With Infernal Calling, there is the option of using a Devil's Talisman to skip Cha checks to control it and to increase the Max CR you can summon by +1.
How powerful would this be, in your estimation? Like, what kind of rarity of a Magic Item do you think it would be? I'm considering giving it to a player as one of their magic items.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
I would make it something they have to actively seek out - thematically, the idea is that you have some sort of direct knowledge and item related to a very specific demon, so you have the ability to bind that demon.
For me, getting that level of intimate control is going to require probably a few checks and a mini quest (built into down time or as something tangential and related to the main story). Perhaps they have to track down the talisman. Perhaps they have to track down the demon’s True Name then make their own talisman using (criminally underutilized) crafting tool proficiencies.
If you want to give it out as loot, I would probably make the rarity dependent on the level of demon that it is bound to. A big scary demon, higher than the spell could cast at even max level might be a very rare or legendary. Something that they could summon with spell level 4-7 might be a rare or very rare. Etc. You will have to look at the stat block for the specific demon it is tied to and make that choice. I probably would err on the side of making it more rare, given the item does not require artunement and is just a strict upgrade to a spell.
I normally would make it a quest. However, this a new player joining the campaign and wants it as part of the backstory (and would replace the magic items and/or gold I'd normally give to get them to parity with the party). They'll be joining at L9, so going with it being Very Rare, I'd probably insist that it's their only magic item and cost them all their gold.
Or actually, perhaps give it to them and say that it's broken and set them a quest to fix it.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
I think the quest option is the better choice - an item which gives you a buff to only one spell (and a pet spell, with all the baggage that can bring, to boot) is not the most exciting of starting magic items. You could probably make the item less rare, and be set with a Ruby worth 999 gold (then it might not enable to specific totem aspect, but it covers the material component). Then to complete it, they’ll need to find the True Name of the demon the totem was designed for.
With Infernal Calling, there is the option of using a Devil's Talisman to skip Cha checks to control it and to increase the Max CR you can summon by +1.
How powerful would this be, in your estimation? Like, what kind of rarity of a Magic Item do you think it would be? I'm considering giving it to a player as one of their magic items.
Depends on the devil. Talismans are described in the monster manual
Binding can also be accomplished with the help of a devil talisman. Each of these ancient relics is inscribed with the true name of a devil it controls, and was bathed in the blood of a worthy sacrifice — typically someone the creator loved — when crafted.
which means it's a very specific devil. In general I would say to treat the CR of the devil as the spell level for rarity purposes, so CR 1 and below is Common, CR 2-3 is Uncommon, CR 4-5 is Rare, CR 6-8 is Very Rare, CR 9+ is Legendary.
The description of Infernal Calling states that the talisman is linked to a specific devil. So in terms of which kind of devil they're summoning, that is completely within your control - and it has to be the same devil every time.
The main key here is that the talisman only lets you skip the checks to tell the devil what to do, but it is still a creature under the DM's control and it is still unfriendly toward the summoner according to the spell description. It's still going to want to ignore their requests or try to get the talisman away from them if it finds an opening.
That is unless this is more of a flavor item for Fiend Warlock or someone else whose made a deal with a devil that is effectively allowing them to summon their patron. In which case I might attach the spell to the talisman and let them cast it once per long rest; still require concentration.
I don't think Infernal Calling is any more or less powerful than other summon spells other than the fact they come with more resistances and immunities that the more modern summon spells that have generic stat blocks.
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With Infernal Calling, there is the option of using a Devil's Talisman to skip Cha checks to control it and to increase the Max CR you can summon by +1.
How powerful would this be, in your estimation? Like, what kind of rarity of a Magic Item do you think it would be? I'm considering giving it to a player as one of their magic items.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
I would make it something they have to actively seek out - thematically, the idea is that you have some sort of direct knowledge and item related to a very specific demon, so you have the ability to bind that demon.
For me, getting that level of intimate control is going to require probably a few checks and a mini quest (built into down time or as something tangential and related to the main story). Perhaps they have to track down the talisman. Perhaps they have to track down the demon’s True Name then make their own talisman using (criminally underutilized) crafting tool proficiencies.
If you want to give it out as loot, I would probably make the rarity dependent on the level of demon that it is bound to. A big scary demon, higher than the spell could cast at even max level might be a very rare or legendary. Something that they could summon with spell level 4-7 might be a rare or very rare. Etc. You will have to look at the stat block for the specific demon it is tied to and make that choice. I probably would err on the side of making it more rare, given the item does not require artunement and is just a strict upgrade to a spell.
I normally would make it a quest. However, this a new player joining the campaign and wants it as part of the backstory (and would replace the magic items and/or gold I'd normally give to get them to parity with the party). They'll be joining at L9, so going with it being Very Rare, I'd probably insist that it's their only magic item and cost them all their gold.
Or actually, perhaps give it to them and say that it's broken and set them a quest to fix it.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
I think the quest option is the better choice - an item which gives you a buff to only one spell (and a pet spell, with all the baggage that can bring, to boot) is not the most exciting of starting magic items. You could probably make the item less rare, and be set with a Ruby worth 999 gold (then it might not enable to specific totem aspect, but it covers the material component). Then to complete it, they’ll need to find the True Name of the demon the totem was designed for.
Depends on the devil. Talismans are described in the monster manual
which means it's a very specific devil. In general I would say to treat the CR of the devil as the spell level for rarity purposes, so CR 1 and below is Common, CR 2-3 is Uncommon, CR 4-5 is Rare, CR 6-8 is Very Rare, CR 9+ is Legendary.
The description of Infernal Calling states that the talisman is linked to a specific devil. So in terms of which kind of devil they're summoning, that is completely within your control - and it has to be the same devil every time.
The main key here is that the talisman only lets you skip the checks to tell the devil what to do, but it is still a creature under the DM's control and it is still unfriendly toward the summoner according to the spell description. It's still going to want to ignore their requests or try to get the talisman away from them if it finds an opening.
That is unless this is more of a flavor item for Fiend Warlock or someone else whose made a deal with a devil that is effectively allowing them to summon their patron. In which case I might attach the spell to the talisman and let them cast it once per long rest; still require concentration.
I don't think Infernal Calling is any more or less powerful than other summon spells other than the fact they come with more resistances and immunities that the more modern summon spells that have generic stat blocks.