One of the things that added some excellent flavor to the original ACKs, and has been honed since, is the ability to create custom spells, with a system in place to design and balance them. one of the players in my Dwimmermount campaign used this to great effect, and I’m going to work to recreate one of those spells within the updated rules.
I’d been intending on doing this for a few weeks now, but the timing was definitely inspired by this post:
The spell in question summons a random number of blink dogs to scout, or harry and harass foes.
Summon Blink Dogs
Spell Level
Unknown until we determine the number of build points. Typically a 1st level spell will be 1-10, 2nd will be 11-20, and 3rd will be 21-30.
Spell Type
Summoning. Summoning spells bring creatures from “elsewhere” to serve the spellcaster. There are three sub-types of summoning spells. This is not going to be a calling - the caster cannot afford to wait in context, or in the middle of a dungeon. Nor is it a conjuration - this is for a friendly creature, not an actively hostile one. So it is a summons.
Building the Spell
Base Cost
Now that we know the basic type, we consult the summoning spell table. We want it to summon 1d4 blink dogs, that’s a base cost of 125. Blink dogs are 4HD and have one special ability. Digging further down the table:
base cost 1d4 creatures : 125
4 HD max : multiplier (x 0.4)
1 specific creature (x 0.7)
There are no other modifiers applicable - controlling with mental commands, and cooperative are all x1 modifiers.
Final base cost: 35
Target costs.
The creatures will appear in thin air (hey, they’re teleporters) at a range of up to 60’ (x1.15)
Duration Factor
The spell will last 1 turn per level (x 0.6)
Saving Throw
N/a, so x1
Source
Finally as an Arcane Spell, and a summoning (so not Arcane spell not a calling, conjuration, or summoning), x1
Total
The general formula for spells is:
(Base cost of all effects) x (target factor) x (duration factor) x (range factor) x (saving throw factor) x (source factor)
So the cost for this spell is:
35 x 1.15 x 0.6 x 1 x 1 = 24.15
This means that this is a 3rd level arcane spell.
Final Spell:
Summon Blink Dogs - Arcane 3
Range: 60’
Duration: 1 turn per level
With this spell, the caster summons 1d4 blink dogs from another sphere of existence into his service to anywhere within the range of the spell. See ACKs System for their abilities. (Move 120’ / 40’, AC 4, HD 4, att 1 (bite), damage 1d6, Save F4, Morale -2, Special ability: blink 1d4x10’ once per round).The blink dogs are completely loyal (if a bit cowardly) to the caster as long as he is not chaotic in alignment, capable of fighting his enemies, guarding him, scouting ahead, and barking when they see danger. Unless the caster can speak blink dog, however, they will protect him on their own accord and in their own way. The spell will continue until the blink dogs are slain or dispelled, fail a morale roll, or a number of turns equal to the caster’s level has elapsed. In the case that the blink dogs fail a morale roll, they simply blink back to the sphere or origin.
Notes
ACKS II has made a few changes in base values, which has shifted this spell to a 3rd level arcane spell. The most critical factor was a lower base cost of 100 for a summon 1d4 spell.
Reference
BLINK DOG
% In Lair: 20%
Dungeon Enc: Pack (1d6) / Den (2d6)
Wilderness Enc: Route (2d6) / Den (2d6)
Alignment: Lawful
Movement: 120' (40')
Armor Class: 4
Hit Dice: 4*
Attacks: 1 (bite)
Damage: 1d6
Save: F4
Morale: -2
Treasure Type: I
XP: 135
The blink dog is an intelligent canine that has a limited teleportation ability. Blink dogs have their own language, a mixture of barks, yaps, whines, and growls that can transmit complex information. Blink dogs hunt in packs, teleporting, or “blinking” out of one location and “blinking” in close to prey for their attack. They blink again immediately after their attack, appearing 1d4x10 feet away from the opponent. Blink dogs never blink into the same space occupied by another object.
When blink dogs flee, they simply blink away and fail to appear again.
In ACKS II, I believe all summoning spells require the creature summoned to be passively hostile rather than cooperative, which would let you bump it down to a 2nd level spell with that x0.8 modifier. Instead of malicious, with blink dogs that probably reflects their short attention span and being easily distracted, neither obedient nor antagonistic. It would also be constrained to no more than once per day, which gives you a x0.9 modifier and lets you potentially bump the range or duration a bit. A very solid spell either way!