Summon Monster II

[Infiniti2000]

If I summon a celestial riding dog, will it be war-trained? If you say it's up to the DM, then how would you rule it as DM?

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/summonMonsterII.htm
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/dogRiding.htm

 

[Lopke_Quasath]

From the SRD spell description for Summon Monster I "You choose which kind of creature to summon."

I would rule as a DM that the caster can choose to summon a riding dog that is trained for war, as that is explicity written in that creatures description.

Yes, this may open a can of worms for other creatures that could "be trained for war", but I would rule against those (unless you could summon a horse).

 

[moritheil]

It's not really an appealing summon unless it's war-trained, is it?

 

[eamon]

From the SRD spell description for Summon Monster I "You choose which kind of creature to summon."

I would rule as a DM that the caster can choose to summon a riding dog that is trained for war, as that is explicity written in that creatures description.

Yes, this may open a can of worms for other creatures that could "be trained for war", but I would rule against those (unless you could summon a horse).

I'd let it be trained for war. The non-animal summons are almost all war-like, and given the spell's short duration and overall usage, it only makes sense.

I don't think there's a particular can of worms here; there are very few cases where it'll be a problem and many summons aren't even animals anyhow.

 

[Vegepygmy]

If I summon a celestial riding dog, will it be war-trained?

No, it will be intelligent.

Celestial riding dogs aren't animals, and don't need to be "trained" for war.

 

[nick012000]

No, it will be intelligent.

Celestial riding dogs aren't animals, and don't need to be "trained" for war.

Being war-trained is still advantegous, however, in that it would then be proficient with any and all types of armor.

 

[ElectricDragon]

The armor proficiencies are mostly moot; as the time taken to put armor on is between 10 rounds and 40 rounds according to type (except for some light armors which can be donned hastily, and thus 1 AC worse than normal, in only 5 rounds).

Ciao
Dave

 

[nick012000]

The armor proficiencies are mostly moot; as the time taken to put armor on is between 10 rounds and 40 rounds according to type (except for some light armors which can be donned hastily, and thus 1 AC worse than normal, in only 5 rounds).

Ciao
Dave

Unless it appears wearing its armor. Other summons do, after all.

 

[ElectricDragon]

Any creature detailed as wearing armor in the MM is also explicitely given proficiency in said armor.

Ciao
Dave

 

[Infiniti2000]

It's not really an appealing summon unless it's war-trained, is it?

Well, a war-trained riding dog is better than a wolf in all ways except speed (40ft vs. 50ft), assuming the celestial vs. fiendish balances out. Is it just that celestial creatures gain an advantage?

No, it will be intelligent.

Celestial riding dogs aren't animals, and don't need to be "trained" for war.

Good point. Is the concluding statement then, intelligent creatures cannot be trained? He may not need to be trained for way, but unless he is trained the riding dog doesn't gain the wolf's trip ability.

Unless it appears wearing its armor. Other summons do, after all.

I don't believe there's support that any creatures appears with equipment that is not otherwise stated in its stat block. Otherwise, imagine all the BBEG's summoned creatures appearing wearing +5 armor and wielding +5 weapons, etc. No, definitely not IMC.

Called creatures, on the other hand, I do have wearing appropriate equipment.