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Some New Summoning Feats(Edited some more)

I think those are more balanced. Personally I think it should apply to all creatures summoned by a spell, so a druid could make it work on summon nature's ally, or a wizard with a gate spell.

I also think the progression shouldnt be 1st level, 5th level, 9th level. Maybe 3rd, 10th, 17th. I don't know why you think its bad that a feat that only affects conjuration (summoning) spells can't be taken till 3rd level. A first level caster with a summon spell is pretty silly as it will only last 1 round; its silly with some bonuses, or without. I certainly wouldn't think about taking such a feat until I was 3rd level, and even then I would probably wait till 6th.

The reason I said the str and dex bonuses were unnecessary is because I went through the trouble of statting out some creatures using your feats and adding the extra str to all the attacks and the dex to ac, reflex saves, initiative, and possibly ranged attacks seems very cumbersome. If you want a summon monster to have better ability scores, cast the appropriate buff when you summon it.

Technik
 

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I think those are more balanced. Personally I think it should apply to all creatures summoned by a spell, so a druid could make it work on summon nature's ally, or a wizard with a gate spell.

I didnt explcitly state it but that is how it would work. Indeed as far as I'm concenerd it should work on any beings summoned or called by any means...especialy in my campaign where magic is more unified.


I also think the progression shouldnt be 1st level, 5th level, 9th level. Maybe 3rd, 10th, 17th. I don't know why you think its bad that a feat that only affects conjuration (summoning) spells can't be taken till 3rd level. A first level caster with a summon spell is pretty silly as it will only last 1 round; its silly with some bonuses, or without. I certainly wouldn't think about taking such a feat until I was 3rd level, and even then I would probably wait till 6th.

Several reasons. One, I dont feel the +1 version warrants a level requirement above first, and linked to that because an Enchanter or Evoker or Transmuter can take Spell Focus at first level and benefit thereby.
Also because I am altering the summoning spells themselves IMC slightly...probably a minor duration increase, and I've created a CR based system for what you can summon.
3rd 10th and 17th is pretty much right out. the feats arent powerful enough to warrant it, and the first one will lose a lot of usefulness pretty quick. I might eventualy change it to 1st 7th and 12th somewhere along the way. I may well create more feats in the chain also.


The reason I said the str and dex bonuses were unnecessary is because I went through the trouble of statting out some creatures using your feats and adding the extra str to all the attacks and the dex to ac, reflex saves, initiative, and possibly ranged attacks seems very cumbersome. If you want a summon monster to have better ability scores, cast the appropriate buff when you summon it.

Again thats largely opnion :-). It also shows another of our differences...you seem to think mainly in terms of mechanical effect. the bonuses are also their for flavour and theme, and because I like them :-)
Of course, that difference does to an extent make you a good candidate to help me iron balance issues out of my work :-)
 

One thing to consider when a feat can be chosen is what feats can be chosen later. I know this sounds confusing, but let me continue...

By allowing Augmented Summoning to be taken at 1st level, you give more flexibility to the character (not necessarily a bad thing). As a human wizard, for instance, I might choose the following feats:

1st: Extend Spell, Augmented Summoning
3rd: Craft Wondrous Item (min 3rd-level caster)
5th: Craft Wand (min 5th-level caster)
6th: Greater Summoning (min 3rd-lvl spells)
9th: Superior Summoning (min 5th-lvl spells)
10th: Quicken Spell

If Augmented Summoning cannot be taken until I'm 3rd level, however, that changes the progression. One way to get the same feats would be:

1st: Extend Spell, Quicken Spell
3rd: Augmented Summoning
5th: Craft Wondrous Item
6th: Craft Wand
9th: Greater Summoning
10th: Superior Summoning

This progression slows down how quickly I gain the feats that help my summoning spells. A different progression slows down how quickly I gain the item creation feats. In all cases, I have to make more trade-offs.

Now as I said above, it's not necessarily a bad thing to give players more flexibility when designing characters. I personally hate having to wait until 5th level for Craft Wand, given I'm a big fan of cure light wounds wands, but those are the rules. Just a suggestion to take this into account when setting the prereq's of your feats.

BTW - consider your feats (with some changes) yoinked. Not many wizards will specialize in summoning, but I like having it as a viable option.
 

Thats exactly my thought. Other magical focuses have feats that aid them etc, summoning really doesnt.
I'm pretty happy with mine as they stand. I will probably playtest them once my various games get going and see how they work. I think this final draft is pretty balanced.
And remember I created them with not just wizards in mind.
Your welcome to them. They are one of the things I would like to see published one day. And thank you for actualy offering a constructive opnion rather than just going on about overpowerdness :-)
 

Opinions can be constructive even if they talk about how broken something is. Balance varies from campaign to campaign, and if you really want to get published you have to find a good medium that everyone agrees on.

Usually doubling the power of a feat that WotC prints and then creating 2 more in a chain is not a good way to do this. For instance, if I made rapid shot more powerful, then made an improved rapid shot which gave another arrow, and a superior one which gave yet another arrow.

I'm glad youre happy with the feats, can't wait to hear how the playtests go ;)

Technik
 

Opinions can be constructive even if they talk about how broken something is

Yes thats true. but not if thats all they say. to be constructive their needs to be some giving of ideas for fixes and/or some positive feedback.



Usually doubling the power of a feat that WotC prints and then creating 2 more in a chain is not a good way to do this. For instance, if I made rapid shot more powerful, then made an improved rapid shot which gave another arrow, and a superior one which gave yet another arrow.

WotC publishes feats that are underpowered, like Augment Summoning, and feats that are to powerful, like Rapid Shot. Wotc isnt perfect...thats why they are revising the rules. Plus they stated long ago that feats are not balanced with each other...some feats are in fact "better" than others. Thats because power or combat effect isnt all feats are for, they also serve roleplaying and flavour functions.


I'm glad youre happy with the feats, can't wait to hear how the playtests go

Hopefuly it will be soon. Once the other person I am in touch with gets a game going I am seriously considering playing a Summoner to test out thease feats, and my new summoning rules.
 

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