. Matching neutrality doesn't count (so a true neutral caller gains nothing from this feature). At 7th level, the bonus increases to +2 per dimension, and at 13th to +3.

overreach: A caller can call for a creature stronger than he can control. He may use a Summon Monster/Nature'sAlly/Undead X spell to summon a creature from the X+1 list, but the creature owes him no loyalty and acts according to its nature. Depending on its personality and the circumstances, the monster may even resent being summoned and attack the caller.

speak to summons: A caller can always speak with a creature he controls as if they shared a common language. This does not increase the intelligence of the summoned creature, so communication is still limited to what both sides can understand.

mindlink to summons: A caller can connect his mind directly to a creature he controls, using its senses and giving telepathic instructions.

summon multitude: When using a spell that summons one creature from its list, 1d3 from the list below or 1d4+1 from the list two below, a caller may instead summon even more creatures from lists even further below:



listcreatures
n1
n-11d3
n-21d4+1
n-32d4
n-42d6
n-53d4+1
n-63d6
n-73d8
n-83d10



prolong spell: A caller may cause a spell to last for 1 hour per level. This causes it to use a spell slot 3 higher than normal, and is a metamagic effect.

monsters of unusual skill (int 6: ): Some monsters have ambitions beyond their instinct. When summoning a monster of at leat int 6, a caller may summon one with levels in rogue, barbarian, ranger, or fighter. Barbarians have all their daily uses of rage, but rangers do not bring their animal companions or have spells prepared. The caller may specify the general focus of a callees training (e.g. a fast-talking rogue, a demon-hunting ranger) but not the exact build. Each level increases the spell slot needed by one level. This is not a metamagic effect.

distant summons: A caller may ignore the range limits on summoning spells, instead placing a monster anywhere he can see. This includes seeing via scrying.

monsters of extraordinary talent: The same as monsters of unusual skill, except that it requires int 10, 2 spell levels per class level, and grants levels in beguiler, warblade, factotum, warmage, or healer. Factotums do not have arcane disciple available. Monstrous healers cast from their entire class list spontaneously, like beguilers.

easy enhancement: When a caller enhances his spells in a way that effects spell level (either metamagic or class features), he increases the spell level by one less than normal, to a minimum of one. This only applies to caller spells, not to any other classes, and not to any spells which are added to the caller's list (e.g. with contemplative).

summon champion: At need, a caller can spend 2 9th level spell slots to summon an especially powerful champion of his alignment.



alignmentcreature
Nomnimental
CN, CG, NGastral deva
LN, LE, NEhorned devil
LN, LG, NGtrumpet archon
CN, CE, NENalfeshnee



summon dragon: At need, a caller can spend 3 9th level spell slots to summon an especially powerful dragon of his alignment. Regardless of alignment, the dragon will insist on an equal share in any treasure you obtain via his help.



alignmentdragon
NVery Old Amethyst
CN, CG, NGOld Copper
LN, LE, NEVery Old Green
LN, LG, NGMature Adult Gold
CN, CE, NEAncient Black

[reddir]

I don't know much about mechanics to PEACH, but I like two of the class features.

1) Overreach - a true desperation move, and by implication adds some flavor to the regular use of summon spells (namely, that part of the summoner's power goes toward establishing control).

2) Distant Summons - a nasty nasty surprise. To balance it, in addition to your npcs or players knowing its possible and having access to warding spells, you might want to add some time to the manifestation of the summon during which time it both is visible and can take damage. Or perhaps require the caster to have some level of familiarity with the location (which is possible with enough scrying), the degree of which determines the max level of summon spell s/he can cast.

-----

Also, I think most people like to have each level give a class feature, even if it is a weak one.

[GunbladeKnight]

The spell list should be fleshed out more. If it's divine, give it healing magic a la druid. Add in other conjuration spells like produce flame. Add spells that have something to do with controlling creatures, like hold monster and dominate monster. And add in some basic utility spells or abilities so they can help out in non-combat situations. As you have it, you essentially have a pokemon trainer that can't do anything else.

You don't have to add abilities every level, especially with spells, but add incentives to taking another level of this class over just taking a level or two.

[Cipher Stars]

{table=head]
=
{table=head]Something | something | something
Everything | Anything | Nothing
Thing one | Thing two | Thing three
[/table]

Yay Table=Head.


The class looks pretty nice. But you need to actually make a Spell List for this guy.