One possible solution to the current dynamic would be to give Speakers the option of a shape change. The career progression, so to speak, would be Page ----> Speaker -----> Overseer; the Overseers would lose the ability to summon and probably some/all paths, keep some research ability, but they would have increased leadership and (much?) lower upkeep.
This lets you put Speaker upkeep sky high to balance out elemental summons, but the ones that can't keep up (low paths) retire to administration and a lower pay grade.
In effect, you get to roll the dice on good paths as often as you want but aren't burdened unnecessarily by the whittles.
Re: Dhem - The Allspring
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