4 replies to this topic

[aigleborgne]

Hi,

 

I'm currently reviewing Call Woodland Beeings spell.

Spell Revisions and aTweaks are focused on Hamadryads but they won't respond to this spell, it is clearly stated in books. There are other minor creatures, but regarding feys, it is limited to dryads:

 

2d8 brownies 30% 20% 10% 1d4 centaurs 5% 30% 5% 1d4 dryads 1% 25% 15% 1d8 pixies 10% 20% 10% 1d4 satyrs 1% 30% 10% 1d6 sprites 0% 5% 25% 1 treant — 5% 25% 1 unicorn — 15% 20%

 

Dryads might be strong in BG1, but will quickly become weak in BG2.

 

I have currently implemented the following:

Call Woodland Beings

Duration: 1 turn

Casting Time: 9

 

By means of this spell, the caster is able to summon certain woodland creatures to his location. Naturally, this spell works only outdoors, but not necessarily only in wooded areas.

7th: 1 Young Treant

13th: 1 Middle-aged Treant

20th+: 1 Elder Treant

The summoned creatures aid the caster by whatever means they possess, staying until they are slain or the spell duration expires.

Young Treant (7 Hit Dice):

STR 20, DEX 8, CON 20, INT 12, WIS 16, CHA 12

HP 91, AC 0, THAC0 13, -25% fire resistance

2 Attacks Per Round, 2d8 crushing (5 feet range)

Treant (9 Hit Dice):

STR 21, DEX 8, CON 20, INT 12, WIS 16, CHA 12

HP 117, AC 0, THAC0 11, -25% fire resistance

2 Attacks Per Round, 3d6 crushing (5 feet range)

Young Treant (11 Hit Dice):

STR 23, DEX 8, CON 21, INT 12, WIS 16, CHA 12

HP 142, AC 0, THAC0 9, -25% fire resistance

2 Attacks Per Round, 4d6 crushing (5 feet range)

 

Treant has plant traits:

- Infravision.

- Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects).

- Immunity to poison, sleep effects, paralysis, polymorph, and stunning.

- Not subject to critical hits and backstab.

 

I have not implemented their ability to animate trees as it would be overpowered.

Since Treants are powerful, I have reduced duration to 1 turn (instead of 3). I have added Outdoor checking as RAW.

I was thinking to add a limit one call at a time (similarly to Planetar and Deva), so you can't cast the spell 3 times to get 3 creatures.

 

Now, I still think that a young treant would be OP in BG1. Strength and Constitution stats are RAW for Elder Treant. I have lowered them for weaker versions, but I can lower them a bit more, maybe 19/19 for young and 20/20 to treant.

 

Another option would be to use Unicorns, but there is no animation. Closest is a horse!

 

I could also put 1D4 dryads at level 7 (using probability). 1 Young Treant or Treant at level 13, and a stronger one at level 20.

 

Any suggestion ?

Edited by aigleborgne, 05 May 2025 - 11:12 AM.

[aigleborgne]

I have tried 1d4 dryads and I think it might be OP as well.
Dryads dire charm is powerful (-3 save) and they can cast it 3 times. So it is potentially 12 dire charms if you are lucky to get 4 dryads.

I could also create a very young treant with lower stats and about 5-6hd.

Edited by aigleborgne, 06 May 2025 - 07:26 AM.

[TotoR]

Hi,

 

Passing by, I was taking a look at your proposal; the treant is an interesting one, but Dryads and Hamadryads are also a nice one. The only one that's not quite right is the Nymph.

 

aTweaks are focused on Hamadryads but they won't respond to this spell, it is clearly stated in books. There are other minor creatures, but regarding feys, it is limited to dryads:

 

That's not quite true. To be frank, the book says:

 

Hamadryads are immune to the effects of the call woodland beings spell, but are aware of the spell if they are in its area of effect. Usually (90%) they travel to the caster’s location to observe. If the caster’s goals are not contrary to the hamadryad’s, she serves of her own free will.

Hamadryads are therefore PnP in terms of BG limitations.

 

Any suggestion ?

I would say, with BG1 in mind, that lower level could call 1d2 dryads, middle level 1 treant or 1 hamadryad, and at higher level 1 hamdryad and 1 treant

 

Cheers

[aigleborgne]

Yes, but then, she would serve as an uncontrollable ally which it is not convenient. Anyway hamadryad doesn't provide much more than a dryad. You will mostly use their charms. They have better defense though.

For now, I have added 5hd very young treant.

I'd like to make a random call 1d2 dryads (love your suggestion) or 5hd treant.
As for treant, I need to compare it with animals summoning of the same level. It is 2 leopards with SR. They probably have more offense than a single treant but the later has many immunities due to its plant trait.

I need to be cautious to keep it balanced while remaining truthful to PnP.

Edited by aigleborgne, 08 May 2025 - 04:26 AM.

[aigleborgne]

I really wanted to have some random creatures to match PnP, so I went with this:

7th: Dryad (55%), Hamadryad (30%), 5HD Treant (15%)
10th: Hamadryad (55%), 5HD Treant (30%), 7HD Treant (15%)
13th: 7HD Treant (55%), 9HD Treant (30%), 11HD Treant (15%)
16th+: 9HD Treant (55%), 11HD Treant (45%)

It is kinda like Elemental Summoning so you can have something stronger with some luck. 
I might balance it more at higher levels as I am not totally convinced it should be stronger. Spell Revision did it, but so, every summoning spells should improve with levels?

Maybe it could improve a bit up to 7HD Treant but more seems overpowered for a level 4 spell.

Edited by aigleborgne, 13 May 2025 - 10:33 AM.