Editing Blackstaff's Tome of Wizardry (section)

==School of Binding==
As you can probably tell from the name of this one, it's an attempt to bring back the spirit of the [[binder]]. These specialist [[conjurer]]s have unique subclass abilities that focus on their ability to summon forth a planar entity - an [[angel]], [[guardinal]], [[demon]] or [[devil]] - and physically bind it into their flesh in the form an enchanted tattoo.

The level 2 features for this subclass are '''Planar Contact''' (gain 2 languages of your choice from a list of Abyssal, Celestial, Infernal, Sylvan, and also gain Proficiency with Artisan's Tools: Tattooing Needles) and '''Align Contact'''. The latter is the central feature for the subclass, and allows the binder to meld a spiritual partner - either an [[Angel]], a [[Demon]], a [[Devil]] or a [[Guardinal]] - with their spirit by using the gylphs tattooed on their flesh as a focus, which they can do as part of completing a long rest (yes, this means the binder can swap between planar allies by taking a long rest). In addition to being a requisite for the higher leveled features, the planar contact gives the binder Advantage on any Intelligence checks relating to the contact's "meta-species", its home plane, and any other topic that the DM judges is reasonable for it to be relatively well-informed on.

At 6th level, the binder can invoke the '''Be My Guide''' feature once per day as a bonus action. Once invoked, this power lasts for a number of rounds equal to half the binder's Wizard level (minimum of 1), and grants a bonus based on which kind of planar being is bound to them:
* Angel: The binder sprouts glowing wings of light, gaining a Fly speed that is double their normal Movement speed and shedding light in a 40ft radius (20ft bright, then 20ft dim).
* Demon: The binder can use a bonus action after dealing damage with a spell to make a claw attack; this is a melee weapon attack that the binder has Proficiency in, which keys off of Intelligence, and does 2d6 damage. This attack can be used as part of the bonus action to invoke Be My Guide.
* Devil: When the binder casts a spell that has a duration on a creature, that creature becomes the target of ethereal imps, causing all attacks against the target to gain Advantage. With a multi-target spell, only one creature is affected, but the binder can change which creature is plagued by the imps at the start of each of the binder's turns.
* Guardinal: The binder gains Resistance to Lightning Damage, Immunity to Magical Sleep, and gains temporary HP equal to its Wizard level whenever it reduces a creature to 0 hit points whilst Be My Guide is invoked.

At 10th level, the binder can invoke the '''Guard My Back''' feature once per day as an action. Once invoked, this power lasts for a number of rounds equal to half the binder's Wizard level (minimum of 1), and grants a bonus based on which kind of planar being is bound to them, as well as granting the binder half cover due to the appearance of a ghostly fascimile of the binder's planar contact in an unoccupied space adjacent to the binder for the duration of this feature:
* Angel: The binder gains Advantage on saves against spells.
* Demon: The binder gains +1 AC and inflicts magical slashing damage equal to half its Wizard level on creatures that attack it.
* Devil: The binder is Resistant to damage caused by spells.
* Guardinal: Animals will not initiate combat with the binder (unless the binder attacks them first), the binder can Speak With Animals at will for the duration of this ability, and the binder regains 5 hp at the start of any turn in which the binder has less than half its hit point total remaining.

Finally, at 14th level, the binder can invoke the feature '''By My Side!''' once per day as an action. This most drastic power releases the binder's planar ally from its binding tattoo, summoning the creature to an unoccupied space within 30 feet designated by the binder. Obviously, using this feature means that the binder can't use ''Be My Guide'' or ''Guard My Back'', if they haven't used those powers already! The precise creature summoned depends on the kind of planar ally that the binder had invoked; it acts on its own initiative and makes its own decisions (but considers the binder an ally), and it lasts for 10 minutes, or until the summoned creature reaches 0 hit points, or the binder uses an action to dismiss their ally. Once this power has been invoked, the planar ally is freed; the binder can't gain any of their subclass features until they complete a long rest and recreate their binding tattoo.
* Angel: [[Couatl]]
* Demon: Barlgura
* Devil: Barbed Devil
* Guardinal: Musteval