Why don't Planar Bound Outsiders Cheat?

[icefractal]

As it's written, it doesn't make any sense to consider a deal that's simply unfair to be an "unreasonable command":

You can attempt to compel the creature to perform a service by describing the service and perhaps offering some sort of reward. You make a Charisma check opposed by the creature’s Charisma check. The check is assigned a bonus of +0 to +6 based on the nature of the service and the reward.

If the creature could simply reject any deal that wasn't good enough, this whole section is meaningless. RAW, it really looks like the only difference between "Pose for a painting for a few hours, and in exchange you get a copy of the painting and a big bag of diamonds" and "Go work in the acid mines for a week, no payment" is that the latter get a +0 on the Charisma check and the former might get as high as +6.

So what is an "unreasonable command"? I'd consider it to include "obviously self-destructive orders", as barred by most mind-control spells, and also things seriously against the being's nature, like telling an Archon to help plunge a fairly nice city into violent anarchy.


Now if I was rewriting the spell? I'd probably say that there are degrees:
1) Would do it for free
2) Would do it for minor/moderate payment (not necessarily in gold)
3) Would do it for major payment
4) Would only do it for something big - life-changing payment, saving themselves or someone very important, to accomplish a major goal, etc
5) Would never do it

Based on what you're asking and the nature of the being, determine which category it falls into. You can make a deal based on that with no compulsion needed, and the spell will enforce it on both parties. Or, you can try the Charisma check to shift it a step lower (or maybe multiple steps with a high enough margin?), with the downside that the bound creature now probably hates you and will try to subvert the orders if it can.


The biggest issue with both this and Planar Ally is that often it makes logical sense for an outsider to help for free and even bring friends, when the stakes are high enough. An ancient gate to the abyss threatens to crack open and leave the demons free entry to the prime material, and you call an Astral Deva for assistance. Is it really going to refuse if you don't have anything to offer, or is it going to say "Not today, demon cultists!" and go in there smiting, maybe even call in a bunch of its friends to help?

It's the "Why doesn't Elminster solve this problem, if it really threatens the whole world?" issue, except worse because there are a large, possibly infinite, number of these outsiders.

On the gripping hand, Goku's greatest weapon did turn out to be snitching, so maybe that's appropriate.