Summoning creatures with Constant abilities.

[Melkiador]

There are monsters that can be summoned that have constant abilities. Are these abilities already on when summoned? Or do they have to activated

If they are "already on", does it work if the ability has a costly material component, like an Erinyes and its constant true seeing?

Does it make a difference that the True Seeing is listed in the Erinyes's "Senses" category?

[Matthew Morris]

Costly material component shouldn't matter for SU or SLA

I'd assume always on powers start on.

[Belafon]

Bestiary wrote:

Constant spell-like abilities function at all times

That shouldn't change just because the creature was summoned from another plane.

The only reason an Erinyes should lose true seeing is if it is hit by dispel magic or other anti-magic effect. Even if they do, they just spend a swift action to reactivate it (Bestiary page 6). As Matthew said, (Sp) abilities do not have material components.

[Azothath]

an exception might be Antimagic Field and similar abilities of Monsters but that's controlled via the spell's summoning lists.
SR of creatures isn't addressed for creature selection in the summoning lists although it is rare.

[Melkiador]

In case it wasn’t clear I was talking about this limitation of the summon monster spell.

Quote:

Creatures summoned using this spell cannot use spells or spell-like abilities that duplicate spells with expensive material components (such as wish).

In the case of abilities like this, “use” often has the same meaning as “cast” or “activate”, but it’s a little unclear.

And the example that lead to this question was an Erinyes being summoned for its true seeing, which has a costly spell component

My personal opinion is that the constant true seeing is on by default, but if it were dispelled, the Erinyes wouldn’t be able to reactivate it.

[Azothath]

Melkiador wrote:

The definition of expensive can be debated, but I’m thinking it’s everything that costs 1 gold or more. This would have parallel with the universal monster ability’s summon.

Quote:

A creature summoned in this way cannot use any spells or spell-like abilities that require material components costing more than 1 gp unless those components are supplied, nor can it use its own summon ability for 1 hour.

with these things there's the RAW example (10,000gp) and the 'fuzzy interpretation' of "expensive". 1gp is an extreme low for the term "expensive" and will suffer from an improbable acceptance as True.

[Melkiador]

The definition of expensive can be debated, but I’m thinking it’s everything that costs 1 gold or more. This would have parallel with the universal monster ability’s summon.

Quote:

A creature summoned in this way cannot use any spells or spell-like abilities that require material components costing more than 1 gp unless those components are supplied, nor can it use its own summon ability for 1 hour.

[Azothath]

Melkiador wrote:

The definition of expensive can be debated, but I’m thinking it’s everything that costs 1 gold or more. This would have parallel with the universal monster ability’s summon.

Quote:

A creature summoned in this way cannot use any spells or spell-like abilities that require material components costing more than 1 gp unless those components are supplied, nor can it use its own summon ability for 1 hour.

with these things there's the RAW example (10,000gp) and the 'fuzzy interpretation' of "expensive". 1gp is an extreme low for the term "expensive" and will suffer from an improbable acceptance as True.

The Univ Mon Ability is colloquially for 'secondary' summons or backup summons. It's an attempt to cut off rule run-arounds on Spell based Conjurations. From a RAW perspective it is a separate rule.

[Melkiador]

Actually, 1gp is higher than what seems to be the standard interpretation: an item with any listed cost.

From the magic chapter:

Quote:

Usually you don’t need to worry about components, but when you can’t use a component for some reason or when a material or focus component is expensive, then the components are important.

...
Material (M): A material component consists of one or more physical substances or objects that are annihilated by the spell energies in the casting process. Unless a cost is given for a material component, the cost is negligible. Don't bother to keep track of material components with negligible cost. Assume you have all you need as long as you have your spell component pouch.

Also, wish is used as an example there because it made more sense in 3.5, where it wasn't about material cost, but about xp cost.

[Azothath]

It is well known that the game isn't uniformly consistent and at times contradictory. That's why a GM is required.
Context is also important.

I'll reserve comment on spell editing other than say they had 10 yrs to do it. Technical Writing was never their strong suit.

I still consider stating that "expensive" means "costs 1gp or more" is a Home Game GM decision on the topic of Conjurations and creatures with Ex|Sp abilities with "expensive" material components. Prima Facie the spell has an example and for RAW we use it. Secondly the term "expensive" never rises to the accepted use as a "key word" or defined term like Staggered or Blinded.

[Azothath]

Commentary
Planar Ally/Binding offers/bribery is another topic similar to this as it involves Conjuration spells and available player resources (cash). The simple short service cost of 100*HD gp value would seem to be a good benchmark and it would have been a great reference for Summoning Spell Sp/Ex ability cost at the behest of others.
NPC Spellcasting services is the other and covers Spell Lvl and CL.