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We discussed earlier about using Animal Companions, but been thinking of ways to use Summon Creatures more effectively. Here are some ways that I've used the spell effectively:
- Flanking Buddy: often the Rogue, who has lower AC and lower hit points misses his Acrobatics check, especially against strong creatures - seems to reduce the number of heals necessary. Any Melee will appreciate this too.
- Trap Finder: "Ooo, that hallways look dangerous. Summon Pony, Go!"
- Poor Man's Clairvoyance: Send the Dire Rat into the room, hear swishing sound. Yep, there's something in there.
- Flotation Device: Flipper, help me. Fall into the water...summon a Dolphin to pull you to safety.
- Stay Invisible: Help without having to reveal yourself.
- Distraction: Better than a stone to get a guard's attention.
- Buffs: Higher level summoned creatures have some nice buffs
- Information: Higher level summoned creatures, if you can speak with them, can provide you information in some cases
- Meat Shield: One more thing for the enemy to kill before they get to you.
- Intimidation: GM will give you a bonus when you have one of your pets nearby I'm sure.
- Soak Up Attacks of Opportunity: Large creatures, especially with reach or combat reflexes, can wreak havoc. Use these creatures to soak up the attacks.
- Poor Man's boat: Can't swim across a river, no problem.
- Poor Man's shovel: Need to dig up something quick, summon a creature with Burrow
- Start a riot: If your intentions are more sinister, a Rhinoceros in a crowded market will start a stamped.
- Start a fire: Need a building burnt down...Summon a Fire Elemental.
If you have other situations where using a Summon Creature was useful, please share.
Guess I covered all the bases.
I suppose you could use them to grapple your enemies. How fast can your opponent run away if he has three giant centipedes holding onto him?
I played a cleric who was a summon monkey once (pre-APG). That is, I summoned a lot, I wasn't a summoned monkey. Anyhow, I had a lot of extra INT and as such extra languages, so I took Sylvan- now Summon Monster I is perfect for gathering intel (my group uses the 3.5 'animal language' version of Sylvan). "Go, my summoned cheetah, find the girl and bring her back here... oh, and in one piece!"
You also forgot that you can have your summons carry things for you. Even if you don't have a saddle or such, anything with a mouth can deliver a message (or a paper with explosive runes).
I played a cleric who was a summon monkey once (pre-APG). That is, I summoned a lot, I wasn't a summoned monkey. Anyhow, I had a lot of extra INT and as such extra languages, so I took Sylvan- now Summon Monster I is perfect for gathering intel (my group uses the 3.5 'animal language' version of Sylvan). "Go, my summoned cheetah, find the girl and bring her back here... oh, and in one piece!"
You also forgot that you can have your summons carry things for you. Even if you don't have a saddle or such, anything with a mouth can deliver a message (or a paper with explosive runes).
The halfling in the party has been complaining about lack of mobility, so I've been thinking I could summon a wolf or great cat to carry him where he needs to be.
The best way to utilize summoned creatures... be able to speak their language so you can direct them.
I summoned some celestial dolphins to save our warrior who had been kicked into lava. Probably not really possible by the rules but it was funny, so the GM allowed it.
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Considering the round/ level duration on most summons they aren't great for travel/ mounts.
I use them to do everything in combat that makes the melee guys lives easier. They provoke attacks of opportunity (so others can avoid them), flank, run interference, prevent people from getting away, prevent people from surrounding the party, keep flying enemies occupied, fight swimming enemies for me attack archers the party can't reach, occupy spell-casters, eliminate mirror images, etc, etc...
When you have them as minute per level they seriously kick but for tons of things.
Well as I was going to do with my group last night (but the damn ranger killed him too soon) I was going to summon my Elder Elemental and use it to grapple he mage, then pin and continuelly pummel the spellcaster with it's fists I thought of this after learning this:
Elder elemental has +30 CMB and you add your CMB to attack and damange when you have a pinned opponent.
I often use my summons for meat shields and to distract the enemies with flailing fists.
where does it say you add your CMB to attack AND DAMAGE to a pinned opponent?
Considering the round/ level duration on most summons they aren't great for travel/ mounts.
I use them to do everything in combat that makes the melee guys lives easier. They provoke attacks of opportunity (so others can avoid them), flank, run interference, prevent people from getting away, prevent people from surrounding the party, keep flying enemies occupied, fight swimming enemies for me attack archers the party can't reach, occupy spell-casters, eliminate mirror images, etc, etc...
