Soliciting Suggestions for Summon Nature's Ally

[Magus Coeruleus]

Hi there,

I have yet to Summon any of Nature's [Allies] and was wondering if people have advice, especially but not exclusively based on experience, for which allies to summon, tactics they've used to take advantage of allies' strengths, etc. My character has access to SNA I and II right now.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions and ideas.

 

[Alchemist]

My fiancee plays a druid in our party that is just verging on 7th level now. She got the most mileage out of wolves (for SNA 1) and Hippogriffs (for SNA 2) for pure combat butt-kickery. A dire badger was summoned once to dig them out of a collapsed tunnel, and a small water elemental was summoned to help put out a building that was on fire.

For all summonings in combat, she would normally send them to the back line of the enemy to harry their casters and ranged combatants, especially casters.

The trip ability of the wolf is a bonus, knocking them down and keeping them down makes it hard to do much.

Hippogriffs have mobility (flight), a large size to gum up enemy movements and a viscious attack array that is very effective against light/medium armoured opponents at low levels.

Again, she would do her best to summon them as far behind enemy lines as possible and wreak havoc with their rear lines. The short range makes that difficult, but at higher levels it's not so bad, and using giant apes and dire wolves for SNA 3 (when you get there) adds a reach critter and an even more impressive tripping machine to the mix.

 

[jaults]

I realize this may be a way off, but there is nothing better than a Huge Earth Elemental for butt-kicking goodness. SNA VI, I believe, will get you one of these monsters...

Jason

 

[mikebr99]

I was very successful holding one of the fronts in G1 with a huge Earth Elemental using awesome blow...


And I'd recommend this for a good read for ANY Druid... this guy spent a lot of time on this. http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?threadid=81385

Mike

P.S. that was a little freaky, jaults...

 

[shilsen]

Don't forget the SNA IV unicorn for some nice healing (three cure light and one cure moderate at 5th caster lvl for a total of 5d8+20 hp healing).

Plus in a pinch its continuous Magic Circle vs. Evil ability can be very useful. Got a dominated PC attacking the party? Summon a unicorn next to him.

 

[Evilhalfling]

Okay an example of how to and how not to use ...
PC barbarian/Sorcerer (with lineage) casts summon NA 1 in meele combat -
makes his concentration roll but then gets wacked before he finishes full round action, he looses the spell - swears off summon spells -

The NPC druid in a protected tower has run out of usefull spells - so he converts a faerie fire- the wolf appears right behind barbarian, flanks and suceeds on trip, pulling him down. the barbarian looses his weapon and ends up grappling the wolf until someone else can take care of it.

If you have speak w/animals you get lots more use- tracking from wolves (at least gets you started in the right direction, spoting form hawks and owls etc.