Summon Monster duration

[Coredump]

3rd level caster casts Summon Monster.

Rd 1: Summon it next to bad guy. Monster attacks

Rd 2: Monster attacks

Rd 3: Monster attacks

Rd4: ??


When does the monster go away? A) Right after Rd 3? B) Right before Rd 4? C) Right after it attacks on Rd 4?


I think B, but am not sure. (that also means it sticks around longer than it is 'useful', absorbing attacks.)

 

[Jack Simth]

I think it's something more like....

Round 0: Caster begins his 1 round casting time for Summon Monster.
Round 1: Caster finishes casting (and hasn't used up any of his actions for this round, and can thus summon another, or blast away, or whatever), beast appears and gets a full attack. (round 1 of spell duration)
Round 2: Beast gets another full attack on the caster's initiative. (round 2 of spell duration)
Round 3: Beast gets another full attack on the caster's initiative. (round 3 of spell duration)
Round 4: Beast vanishes at the begining of caster's turn.

 

[frankthedm]

More of;

Round 1: Begin casting one full round casting time summon monster 1.
Round 2: Finish casting right before the start of caster's turn begins. Monster appears, and takes it's first full round of actions. Caster acts as he wants.
Round 3: Monster takes it's second round. Caster acts as he wants.
Round 4: Monster takes it's third round and then disappears. Caster acts as he wants.

 

[pawsplay]

Anything that goes in rounds ends on the same initiative number, in case it ever matters. Basically, you're not getting four rounds of anything out of a three round spell.

 

[Goolpsy]

Mr. Frank, you sure it doesn't disappear at the end of the casters turn, instead of after its action?

 

[frankthedm]

Mr. Frank, you sure it doesn't disappear at the end of the casters turn, instead of after its action?

Actually it's turn is ON the caster's action. So yeah, end of caster's action.

 

[Sithobi1]

Why does it disappear after the caster's action instead of 3 rounds after it appeared? That makes no sense, and violates the rule for counting rounds.

 

[GwydapLlew]

Why does it disappear after the caster's action instead of 3 rounds after it appeared? That makes no sense, and violates the rule for counting rounds.

A summoned creatures is around for 1 round/caster level. Therefore, it gets 3 rounds of actions, then goes away. A summoned creature acts on the caster's initiative, so it technically goes simultaneously with the caster. It's up to the DM how to handle that: some have the summoned creature go, then the caster; others have the caster go, then the summoned creature.

 

[Sithobi1]

It should linger until right before the caster's initiative on the next round, since it hasn't actually been 3 rounds when it acts for the 3rd time.

 

[Infiniti2000]

I think it's something more like....

Round 0: Caster begins his 1 round casting time for Summon Monster.
Round 1: Caster finishes casting (and hasn't used up any of his actions for this round, and can thus summon another, or blast away, or whatever), beast appears and gets a full attack. (round 1 of spell duration)
Round 2: Beast gets another full attack on the caster's initiative. (round 2 of spell duration)
Round 3: Beast gets another full attack on the caster's initiative. (round 3 of spell duration)
Round 4: Beast vanishes at the begining of caster's turn.

QFT. I agree with Jack.