I've never been clear on this. Obviously spells that require concentration end (as they can't concentrate if they're dead), but by default do 1/round/minute/hour per level spells last the whole duration? In particular, do summoned creatures just disappear, or do they stay for the remainder of the spell? If so, what do they do without the caster to give them commands? Just follow the last command they were given before the summoner died?
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Let's consider a few different spells.
1. Flaming sphere: A KO'd caster can't take Move Actions, so the sphere will sit in place for the duration. Creatures that stand in it or walk through it may be affected by it.
2. Spiritual weapon: A KO'd caster can't take Move Actions, so the blade will attack its most recent target. Once that target is dead, it will sit in place and do nothing.
3. Summon monster: A KO'd caster can't redirect. If the summon has a standing order, it will continue to perform that order. If the summon has no standing order, or its order has become impossible or completed, it will use the default behavior for summons (ie, attacking the nearest enemy, or doing nothing if there are no valid enemies.)
4. CALLED monsters: A KO'd caster can't maintain control. The called monster becomes uncontrolled. Good luck.
I've never been clear on this. Obviously spells that require concentration end (as they can't concentrate if they're dead), but by default do 1/round/minute/hour per level spells last the whole duration? In particular, do summoned creatures just disappear, or do they stay for the remainder of the spell? If so, what do they do without the caster to give them commands? Just follow the last command they were given before the summoner died?
Spells that require concentration to maintain end immediately. Spells that have a set duration continue until that duration ends.
I've seen too many things in APs depend on magic made permanent hundreds of years ago and the adventures wouldn't work as written if the spell ends when the caster dies.
(That's how I always remember that spells do what they're supposed, even after the caster is dead or unconscious.)
I've never been clear on this. Obviously spells that require concentration end (as they can't concentrate if they're dead), but by default do 1/round/minute/hour per level spells last the whole duration? In particular, do summoned creatures just disappear, or do they stay for the remainder of the spell? If so, what do they do without the caster to give them commands? Just follow the last command they were given before the summoner died?
Yes, spells last for the rest of their duration even if a caster dies. Some sspells that require concentration sometimes have a minimum duration or until concentration ends as their duration, so they could potentially stick around even without concentration being possible due to death.
Called creatures get a 1 time ability to return home once the spell ends (such as when the caster dies). Would they be more likely to keep fighting or just return home as soon as it's their turn? I think it depends on whether they are actually friends with the caster or are basically slaves (in the later case, they'd probably leave right away and possibly even thank the PCs for killing the caster.)
An important thing to keep in mind is that this isn't always bad for PCs. Although fighting a summoned monster after the evil wizard is dead can be annoying, if spells ended immediately after the caster died, then PCs could be in *big* trouble when their party member who cast water breathing, fly, or planetary adaptation on the group just got the kibosh from a raging demon :)