An Easy One - How Many Attacks for a 1st-Level Summon?

[Noumenon]

Summon Monster has a duration of one round at first level and the monster gets to attack the turn you summon it. So does it get another attack before it winks out? If not I'm gonna try to place it where it'll get an attack of opportunity too.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Moved to 3e rules

 

[Noumenon]

Don't know how that happened, thank you.

 

[Elethiomel]

Summon Monster has a duration of one round at first level and the monster gets to attack the turn you summon it. So does it get another attack before it winks out? If not I'm gonna try to place it where it'll get an attack of opportunity too.

Summon spell goes off->monster immediately takes its turn.
Round goes as normal, the next time the initiative rolls around to the summoned monster it disappears without getting to do anything.

So yes; only one round of attacks (Plural here because some summoned monsters have more than one natural weapon). Placing a summoned monster so you get maximum benefit from its attack of opportunity is excellent tactics.

 

[Herzog]

Don't forget it can also provide (a) flanking (bonus), which can be particularly beneficial for your parties rogue (since it allows him to sneak attack).

 

[Rackhir]

Elethiomel I believe has it correct. Basically even if you are a specialized conjurer, you're better off doing other things until you hit a minimum of 3rd and don't forget Mage Armor is a conjuration spell. So you can take than as your specialization bonus spell.

SM I at first level is a waste of a spell.

BTW Celestial Bison at SM III is your first really good summons.

 

[Starbuck_II]

Elethiomel I believe has it correct. Basically even if you are a specialized conjurer, you're better off doing other things until you hit a minimum of 3rd and don't forget Mage Armor is a conjuration spell. So you can take than as your specialization bonus spell.

SM I at first level is a waste of a spell.

BTW Celestial Bison at SM III is your first really good summons.

Stop using summons for melee and all will be good.

I mean, really?
And Quisits those demon brutes are better than Celestial Bision: they have DR/magic (which works really good by 3rd since not much has magic).

At level 1 and all levels, what always is a good summon? Spiders!
They can web 8 times a day.
And the web lasts longer than 1 round (either way the enemy used up a round to get out if he did).
Really, that is what you summon at level 1.

Level 3, then bring in thre melee goodness (but more Spiders aren't a bad idea)