When you have them as minute per level they seriously kick but for tons of things.
What I am thinking though is that the halfling rogue is in one place, and the creature he wants to sneak attack is over somewhere else. A pony might only be around for a few rounds, but that might be enough to get him where he wants to go.
From the summon monster III list Lantern Archon can be used as a message and small item carrier. Greater teleport at will and truespeech allows for summoning the archon, telling it where to go and with whom to speak, and then having it come home to tell you what their response was.
A summoned monster cannot summon or otherwise conjure another creature, nor can it use any teleportation or planar travel abilities. Creatures cannot be summoned into an environment that cannot support them. Creatures summoned using this spell cannot use spells or spell-like abilities that duplicate spells with expensive material components (such as wish).
Memo to self make cleric who is summoned monkey.
We had a one-shot once where one of the players used an Awakened monkey Ninja...
I summoned some celestial dolphins to save our warrior who had been kicked into lava.
It seems that you were adventuring in, what turned out to be, dolphin hell.
Earth elementals, with their ability to earth glide, are great for quickly and cleanly disposing of anything unwanted. Find yourself knee deep in the dead? Just line/stack the bodies, instruct a summoned earth elemental to inter them all underground and voila, instant mass grave; no laborious digging required.
Memo to self make cleric who is summoned monkey.
Memo to self, make monkey who is a summoner.
Honestly once you get to SM III or so you get celestials and fiends that have spell like abilities far better than their combat prowess. SM VI you can summon a Succubus and have her spam Charm Monster and set the opponents upon one another. OK DC 22 Will isn't super hard to make for a CR, let's say 8, creature. Still.
Also, invisibility+SMV for 1d4+1 Lantern Archons pretty much automatically defeats any golems since the archon's lasers bypass all DR and they can fly out of the golem's reach.
In the last game I played, my druid's animal companion was killed by an evil wizard. So my druid summoned an air elemental in the form of a winged mountain lion to seek revenge.
Wasn't that effective, but it looked really cool.
Looks like there are some new feats in Ultimate Magic that improve the summoning classes.
Another thing to note about the humble Lantern Archon is its primary attacks. Ok they are only d6 damage but they have two, are ranged touch and IGNORE ALL DAMAGE REDUCTION!
Summon a satyr (with Summon Nature's Ally IV) for huge area effect Fear, Suggestion, and/or Charm Person!
In a couple sessions my druid has been summoning giant centipedes in taverns.
In the first case, there were some ruffians who were stupid enough to think they could pick on the halflings and gnomes while the paladin and half-elf were out somewhere else. When we came back, my druid had to save the ruffian leader's life with a healing spell.
Now, it probably wasn't necessary because, even without the paladin to throw them out of the tavern, the halflings and gnomes would have convinced them that was the wisest thing they could do at that time. But, just to make it perfectly clear that they should never bother us again, my druid summoned a giant centipede to escort the ruffians out, and wave to them as they were leaving. Note: giant centipedes are about six feet long.
The second time, we're in another tavern, and there is this strange woman who talks to us. We start thinking she is very strange. To help get an idea how strange, my druid summoned a giant centipede to see how she would react. She treated it like an adorable dog, thereby confirming that this was a rather strange woman and not one to be underestimated.
I know some players that tried to summon a bunch of dolphins to stack up and stop a descending stone door.
....
It wasn't me.
Why did they choose dolphins?
Greg
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Why did they choose dolphins?
Greg
I honestly have no idea.
I suspect it was likely an excuse for everyone to whip out their Darwin impressions.
Why did they choose dolphins?
Greg
I honestly have no idea.
I suspect it was likely an excuse for everyone to whip out their Darwin impressions.
Strangely, one of my players, watched every episode of that show, and hated Darwin with a passion. Whenever he needs an incompetent official in one of his games, it usually has Darwin's voice.
I am glad it was a humorous reason...unfortunately my mind started going down some paths I didn't like to try and figure out why dolphins made a better crush-stop than annother type of summons.
Greg
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I am glad it was a humorous reason...unfortunately my mind started going down some paths I didn't like to try and figure out why dolphins made a better crush-stop than annother type of summons.
IIRC, they were described as zipping down the hallway like wet bars of soap being squeezed together.
Not an ideal creature for that task, lower tier I'd wager.
Now there's an optimization thread... :P