Summon Monster: Limited to the list?

[Ysgarran]

Does this spell limit you to only creatures that are on the list of possible summoned creatures or can you summon creatures that are not on the list but of the same challenge rating? One of my co-players has started summoning creatures with the same CR as the ones that are on the list.

As a player, I don't mind. As a future DM for this player I don't really want to set a precedent.

thanks,
Ysgarran.

 

[Velenne]

Only from the list, unfortunately, but a fair DM will let you interchange templates with ones from Manual of the Planes.

There are also expanded SM lists out there. Personally, I'd love to see a WOTC web enchancement which does this.

There is also a variant where you can summon specific creatures you name instead of average ones.

 

[Ysgarran]

I really like the named creature idea. It seems like that would add a lot of 'flavor' to the spell.

The player is using a plant template from the Manual of the Planes that seems to be very effective.

Ysgarran.

 

[dcollins]

Absolutely restricted to the list, barring house rules or supplement additions.

You'll notice that the actual CRs by level in the lists vary over a pretty wide range, so that's an invalid way of analyzing the list as it stands.

 

[0-hr]

Can you swap "Celestial" for "Fiendish"? If a clestial bison is on the list, would it be legal for an evil person to summon a fiendish bison with the same spell?

 

[DanMcS]

Can you swap "Celestial" for "Fiendish"? If a clestial bison is on the list, would it be legal for an evil person to summon a fiendish bison with the same spell?

Yeah, I'd allow that. It's not a written rule that I know of, but I see no reason to disallow it.

 

[hong]

Can you swap "Celestial" for "Fiendish"? If a clestial bison is on the list, would it be legal for an evil person to summon a fiendish bison with the same spell?

We've done that. I doubt it'll cause any problems.

 

[dcollins]

Can you swap "Celestial" for "Fiendish"? If a clestial bison is on the list, would it be legal for an evil person to summon a fiendish bison with the same spell?

No, not strictly according to the core rules.
That requires a house rule.

 

[Caliban]

Only from the list, unfortunately, but a fair DM will let you interchange templates with ones from Manual of the Planes.

There are also expanded SM lists out there. Personally, I'd love to see a WOTC web enchancement which does this.

There is also a variant where you can summon specific creatures you name instead of average ones.

You mean something like this?

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnD_CC_20001124e.asp

 

[0-hr]

No, not strictly according to the core rules.
That requires a house rule.

Wow, so for Summon Monster II, we have the following

celestial eagle
vs
fiendish squid, wolf, shark, viper, hyena, or octopus

and for Summon Monster III, we have:

celestial bear or bison
vs
fiendish dire weasel, gorilla, constrictor snake, boar, dire bat, giant lizard, large shark, small viper, crocodile, leopard, or wolverine

The good guys are going to get their butts kicked, especially if the fight takes place in the water.