Summon Nature's Ally

[Speaks With Stone]

I've been playing with this series of spells of late and I was wondering what other ways it could be used besides straight combat. I currently only have access to Summon III.

Other than straight combat, I have used/may use Speak with Animals and other language skills to convince summoned creatures to:

Dire Badger to dig tunnels
Salamander/fire elemenentals to burn webs and set fires and provide quick light
Earth elementals to open doors or spy
Dire rats to check for ambush/trap
Crocodiles to assist drowning companions (imagine their panic)

Not as many alternate uses as I would like, but I'll soon have access to Summon IV and I hope to find some new uses there.

Any suggestions of other uses for these summoned creatures?

 

[DoctorB]

If you speak Terran, as the wizard in my game does, you can use a Xorn to help you detect invisible creatures. Their tremorsense detects most things. Your allies still have the miss chance, but at least they know where to attack!

 

[Artoomis]

If you speak Terran, as the wizard in my game does, you can use a Xorn to help you detect invisible creatures. Their tremorsense detects most things. Your allies still have the miss chance, but at least they know where to attack!

Yep - I can't think of much better comic relief for the DM than your Druid character telling folks where to swing.

"Swing...... Now!..."

"No, no , to the left..."

"Yipes! Not there you dolt - your OTHER left!..."

"He says he's moving..."

"No - I don't know where - just wait a second, will you?!?..."

"He says he's on your right, now..."

"Your OTHER right, you idiot!..."

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Someone has got to post a list of the best allies to summon.

BTW, these animals aren't extraplanar creatures, so does a magic circle against x keep them out?

For instance, if I summon a NG fairy, does a magic circle against good keep it away?