D&D 5E Absence of Low Level Summoning Spells

[Otterscrubber]

I like how there aren't any low-level summoning spells. Keeps summons off the table while everyone is still learning the ropes.

Also, since it takes a long time before you get lots of level four spell slots, there won't be any casual routine minions spamming.

I feel there are many players like me who have been playing for almost 30 years and we "know the ropes" pretty well at this point. I think this was an oversight to neglect this very iconic category of casting. The way it is now, you get it at a certain point, well into playing your character and it's great when you finally do get it, but then fails to scale after that. 2 major problems in my opinion: getting it too late, then failing to allow it to be useful as players grow and evolve. Well , it's always going to be useful to some extent, but when you are lvl 10+, summoning CR 2 stuff gets less and less useful IMHO. Plus when do you get to summon a Balor or Pit Fiend?

 

[Ahglock]

I think my main beef is I hate the summing spells. Who wants to deal with a dozen mephitis attacking or spoons with animate object. Concentration + bonus action to command with a 4e summoned creature model and I'd of been happy.

 

[CapnZapp]

I think this was an oversight to neglect this very iconic category of casting.

You may or may not agree with their decision to give the summoner schtick to the druid, but an oversight? No, I don't think so. This very iconic category of casting is supported, just not to the subclass you prefer. But feel free to use a houserule; nothing would break if the conjurer gets low-level summonings.

 

[Saeviomagy]

The current incarnation of wizard lacks prior edition celestial and fiend summoning spells, making characters from older editions (and indeed, traditional archetypes of wizards) impossible to replicate without some really odd steps* that always involve going to another plane personally.

https://media.wizards.com/2015/downloads/dnd/07_UA_That_Old_Black_Magic.pdf fixes the lack of fiend summoning spells, but I also think that conjure celestial should be on the wizard list (or something similar at least).



*namely: have a fiendish/celestial familiar and an extradimensional storage device like leomund's chest. Get someone to banish the familiar while you are being held in the chest. Pop out of the chest. Trap something in a magic circle**. Cast planar binding on it. Put it in the chest. Banish yourself back home.

**Probably using glyph of warding or an illusion spell

 

[CapnZapp]

The current incarnation of the PHB doesn't contain every previous option or build choice.

*shrug*

 

[Saeviomagy]

The current incarnation of the PHB doesn't contain every previous option or build choice.

*shrug*

... And that's a bad thing.