D&D 5E Tasha's Summoning and Sorcerers

[Chaosmancer]

Why Tasha's Why?!

So, I just went through the new spell list for Sorcerers in Tasha's, and as you might have guessed, I noticed that sorcerers do not get a single one of the new summoning spells.

Oh sure, the Aberrant Mind gets Summon Abberration, and the Clockwork Soul gets Summon Construct, but no sorcerer gets Summon Elemental (which would have been pretty thematic for Dragon Sorcerers, Wild Sorcerers, or Storm Sorcerers) or Summon Shadowspawn for Shadow Sorcerers.

And, I didn't realize this til now, but it looks like Sorcerers... never get any summoning spells on their spell list. Seriously, why?

 

[Hawk Diesel]

Mechanically, I don't think there is a reason. My best guess would be that summoning magic is more representative of the intentional study of arcane knowledge and requires exacting execution. When I picture summoning spells, I envision circles of runes and using books full of lore to learn the names of those you are attempting to bind into service. That kind of thing fits with a wizard, and the prayers calling upon warriors and guardians fits with the cleric theme. But since sorcerers are traditionally viewed as having more natural gifts and their spells being a bit more unrefined or unsophisticated while having more raw power behind them, it doesn't fit with summoning spells.

Of course, this is a rather narrow perspective, but I think this represents what might be considered the more mainstream understanding in the differences between wizardly magic and sorcerous magic. Whether or not this makes sense in how you see sorcerers or want them to play in your games, well, seems like a rather easy fix so long as you don't play in AL or have a rather strict DM.

 

[Chaosmancer]

Mechanically, I don't think there is a reason. My best guess would be that summoning magic is more representative of the intentional study of arcane knowledge and requires exacting execution. When I picture summoning spells, I envision circles of runes and using books full of lore to learn the names of those you are attempting to bind into service. That kind of thing fits with a wizard, and the prayers calling upon warriors and guardians fits with the cleric theme. But since sorcerers are traditionally viewed as having more natural gifts and their spells being a bit more unrefined or unsophisticated while having more raw power behind them, it doesn't fit with summoning spells.

Of course, this is a rather narrow perspective, but I think this represents what might be considered the more mainstream understanding in the differences between wizardly magic and sorcerous magic. Whether or not this makes sense in how you see sorcerers or want them to play in your games, well, seems like a rather easy fix so long as you don't play in AL or have a rather strict DM.

Yeah, I can fix it (and intend to) but it just caught me off guard

Personally, while I get the runic magic and such, I picture sorcererous summoning as more of a call to a kindred spirit. A Storm Sorcerer might not know how to make a summoning circle, but they can call out to spirits of wind and sea and have those spirits answer.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Sorcerers have never had summons in 5e. It's simply a matter of the theme.

they can call out to spirits of wind and sea and have those spirits answer.

This sounds like a druid thing to me.

 

[Helldritch]

Sorcerers do not rely on others to make their magic. They are fonts of magic and do not normally waste time with petty summons. They are charisma based and that is why, summons in general is not their pet peeve. A charisma based caster that do not rely on an external source of power (as the warlock) has a strong sense of self and prefer to do things personally. That is my take and how sorcerers were originally presented.

Now, you can add the summons, it is your game. But I can't imagine a sorcerer wasting time on a summon when a direct approach would work. It simply doesn't add up in my mind.

 

[Remathilis]

Sorcerers are about "pew pew nuke 'em" magic and a few defense and mobility spells. It frustrates me to no end to have the shadow sorcerer unable to cast most of the (few) shadow spells that do exist.

 

[Aldarc]

What's a sorcerer?

 

[Vael]

And, I didn't realize this til now, but it looks like Sorcerers... never get any summoning spells on their spell list. Seriously, why?

I can understand some of the reasoning, if summoning was naming specific creatures that a wizard had to learn their truenames and specific rituals to call these creatures. If you are shaping magic and giving it a physical form, it does feel like it ought to be in the Sorcerer's wheelhouse.

I don't mind summoning being more a Wizard thing, if Sorcerers were given something else that they could do better than Wizards, outside of pure blasting.

Where I tend to go is self-buffing, self only transmutation spells and effects. Some of that is there already, from most of the subclasses getting physical manifestations of their magical heritage. But this should be reflected in their spell list. It irks me that Shapechange isn't a Sorcerer spell (I get why, a lot of spells with expensive material components are generally not on the list, but then Sorcerers shouldn't need that circlet to cast Shapechange anyway).

 

[Chaosmancer]

Sorcerers have never had summons in 5e. It's simply a matter of the theme.

What theme?

This sounds like a druid thing to me.

It can be, but the Storm Sorcerer is literally a sorcerer empowered by the mystical might of storms, sea, and wind. And an Air Elemental is quite literally a spirit of wind. The overlap is kind of obvious I think.

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Sorcerers do not rely on others to make their magic. They are fonts of magic and do not normally waste time with petty summons. They are charisma based and that is why, summons in general is not their pet peeve. A charisma based caster that do not rely on an external source of power (as the warlock) has a strong sense of self and prefer to do things personally. That is my take and how sorcerers were originally presented.

Now, you can add the summons, it is your game. But I can't imagine a sorcerer wasting time on a summon when a direct approach would work. It simply doesn't add up in my mind.

Yeah... no.

This relies on a personality trait (I rely on myself and my own power) which is not indicative of all sorcerers.

And what about the interpretation that the spirit summoned is just their own power given physical form? Then they are still only being self-reliant loners, but creating servants purely from their own power and psyche.

And, the idea that summoning a living whirlwind to smash your foes is somehow less direct than casting invisibility or Detect Thoughts makes zero sense to me.

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I can understand some of the reasoning, if summoning was naming specific creatures that a wizard had to learn their truenames and specific rituals to call these creatures. If you are shaping magic and giving it a physical form, it does feel like it ought to be in the Sorcerer's wheelhouse.

Yeah, it is that "if" that gets me. Summoning has never been presented as naming a specific being and using their truename and a specific ritual to summon them in DnD 5e. Druids certainly don't use that single action Conjure Animals to do that.

 

[jasper]

What's a sorcerer?

A bard with no rhythm.