Are the natural attacks of a creature summoned with the celestial template considered "Good" for overcoming damage reduction?
For example, would a celetial rhino's attack by-pass DR 15/Good and Piercing?
Technically, no. Since celestial and fiendish creatures do not (by RAW) gain an alignment subtype (just an alignment), they do not by-pass alignment based DR. It would not be an unreasonable houserule for them to gain that a subtype though.
Technically, no. Since celestial and fiendish creatures do not (by RAW) gain an alignment subtype (just an alignment), they do not by-pass alignment based DR. It would not be an unreasonable houserule for them to gain that a subtype though.
My concern would be that every ramdom summoned animal would be able to hurt all evil outsiders [devils, demons etc.] and that's a huge power-up for summoners!
I'm interested in what others think about this?
I'd say no, the templete doesn't say so.
I don't really think the summon monster spell needs the improvement. I most cases they can smite instead to give them the needed boost.
Not granting them the ability does also give an incentive to summon the other good creature there are (although few).
I have a related question regarding Celestial/Fiendish creatures' Smite Attack.
From PRD -> Monster Advancement -> Simple Templates -> Celestial (Fiendish) Creature:
"Special Attacks: smite evil (good) 1/day as a swift action (adds Cha bonus to attack rolls and damage bonus equal to HD against evil (good) foes; smite persists until target is dead or the celestial creature rests)."
The description is similar to that of the Paladin's Smite Evil, but it doesn't grant (among other things, for example the Paladin's 2x damage against Evil Outsiders/ Evil Dragons/ Undead, or the Deflection bonus to AC) that the creature bypasses any DR while smiting its foe - and it is balaced IMHO, since otherwise a simple 1st-level spell would allow to ignore DR from enemies at lower levels even without magic weapons (for example). My question is, can we consider at least Good Aligned (for Smite Evil) or Evil Aligned (for Smite Good) the attacks made against the single target of this special ability ? By RAW I would say 'no', but by RAI I could allow it... What is your idea ?
I'm fairly interested because of the Summoner in my group who heavily relies on his summoned critters (and their incredible streak of luck, since they are usually the 'BBEG killers' who deal the final blow to the most dangerous foes of each session XD ).