I think I would prefer summons that worked like this:
1) Encounter & Dailies where you select a pre-existing monster (the higher the lvl, the more powerful) that is
*autonomous*. It follows simple commands issued via free (or perhaps minor) actions from it's summoner.
2) A
*control* roll must be made at summoning. Success makes it an ally to you and your companions, failure the opposite (it is hostile).
3) The stats of a particular summons are not determined by the caster's stats, but those do provide bonuses or penalties to it.
4) You may only have a single summons active at any one time, and if that summons is killed it's summoner takes a reasonable penalty, such as the healing surge loss. But it could be other things, such as being dazed/stunned by the monster's loss.
5) While a summoned monster is active, it's summoner takes penalties of some sort indicative of their need to keep active
*control* of the monster. Action loss could be involved, or negative modifiers to most actions. This is just illustrating the will and concentration required to keep the summoned monster
"bound".
6) Additional spell powers which can enhance/alter the summoned monster as well as some fun
Utility spells.
7) In essence, you will be picking which monsters from a selection of choices at different levels as you advance, leading to your own personal
*stable* of monsters that you know how to summon. Fun!
Just some ideas. I don't hate the Arcane Power iteration, just prefer this one. It does add an extra combatant to the field, but the feel is more classic summoner to me.
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