It takes a Standard action to direct the swarm, but you spent that summoning the swarm, soooo... it attacks the caster?
You vomit forth a swarm of spiders that attacks all other creatures within its area. The swarm begins adjacent to you, but if no living creatures are within its area, it moves in one direction of your choosing at its normal speed. You can move the swarm or change the swarm's direction by spending a standard action to concentrate on the swarm, otherwise it continues moving in its current direction. If your caster level is at least 7th, you can vomit forth a swarm of wasps instead. Finally, if your caster level is at least 13th, you can vomit forth a swarm of army ants.
When you summon it you choose the direction it moves on its first turn. If it runs into anything it attacks them.
You vomit forth a swarm of spiders that attacks all other creatures within its area. The swarm begins adjacent to you, but if no living creatures are within its area, it moves in one direction of your choosing at its normal speed. You can move the swarm or change the swarm's direction by spending a standard action to concentrate on the swarm, otherwise it continues moving in its current direction. If your caster level is at least 7th, you can vomit forth a swarm of wasps instead. Finally, if your caster level is at least 13th, you can vomit forth a swarm of army ants.
When you summon it you choose the direction it moves on its first turn. If it runs into anything it attacks them.
I missed that. Thank you.
If you tell it to go North and it runs into something to attack, does it stop or keep going?
Will it divert the course you gave it to attack an enemy who's, say, Northeast, or only head North?
It's a little glitchy. As written, "if no living creatures are within its area, it moves in one direction of your choosing at its normal speed" only applies on the first turn, but surely RAI must have it apply regularly, otherwise it'll move through creatures without damaging them and soaking up AoOs more often than it will end it's turn on an enemy's square.
You vomit forth a swarm of spiders that attacks all other creatures within its area. The swarm begins adjacent to you, but if no living creatures are within its area, it moves in one direction of your choosing at its normal speed. You can move the swarm or change the swarm's direction by spending a standard action to concentrate on the swarm, otherwise it continues moving in its current direction. If your caster level is at least 7th, you can vomit forth a swarm of wasps instead. Finally, if your caster level is at least 13th, you can vomit forth a swarm of army ants.
When you summon it you choose the direction it moves on its first turn. If it runs into anything it attacks them.
I missed that. Thank you.
If you tell it to go North and it runs into something to attack, does it stop or keep going?
RAW? Not sure, at my table it will stop and attack unless otherwise directed. I would treat it as UP TO its speed.
Will it divert the course you gave it to attack an enemy who's, say, Northeast, or only head North?
No if you want to change its direction you have to take the action otherwise it goes straight