Occultist Arcanist Archetype - Conjurer's Focus Ability

[Fearspect]

I was hoping to have something cleared up regarding the class ability of the Occultist Archetype. It reads:

Conjurer's Focus (Sp):

An occultist can spend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to cast summon monster I. She can cast this spell as a standard action and the summoned creatures remain for 1 minute per level (instead of 1 round per level). At 3rd level and every 2 levels thereafter, the power of this ability increases by one spell level, allowing her to summon more powerful creatures (to a maximum of summon monster IX at 17th level), at the cost of an additional point from her arcane spell reserve per spell level. An occultist cannot have more than one summon monster spell active in this way at one time. If this ability is used again, any existing summon monster immediately ends. This ability replaces the arcanist exploit gained at 1st level.

Does this mean that at level 3, I only have the option to cast Summon Monster II at a cost of 2 Arcane Reservoir points, or do I still retain the ability to cast Summon Monster I for 1 Arcane Reservoir point? I am currently reading it as the former.

[darth_borehd]

It seems to be similar to the Summoner ability, so I would say you have the option of casting a lower level Summon Monster even though you have the option of a higher one.

[GM Lamplighter]

Yeah, that looks like the intent.

[Chess Pwn]

well since they add a stronger monster for a higher cost and they never remove the lower cost option you're good to do any level available to you.