You conjure a portal linking an unoccupied space you can see within range to a precise location on a different plane of existence. The portal is a circular opening, which you can make 5 to 20 feet in diameter. You can orient the portal in any direction you choose. The portal lasts for the duration, and the portal’s destination is visible through it.
The portal has a front and a back on each plane where it appears. Travel through the portal is possible only by moving through its front. Anything that does so is instantly transported to the other plane, appearing in the unoccupied space nearest to the portal.
Deities and other planar rulers can prevent portals created by this spell from opening in their presence or anywhere within their domains.
When you cast this spell, you can speak the name of a specific creature (a pseudonym, title, or nickname doesn’t work). If that creature is on a plane other than the one you are on, the portal opens next to the named creature and transports it to the nearest unoccupied space on your side of the portal. You gain no special power over the creature, and it is free to act as the DM deems appropriate. It might leave, attack you, or help you.
* - (a diamond worth 5,000+ GP)
Oh interesting, they changed GM to DM, other than that, very similar wording, I love it. I was always curious about that choice.
They should change it so you can't just force a creature into a trap using gate. Just make it open a portal next to the creature instead.
Why? It's a 9th-level spell, it should be scary.
It should be scary, not "I can kill a Demon Lord with it" scary. The real issue is that it wasn't intended to be a "I summon Malcanthet into a pool of lava" spell, it was intended to be a "you're allowed to go literally anywhere you want and take anyone and anything you want with you" spell.
Edit: I just realized that Demon Lords can say no to the spell, that said you could instantly kill any Pit Fiend or other powerful creature that you know the name of easily.
Can you not simply open a portal to the sun anyway and just blast whoever stands near the portal?
Ok, that's another problem. The best way to solve this would be to stop it from being made if anything other than air would naturally pour out of it (so not underwater or in the sun or anything like that). I'm sure someone could come up with a better wording than that but you get the idea.
Gate 1 opens vertically behind to the bad guy. Gate 2 opens 500ft in the air, facing downwards, into the negative energy plane. Have someone on the team shove/repelling blast/telekinesis the bad guy though the gate.
Bonus points if your DM allows this then immediately has a Nightwalker spwan though the gate.