Cauldron of Overwhelming Allies Questions

[Mikemad]

Hi guys,

This item has recently been brought to my attention:

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Cauldron of Overwhelming Allies

Source Pathfinder #67: The Snows of Summer pg. 60

Aura moderate conjuration; CL 8th

Slot none; Price 4,500 gp; Weight 5 lbs.

Description
The artistic scrawls on the dark surface of this small bronze cauldron depict an array of exotic animals, legendary beasts, leering fiends, and hosts of elementals. Once per day, if used as the focus or divine focus for a summon monster or summon nature’s ally spell, the cauldron automatically conjures 1d3 additional creatures of the same kind from the next lower level list. For example, if a user casts summon monster III to summon 1d3 wolves, he could also summon 1d3 additional wolves (or other creatures from the 2nd-level list).

Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, Spell Focus (conjuration), summon monster IV or summon nature’s ally IV; Cost 2,250 gp
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I have a couple questions about it.

1) Does this require a hand?

2) Are the 1d3 extra summons affected by things like augmented summons/rod of giant summoning/metamagic.

3) If used with superior summons, can the extra summon be one of those summoned by the cauldron even if they are different from those summoned by the spell?

4) If used to summon animals, will they gain alignment templates based on your alignment or the alignment of the creator of the cauldron?

5) If it is not tied to your alignment in part 4, can a cleric use the cauldron to summon creatures opposed to their alignment?

Thanks

[willuwontu]

1) No, it's a focus component and thus able to be drawn and stowed as part of casting a spell.

2) Yes.

3) Superior summons would only apply once to the whole spell, not to each part, but yes.

4) Alignment is based off of the summoner's alignment not the cauldrons.

[Diego Rossi]

willuwontu wrote:

1) No, it's a focus component and thus able to be drawn and stowed as part of casting a spell.

Nothing in the rules says that a spell focus is something that can be "drawn and stowed as part of casting a spell". The same for the material components of a spell.

A few examples of focus and divine focus from the CRB that can't be drawn and stowed rapidly:
CHANGESTAFF: F (a quarterstaff that has been carved and polished for 28 days)
CLONE: F (special laboratory equipment costing 500 gp)
SCRYING: DF (a pool of water), F (a silver mirror worth 1,000 gp)
SECRET CHEST: F (the chest and its replica) (a 3'*2'*2' chest!)

There are a few more than I think will be encumbering enough to create problems, but the description is too limited to be sure.

[Belafon]

Ooh, I like this item. I never noticed it before. My "silly summoner wizard" build can now get 18 permanent Leonal Agathions or Monadic Devas.

[Cavall]

Ya theres a reason why it's the loot of the books end boss fight rather than something you can pick up in a store. It's meant to be a reward.