101 uses for Summoned Monsters (besides fighting)

[MerakSpielman]

Yeah, anybody can summon a critter for help in combat - to hurt your enemy, provide flanking, etc... But what else are they good for? Let us count the ways.

1) setting off traps.

2) Fetching items you can't reach ("go get the keys buddy, so we can get out of jail!")

3) (related to 1) Seeing if the ice is safe to walk across.

4) Testing food for poison.

5) Eating your leftovers.

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[Harlock]

6) Knocking over Wall of Iron (and this has been helpful for our party)

7) Digging holes (trenches to provide cover, graves, latrine, whatever)

8) Smashing Doors (our party is weak, what can I say?)

9) Picking up chicks ("Oooh, how cute, is that your Celestial Dire Badger?")

10) Testing found weapons for magic bonuses a.k.a. Target Practice (only kidding here... but that's not a bad idea... hmmm)

 

[MarauderX]

11. Spotting - Celestial Eagle is great for that.

12. Look out at the top of watch tower if you suspect enemies are watching for you up there... or really anywhere they might expect you.

13. Seeing if there is preventative/dispelling magic in the local before you loose the charges on your wands and such.

14. To see if some new undead in a room drain levels or just do damage.

15. Shear entertainment - Train them to eventually do tricks for you in bar rooms for cash, (rabbit out of the hat) or other such fun.

 

[Zappo]

16. A xorn can search for ore underground quickly by diving into the earth.

A lot of the uses mentioned so far will require Called monsters... Summon Monster lasts way too little.

 

[generalizeddice]

16. Carrying various loot (formian worker anyone?)

17. Carrying the bodies of your companions that died while looting (formian worker anyone?)

18. As a scout/decoy to enter the room with the loot to make sure everything guarding the loot is incapacitated (the formian worker is a good choice for this)

19. as a source of stupid pet tricks to enjoy while drinking away the cash equivalent of your loot in the local tavern (a little known fact is that all formain workers know how to roll over, play dead, and fetch your boots of haste from the coat closet)

 

[Voadam]

20. Quick and easy sacrifice subject (OK just hold absolutely still now!).

 

[AuraSeer]

21. Penetrating DR. If your fighters' +3 weapons have been sundered, bring in a celestial dire bear to do the melee damage.

22. Quick healing when the cleric's unavailable. Celestial unicorns offer a few cures and a neutralize poison. An avoral guardinal can lay on hands.

[Added]

23. Fixing objects. Three formian workers can cast make whole as a full-round action, and they can do it multiple times.

24. Emergency substitute for the scrolls you forgot to bring. Need a passwall? Summon a blue slaad. Ran out of glitterdust? Summon a salt mephit.

 

[MerakSpielman]

There were two 16s, so we're actually on 26 next.

This is great! Keep 'em coming!

 

[Voadam]

26 setting up a false set of tracks

27 Hunting (hawks have been used for hunting before, celestial hawks can be too!).

 

[Voadam]

28 Flying (summon a big enough air elemental to carry you where you want to go).