Summoning in Style
I can’t tell you how relieved I am to say “it’s finally out.” Or rather, how relieved I will be by the time that you read this. Right now, as I write this, it’s not actually out yet, and I’ve got quite a bit of work ahead of me in order to get it out in time. But, perhaps I should back up a bit, and explain just what “it” is, and why I’m so relieved (or, will be relieved).
“It” is The Deluxe Guide to Fiend Summoning and Faustian Bargains, a book that has taken over a year (admittedly on and off) to write. It contains over 24,000 words (or about 35 pages) of new and exciting rules for researching, summoning, binding, and bargaining with fiends (and, in a pinch, other outsiders), plus no less than seventy-two new unique fiends (drawn from the Key of Solomon and greatly expanded upon) that not only have unique stat-blocks with never-seen-elsewhere abilities, as well as detailed descriptions of their personalities, backgrounds, and the infernal realms that they rule, but also with cool and unique abilities tied to the summoning and binding rules from the first section of the book. All in all, it’s easily the largest and most impressive undertaking that Necromancers of the Northwest has ever attempted, and, at 180 pages, it’s smaller only than A Necromancer’s Almanac: 2012. I can pretty much guarantee that it will revolutionize the way that you look at summoning demons and devils, and it’s available for a mere $17.99.
So, that’s what “it” is and why I’m so excited that it’s finally out. I really hope you’ll all take a look at the free sample, and then pick up a copy, use it in your game, and tell us about it. But, whether you do or not, this week is Fiend Week, devoted to lower-planar creatures of all sorts. And since I’m so excited about The Deluxe Guide to Fiend Summoning and Faustian Bargains, and that book didn’t have any room for fiend-summoning archetypes, I want to use this space to provide a little support for players who want to start summoning fiends right away.
New Summoner Archetype
Fiend Summoner
Specializing in calling upon the aid of abyssal, infernal, and other unwholesome creatures of the lower planes, fiend summoners are more adept than their peers at the complex rituals involved in calling and binding outsiders in order to bargain with them.
Summon Monster I (Sp): This functions as the summoner class feature of the same name, except that the fiend summoner can only summon creatures with an evil alignment, or creatures that can be summoned with the fiendish template. If a creature can be summoned with the fiendish template, it is, even if the fiend summoner’s alignment would normally cause it to be summoned with a different template.
This ability modifies the summon monster I class feature.
Improved Calling (Su): Beginning at 2nd level, the fiend summoner gains a +1 bonus on all calling checks he makes to summon fiends. At 5th level, and every five levels thereafter, this bonus increases by an additional +1 (to a maximum of +5 at 20th level). For more information on calling checks, see The Deluxe Guide to Fiend Summoning and Faustian Bargains.
This ability replaces the bond senses class feature.
Improved Binding (Su): Beginning at 4th level, the binding DC for any binding ritual that the fiend summoner performs increases by +1. At 8th level, and every four levels thereafter, this bonus increases by an additional +1 (to a maximum of +5 at 20th level). For more information on binding DCs, see The Deluxe Guide to Fiend Summoning and Faustian Bargains.
This ability replaces the shield ally class feature.
Fiendish Rewards (Su): Beginning at 10th level, the cost in pact points for any boons that the fiend summoner gains from summoned fiends is reduced by 1/4. The fiend summoner must purchase a boon worth at least 4 pact points in order to benefit from this ability. The number of pact points reduced from the price is rounded down. For more information on pact points and boons, see The Deluxe Guide to Fiend Summoning and Faustian Bargains.
This ability replaces the aspect class feature.
New Wizard Archetype
Demonologist
Not actually limited to the study of demons, these specialist wizards devote a substantial portion of their studies towards the lower planes, the denizens of those fell places, and the means by which such creatures can be summoned, bound, and used to gain power. Demonologists are unable to specialize in a school of magic, but instead gain a number of abilities relating to summoning fiends and fiendish creatures.
Arcane Bond (Su): A demonologist must select a familiar for his arcane bond. His familiar automatically gains the fiendish template.
This ability modifies the arcane bond class feature.
Fiendish Devotion: A demonologist cannot specialize in an arcane school.
Fiendish Summons (Sp): A demonologist adds summon monster I to his spellbook for free at 1st level. At 3rd level, and every two levels thereafter, he adds the next-highest summon monster spell to his spellbook for free (summon monster II at 3rd level, summon monster III at 5th level, etc.). Whenever the demonologist casts a summon monster spell, if the summoned creature would gain the celestial, entropic, or resolute template, he may choose to have it gain the fiendish template, instead. Additionally, any time he uses a summon monster spell to summon an evil-aligned creature or a creature with the fiendish template, that creature has maximum hit points for its Hit Die, and gains a +1 morale bonus on attack and damage rolls.
Student of the Planes (Ex): Beginning at 2nd level, a demonologist gains a bonus equal to 1/2 his wizard level on all Knowledge (planes) checks made to identify outsiders, as well as on all Knowledge (planes) checks made to research the name, sigil, or other information about summoning outsiders. For more information on researching the names, sigils, and other information about outsiders, see The Deluxe Guide to Fiend Summoning and Faustian Bargains.
Improved Calling (Su): Beginning at 5th level, a demonologist gains a +2 bonus on all calling checks he makes to summon fiends. At 10th level, and every five levels thereafter, this bonus increases by an additional +2 (to a maximum of +8 at 20th level). For more information on calling checks, see The Deluxe Guide to Fiend Summoning and Faustian Bargains.
This ability replaces the bonus feats gained at 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th levels.
Improved Familiar (Ex): At 7th level, the demonologist gains his choice of an augur, cacodaemon, cythnigot, doru, imp, quasit, raktavarna, or tripurasura as a familiar. The new familiar replaces his old familiar, either driving it off, devouring it, or otherwise removing it.
That’s it for this week. What’s that? Want more fiend-summoning goodness? Well, other than picking up a copy of The Deluxe Guide to Fiend Summoning and Faustian Bargains, your best bet will probably be to wait until this time next week, when I’ll be giving the fiendish treatment to clerics and witches.