Gate

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• Level: 9
• School: Conjuration
• Class: Cleric, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
• Casting Time: Action
• Range: 60 feet
• Components: V, S, M (a diamond worth 5,000+ GP)
• Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

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 GM deems appropriate. It might leave, attack you, or help you.

Tactical Usage

Gate represents the pinnacle of transportation magic, offering unparalleled tactical flexibility for high-level campaigns. In combat, use this spell to instantly relocate your entire party to safety, bypass massive dungeon complexes, or access strategic positions. The ability to summon specific creatures makes it exceptional for calling powerful allies in desperate situations - though remember they arrive with free will.

For resource management, the 5,000 GP diamond component makes this a carefully considered investment. Reserve Gate for critical moments: escaping plane-locked situations, accessing heavily fortified locations, or summoning legendary allies. The 1-minute duration with concentration means you must defend the caster while maintaining the portal.

Target selection when summoning creatures requires careful consideration of their likely disposition. Calling a devil might result in hostile negotiations, while summoning a celestial could provide willing aid. Always have contingency plans for unwilling arrivals.

Spell Combinations

Gate synergizes powerfully with divination magic for safe portal placement. Combine with Scrying or Clairvoyance to scout destinations before opening portals. Arcane Eye can explore through the portal safely before committing your party to travel.

For creature summoning, layer Charm Monster or Suggestion immediately after Gate to influence hostile arrivals. Protection from Evil and Good provides crucial defense against fiends, fey, or undead you might summon. Magic Circle can contain unwilling arrivals temporarily.

Counterspell becomes essential when casting Gate, as enemy casters will prioritize disrupting this game-changing spell. Silence or Sanctuary can protect the caster during the casting time. For mass transportation, follow Gate with Mass Cure Wounds or Heroes' Feast to ensure your party is ready for whatever awaits.

Material Component Details

The diamond worth 5,000+ GP represents a significant investment, requiring careful acquisition and protection. This gem must be of exceptional quality - typically a brilliant-cut stone of at least 2 carats. Many high-level spellcasters maintain multiple Gate diamonds as insurance against loss or theft.

Acquiring such valuable components often becomes its own adventure. Major cities might have one available through specialized gem dealers, but smaller settlements require special orders. Some campaigns feature unique sources like dragon hoards, elemental nodes, or extraplanar markets where such gems command different exchange rates.

The diamond isn't consumed by the spell, making Gate economical for repeated use - if you can protect the component. Consider Arcane Lock on component pouches, or even storing Gate diamonds in extradimensional spaces to prevent theft during adventures.

Creator Notes

Gate fundamentally changes campaign dynamics, requiring careful DM consideration before allowing its use. At 17th level, when this spell becomes available, traditional barriers lose meaning. Design encounters and locations with Gate in mind - some areas might be warded against portal magic, or protected by planar rulers who can deny Gate's function.

When players summon specific creatures, prepare for the unexpected. That ancient gold dragon they're calling might demand payment for services, bring its own agenda, or reveal crucial plot information. Create meaningful relationships with powerful NPCs who might be Gate targets - both allies and potential enemies.

For balancing, remember that concentration can be broken, stranding characters across planes. Environmental hazards, mental attacks, or surprise encounters can force concentration saves at crucial moments. Some planes might be inherently hostile to portal magic, causing the spell to fail or function unpredictably.

Environmental Interactions

Gate interacts uniquely with different planes and environments. In areas of wild magic, the portal might connect to random destinations or summon unintended creatures. Certain materials like cold iron or lead can interfere with the portal's stability, while others like mithril or adamantine might strengthen the connection.

Underwater environments create interesting challenges - water rushes through the portal, potentially causing floods or pressure changes. In zero-gravity environments, the portal becomes a dangerous trap as objects and creatures get pulled through by pressure differentials.

Some locations resist Gate entirely: areas under divine influence, locations with powerful wards, or planes that exist outside normal reality. The Shadowfell might darken portals, making destination visibility unclear, while the Feywild could cause portals to shift destinations based on the caster's emotions.

Common Rulings & Clarifications

Portal Size and Orientation: The 5-20 foot diameter can be adjusted at casting, and the portal can be oriented vertically, horizontally, or at any angle. This affects how gravity and environmental factors interact with the opening.

Creature Summoning Rules: The creature must be named specifically - nicknames don't work, but titles that are commonly used function properly. The creature appears in the nearest unoccupied space, which might not be directly adjacent to the portal.

Concentration and Movement: The caster can move while maintaining concentration, but the portal remains stationary. If the caster moves to a different plane, they maintain the spell but cannot see through the portal from the other side.

Planar Ruler Intervention: This ability is absolute - if a deity or planar ruler forbids the portal, the spell simply fails. No spell slot is wasted, but the component remains unused and intact.

Alternative Applications

Gate excels beyond combat in exploration and logistics. Create permanent trade routes between allied cities on different planes, establishing economic opportunities that reshape entire campaign worlds. Use the spell for resource gathering - accessing elemental planes for rare materials or energy forms unavailable on the Material Plane.

For social encounters, Gate enables diplomatic missions to planar courts, allowing face-to-face negotiations with powerful extraplanar entities. The spell becomes a tool for gathering information from witnesses across multiple planes or consulting with ancient beings who possess crucial knowledge.

Archaeological applications include accessing ruins on dead worlds or exploring historical sites that exist in temporal pockets on other planes. Gate can also serve as an escape route for entire populations during apocalyptic events, relocating civilizations to safer worlds.

Related Spells

Planar Transportation: Plane Shift provides more economical planar travel for smaller groups, while Teleportation Circle offers reliable long-distance travel within the same plane. Word of Recall serves as emergency extraction for divine casters.

Portal Creation: Dimension Door and Misty Step provide tactical positioning on a smaller scale. Arcane Gate creates temporary local portals without planar travel capabilities.

Creature Summoning: Planar Ally and Planar Binding offer more controlled creature interactions, while Conjure Celestial and similar spells provide reliable allied summons. Summon Greater Demon creates controllable but dangerous alternatives.

Scaling Analysis

As a 9th-level spell, Gate doesn't scale with higher spell slots, but its value scales dramatically with campaign progression. Early access feels overwhelmingly powerful, but as players face cosmic threats and planar conflicts, Gate becomes essential for maintaining relevance on the grand stage.

The spell's utility increases with the caster's knowledge of other planes and powerful creatures. Early use might focus on escape and exploration, but experienced casters leverage Gate for strategic advantages, diplomatic initiatives, and calling upon established relationships with planar powers.

Resource scaling becomes important - while the diamond isn't consumed, protecting and maintaining Gate components becomes increasingly complex as enemies recognize the spell's threat potential. High-level enemies actively target Gate diamonds to neutralize this strategic option.

Narrative Flavor

Gate manifestation should reflect the destination plane's nature. Portals to celestial realms shine with pure light and emit harmonious music, while gateways to fiendish domains crackle with dark energy and radiate menace. The Feywild creates portals wreathed in shifting flowers and butterflies, while elemental planes produce appropriate environmental effects.

Creature arrival varies by entity type and disposition. Willing allies might step through gracefully, offering formal greetings. Hostile summons could emerge aggressively, weapons drawn and ready for battle. Neutral entities might appear confused or annoyed, demanding explanations for the interruption.

The portal's appearance can reflect the caster's personality and magical tradition. Clerical Gates might be framed by divine symbols, while wizardly portals show complex geometric patterns. Warlock Gates could manifest with their patron's distinctive markings, and sorcerer portals might shift appearance based on the caster's emotions.