Summon Monster & Elementals

[Azothath]

rknop wrote:

There are a few cases where NPCs are called out as summoning different kinds of elementals.

For instance, there is an NPC in Reign of Winter (not a PFS scenario, I know, but it could be run as a PFS game) who explicitly summons Ice Elementals.

that is thematic and exactly what I am talking about. From Under Ice is a good example (in an cold/ice theme) where monsters are what you'd expect. If an Ice witch summons a critter I'd expect an ice/snow elemental and that's on the Story side of the table. I'm going to point out that it is also somewhat suboptimal as everyone in the scenario probably has protection from cold of some sort. A cold caster might have some fire spells (if they can cast them) to keep their cold based minions in line (yes, hit them in their vulnerabilities).

In PFS that is now clearly the writer's job as we have been told to stick to the basics. So bring on the rooms with lightning elementals...*dangit* Uhhh, old lair with magma elementals... *durn*, how about aquatic shocker lizards with a shambling mound!... *shucks*... next thing ya know they'll have demons posing as harmless lil' children...

[Anachronity]

Not to change the subject, but are elemental improved familiars also subject to the "bestiary I only" ruling? Each book lists a set of available improved familiars, but once again the vague "(any)" makes me wonder.

I'm only asking because the argument of not wanting to increase the power of summon spells doesn't really apply to getting a familiar, since that list is clearly open to being increased by new resources.

I want to create a PFS Eldritch Guardian with a lightning elemental familiar, but I guess an air elemental is close enough.

EDIT: relevant post is http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2p423?Create-Undead#17

[Muser]

I wish Eldritch Guardians could get Improved Familiars, but they aren't casters and do not qualify.

I ran the Sky Key Solution and a Harbinger with a lightning elemental would be so thematic.

[Anachronity]

Muser wrote:

I wish Eldritch Guardians could get Improved Familiars, but they aren't casters and do not qualify.

I ran the Sky Key Solution and a Harbinger with a lightning elemental would be so thematic.

I'm more interested in whether the improved familiar feat in general can give you abnormal elementals; this particular character will multiclass into beast-bonded witch

[Varun Creed]

Anachronity wrote:

I'm more interested in whether the improved familiar feat in general can give you abnormal elementals; this particular character will multiclass into beast-bonded witch

It's in the Additional Resources. :) They call out per Bestiary what familiars are allowed.

I checked for you, currently no additional elementals. ;)

[Dargo Klien]

Stephen Ross wrote:

For PFS this highlights that players need a feat or different spell to expand their summons list (besides specific exceptions such as a deity's expanded list for clerics in PFS).

there are some feats;
Expanded Summon Monster, Extra Summons, Fire Music, Planar Preservationist, Sacred Summons, Skeleton Summoner, Summon Good Monster, Summon Neutral Monster, Versatile Summon Monster.

and spells;
Alter Summoned Monster(for now), Death Candle, Fable Tapestry, Summon Accuser, Summon Ancestral Guardian, Summon Cacodaemon, Summon Ceustodaemon, Summon Derghodaemon, Summon Erodaemon, Summon Infernal Host, Summon Lesser Psychopomp, Summon Meladaemon, Summon Thanadaemon, Summon Vanth, Summon Minor Monster(aka Summon Monster Treat).

If you have the resources..these are ALL good options for a summoner. I have a Unchained Summoner with Summon Good Monster..and nothing says 'SURPRISE' like a horde of Foo Dogs (or Lions at later levels) with Augment/Superior Summons.

My protoplasmic GM baby might turn into a 5th level Sloth/Summoner and I'm looking forward to using the Balanced Summons arcane discovery/feat and Summon Neutral monster/Versatile Summon Monster (Cause TEMPLATES ARE FUN.. Aerial Dire Gorilla anyone?)

I like to think the spells/feats make for a bit more versatility without overwhelming everyone else. I wish some class options made for such flexibility/balance (and honestly.. the four core elementals are usually enough for any situation)