Summoned monsters initiative and action

[sierzadon]

Sorry for reincarnating this issue in 3.5, but I just feel I have to ask...

Reading the 3.5 players handbook, there is a short narrative on page 174(?) (the first page in the magic chapter) about Mialee summoning something to help flanking for Lidda. The narrative states that the summoned creature appears NEXT round, not in the one Mialee cast the spell.

However, looking at the spell description of summon monster a few pages later (and also in the SRD, quoted below):
*********************
Casting Time: 1 round

This spell summons an extraplanar creature (typically an outsider, elemental, or magical beast native to another plane). It appears where you designate and acts immediately, on your turn. It attacks your opponents to the best of its ability. If you can communicate with the creature, you can direct it not to attack, to attack particular enemies, or to perform other actions.
*********************

(and similar language is repeated for SNA)

So - when does a summoned monster/natures ally really act:

1. On the turn I cast the spell, and it acts directly.
2. On the turn ofter I cast the spell, but on my initiative (before or after myself...)
3. At some other point in time.

1 is, IMHO the most powerful option.

But who knows?

Thanks for any input.

 

[paranoid]

On the first round, you start casting the spell, casting time 1 full round.
That means you take a full-round action in rd 1 and continue casting until just before your initiative in round 2. On your initiative count in round 2 the monster appears, and it may act normally.

So it is your option 2.

-p.

 

[Flyspeck23]

On the first round, you start casting the spell, casting time 1 full round.
That means you take a full-round action in rd 1 and continue casting until just before your initiative in round 2. On your initiative count in round 2 the monster appears, and it may act normally.

So it is your option 2.

-p.

Reference: PHB 3.5, Chapter 10: Magic, Casting Time, p. 174.

Or, to quote the SRD:

A spell that takes 1 round to cast is a full-round action. It comes into effect just before the beginning of your turn in the round after you began casting the spell. You then act normally after the spell is completed.

(Edit: Cut'n'Paste made the SRD quote hard to read, so I've fixed that...)