Amechra
2014-02-07, 02:20 PM
Alright, anyone here remember the Binder fluff from the ToM? Namely, the fact that it says that Binding is extremely easy to learn? And then, you know, they restrict it to one class, unless you grab a feat that lets you do some subpar binding.
But, you know what? Let's change that.
On the Making of Pacts
The world is positively greasy with entities that want to make deals; perhaps to get a foothold in the world, perhaps out of boredom, perhaps something more sinister? But the whys aren't important. What's important is the how.
Every creature gains the benefits of the Bind Vestige feat gratis. Free. Abso-bloody-lutely free... they just have to work for it. You see, the version they get does not inherently grant knowledge of the different pacts... you gotta earn those.
You see, the simplest rule of Pact Magic is that you have to know that a spirit exits before you can make a deal. If you have no idea that Savnok exists? You can't make a pact with him. If you don't know his seal, you can't call him up. And so on and so forth.
So, once you've called them up, made the Charisma check to negotiate the pact, all that jazz... now what?
On the Anatomy of a Pact
With any Vestige you have ever bound, you gain a special little number called Approval. Now, some facts about approval:
The first time you make a Pact with a Vestige, your Approval with that Vestige is set to 3.
Each time you make a good Pact with a Vestige, your Approval with that Vestige increases by 1.
If the Pact lasted the full 24 hours, your Approval with that Vestige increases by 1.
Each time you go against that Vestige's Influence while in the presence of someone else bound to that Vestige, you loose one Approval. If you made a bad Pact, this applies regardless of whether or not someone else is present.
Now, what are the benefits of Approval?
As long as you have Influence 4 or higher with a Vestige, you gain the benefits of the Practiced Binder feat with regards to that Vestige only.
Whenever you make a Pact with that Vestige, you may spend any number of Influence to gain the benefits of any of the following feats with regards to that vestige on a 1-for-1 basis for the duration of the pact: Expel Vestige, Favored Vestige, Ignore Special Requirements, Practiced Binder, Rapid Pact-Making, and Rapid Recovery. You must meet the requirements of the above feats.
Once Approval reaches 0, your Pact immediately decays to a bad pact if it was a good pact, and you cannot bind that Vestige again unless you successfully make a good pact with them, in which case your Approval with that Vestige increases to 1.
If your Approval drops below 0 while you are still bound to that Vestige, the Vestige is immediately expelled as per the Expel Vestige feat, and your Approval with that Vestige is set to 0.
Other Adjustments Required:
If this variant is used, Binders are the practiced, sure, forceful masters of binding Vestiges.
In addition, Improved Bind Vestige's requirements are changed to Charisma 15 and 6 HD.
Optional Rule: Positive Influence
Basically, by RAW, the Influence of a Vestige is a Thou Shalt Not affair; however, when used with these rules, the following "positive" Influences can be added to Vestiges. Whenever they are fulfilled, your Approval with that Vestige increases to 1. As with normal Influence, Positive Influence only affects your Approval with a Vestige when you either have a bad pact or another creature bound to that Vestige observes you perform the action.
A few examples follow:
Whenever you gain over 1000gp in wealth, your Approval with Aym increases by 1.
Whenever you spend at least 4 hours in quiet contemplation and meditation, your Approval with Roanove increases by 1.
Whenever you remove your teeth without sedative, your Approval with Dalvar-Nar increases by 1.
But, you know what? Let's change that.
On the Making of Pacts
The world is positively greasy with entities that want to make deals; perhaps to get a foothold in the world, perhaps out of boredom, perhaps something more sinister? But the whys aren't important. What's important is the how.
Every creature gains the benefits of the Bind Vestige feat gratis. Free. Abso-bloody-lutely free... they just have to work for it. You see, the version they get does not inherently grant knowledge of the different pacts... you gotta earn those.
You see, the simplest rule of Pact Magic is that you have to know that a spirit exits before you can make a deal. If you have no idea that Savnok exists? You can't make a pact with him. If you don't know his seal, you can't call him up. And so on and so forth.
So, once you've called them up, made the Charisma check to negotiate the pact, all that jazz... now what?
On the Anatomy of a Pact
With any Vestige you have ever bound, you gain a special little number called Approval. Now, some facts about approval:
The first time you make a Pact with a Vestige, your Approval with that Vestige is set to 3.
Each time you make a good Pact with a Vestige, your Approval with that Vestige increases by 1.
If the Pact lasted the full 24 hours, your Approval with that Vestige increases by 1.
Each time you go against that Vestige's Influence while in the presence of someone else bound to that Vestige, you loose one Approval. If you made a bad Pact, this applies regardless of whether or not someone else is present.
Now, what are the benefits of Approval?
As long as you have Influence 4 or higher with a Vestige, you gain the benefits of the Practiced Binder feat with regards to that Vestige only.
Whenever you make a Pact with that Vestige, you may spend any number of Influence to gain the benefits of any of the following feats with regards to that vestige on a 1-for-1 basis for the duration of the pact: Expel Vestige, Favored Vestige, Ignore Special Requirements, Practiced Binder, Rapid Pact-Making, and Rapid Recovery. You must meet the requirements of the above feats.
Once Approval reaches 0, your Pact immediately decays to a bad pact if it was a good pact, and you cannot bind that Vestige again unless you successfully make a good pact with them, in which case your Approval with that Vestige increases to 1.
If your Approval drops below 0 while you are still bound to that Vestige, the Vestige is immediately expelled as per the Expel Vestige feat, and your Approval with that Vestige is set to 0.
Other Adjustments Required:
If this variant is used, Binders are the practiced, sure, forceful masters of binding Vestiges.
In addition, Improved Bind Vestige's requirements are changed to Charisma 15 and 6 HD.
Optional Rule: Positive Influence
Basically, by RAW, the Influence of a Vestige is a Thou Shalt Not affair; however, when used with these rules, the following "positive" Influences can be added to Vestiges. Whenever they are fulfilled, your Approval with that Vestige increases to 1. As with normal Influence, Positive Influence only affects your Approval with a Vestige when you either have a bad pact or another creature bound to that Vestige observes you perform the action.
A few examples follow:
Whenever you gain over 1000gp in wealth, your Approval with Aym increases by 1.
Whenever you spend at least 4 hours in quiet contemplation and meditation, your Approval with Roanove increases by 1.
Whenever you remove your teeth without sedative, your Approval with Dalvar-Nar increases by 1.