Re: (TFT) New Item: Maintain Summoning

[Thorn <edt@dopey.ne.mediaone.net>]

Dave Seagraves wrote:
> 
> MAINTAIN SUMMONING: Similar to Maintain Illusion, this
>   enchantment allows a wizard's summoned creature to be
>   maintained without any ST cost. <snip>

Canon sets the cost of 'forever' critters with the Elemental spells.

Gizmos made with this spell will change things drastically.  Starting
with the cost of dragon dung.

I recommend some limits.  Like any sentient critter will work to be free
of the item, and thereby to return 'home'.  The mental control that is
part of the 'normal' summoning spells (you can make a summoned critter
suicide) should lapse when the mage stops paying ST, perhaps to return
whenever the mage again starts paying the maintenance, which he can only
do when within normal summoning distance (the mega-megahex).  Perfect
communications is part of that 'control' function, but while they will
remember what you want, you can only force them to do it if you're
paying that maintenance cost.

Beasts may make more sense.  Summon them, collar them (your Maintain
Summoning gem being part of the collar), then let them roam your dungeon
or whatever, following their instincts.  It may take a half-dozen or so
tense moments where the critter needs to be controlled, but once it
knows who's boss, you've got a really great spy.

Spy?  Right.  You can see through the eyes of summoned critters.  Now,
maybe you can only see if you're paying the maintenance cost (but I
still wouldn't let you control them unless they're within the
mega-megahex), but using this power lets you get a bird's - or dragon's-
or wolf's- or maybe dolphin's-eye view of your opposition.  It also
helps you track down an uncooperative collared beast or sentient.  The
pursuit of such a sentient, either for itself or just to retrieve the
expensive gem, might be a good plot thread.

With the approach above, a GM can easily balance this in an ad hoc
fashion.
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