"Summon Dragon" question.


Rules Discussion


Can the summoned dragon be a spellcaster? Or are only the vanilla dragons allowed?


I don't see why not. Just make sure to apply the limitations on higher level spells that come with the summoned trait.


If the summoner can specify "I summon a black dragon that can cast spells" and then a black dragon shows up with an assortment of random spells, I'd allow it.

If the summoner wants to specify "I summon a black dragon who knows how to cast spells X, Y, and Z.", then I would probably ban it.

Being able to summon a creature that can cast any spell you want is too powerful and too versatile.

Particularly in the hands of a sorcerer with limited spell repertoire. Having a single summon dragon spell known gives the sorcerer access to any lower level arcane spells he wants.

Also, since some dragons can cast non-arcane spells, it gives arcane sorcerors and wizards alike access to a whole slew of extremely useful divine spells.

That's too powerful IMO.

But if the spells the dragon shows up with are randomly selected then I'd say it's not too powerful.


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Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber
Kulgore wrote:

If the summoner can specify "I summon a black dragon that can cast spells" and then a black dragon shows up with an assortment of random spells, I'd allow it.

If the summoner wants to specify "I summon a black dragon who knows how to cast spells X, Y, and Z.", then I would probably ban it.

Being able to summon a creature that can cast any spell you want is too powerful and too versatile.

Particularly in the hands of a sorcerer with limited spell repertoire. Having a single summon dragon spell known gives the sorcerer access to any lower level arcane spells he wants.

Also, since some dragons can cast non-arcane spells, it gives arcane sorcerors and wizards alike access to a whole slew of extremely useful divine spells.

That's too powerful IMO.

But if the spells the dragon shows up with are randomly selected then I'd say it's not too powerful.

I'd just default to the spells they have in the Bestiary unless I had a compelling reason not to. Lots of monsters have spells outside of the standard tradition. Plenty of demons can cast fireball or dimension door. Black dragons probably have more flexibility than vrocks in spells they could know, but if you just use the bestiary examples they don't.

Also, consider the opportunity cost: getting those spells means the dragon loses dracobic momentum, which is a really big deal for a minion.


Captain Morgan wrote:
Also, consider the opportunity cost: getting those spells means the dragon loses dracobic momentum, which is a really big deal for a minion.

The main value would be for countering specific effects, like summoning up a dragon who can cast neutralize poison, remove paralysis, or restoration.

(I was going to include remove disease and remove curse to that list but then I noticed they have a 10 minute casting time so a summoned creature couldn't use them.)


I might allow a sufficiently high level character to "make arrangements" with a specific dragon who had a more specific spell list as a downtime activity.

By RAW, the most efficient and fair option is definitely to limit things to the example lists given in the Bestiary.


I agree with Captain Morgan: just use the spells listed in the Bestiary. A quick review will reveal that the spells available are usually 3 or 4 levels below the level of the summon (e.g. a dragon summoned by a 6th-level summon can cast 3rd-level spells at most), so using it to get a specific spell basically turns it into a complicated low-level scroll, and I don't have a problem with that.


Kulgore wrote:

The main value would be for countering specific effects, like summoning up a dragon who can cast neutralize poison, remove paralysis, or restoration.

(I was going to include remove disease and remove curse to that list but then I noticed they have a 10 minute casting time so a summoned creature couldn't use them.)

Neutralize poison and remove paralysis both involve counteract checks, which will presumably be pretty bad for a summoned creature.

Restoration might be usable but has a 1 min casting time, so the dragon wouldn't be doing anything else, assuming it has access to restoration to begin with.


Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber
Kulgore wrote:
Captain Morgan wrote:
Also, consider the opportunity cost: getting those spells means the dragon loses dracobic momentum, which is a really big deal for a minion.

The main value would be for countering specific effects, like summoning up a dragon who can cast neutralize poison, remove paralysis, or restoration.

(I was going to include remove disease and remove curse to that list but then I noticed they have a 10 minute casting time so a summoned creature couldn't use them.)

1) Are there even dragons that have those spells? I certainly don't recall them in the chromatics, though the metalics might. And again, divine casters can get elemental blasts from their summons. I don't see the big deal.

2) Even if a dragon had that, you have to consider counteract levels. Covered above.


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KrispyXIV wrote:

I might allow a sufficiently high level character to "make arrangements" with a specific dragon who had a more specific spell list as a downtime activity.

By RAW, the most efficient and fair option is definitely to limit things to the example lists given in the Bestiary.

There are no specific dragons summoned by the spell.

Unlike PF1 where some PCs developed relationships with the monsters they summoned most, PF2 doesn't summon actual creatures (according to Jacobs), but rather replicas. I suppose that choice gets around messy issues like sentient creatures being controlled. Not sure about souls though, which can be important for some monsters abilities. Another reason for this is that outsiders can now die away from their home planes without bouncing back. Depleting heaven of angels might anger some folk.

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