Summoning and Defenses or Attacks

[fba827]

Question about the Summoning Keyword (yes, I know the PHB2 isn't out for a couple days but the keyword was previewed earlier, and I have the relevant quotes referenced below)

When you summon a creature (Summoning keyword) ...
"Your Defenses: The summoned creature's defenses equal yours when you summon it, not including any temporary bonuses or penalties to your statistics. " And for attacks, it has the same language but replace defense with attack...

Great, I read that as your defenses/attacks at the time of summoning, not counting any bonuses/penalties that would go away at the end of the round or end of the encounter. It seems pretty straight forward until I start to try and classify situational modifiers as to being temporary or not ... Situational modifiers are due to race, feat, or class choice - they are always "on" (making them candidates for 'not temporary' modifiers) but only "active" under a given situation (making them candidates for 'temporary' modifiers).

In order to show what I'm talking about, I list some examples below -- feel free to take each example on a case by case basis or to simply state that in your opinion they all fall as permanent or temporary (or whatever).

Not Temporary - I'm fine with these always applying to the summoned creature, no question here, just examples for comparison.
* Ability score modifiers to defenses.
* armor/shield bonuses
* Your PC is a human and therefore have a +1 racial bonus to all non-AC defenses. Even though the summoned creature is not human, I figure this still falls under 'permanent' bonus and therefore the summon creature would get it (plus that seems to be the simpler way to go rather than having to stop and think about it every summon). But feel free to comment if you think racial bonuses to defenses shouldn't apply
* Your PC has a +1 implement at the time of summoning, but then drops the implement to free his hands for something else. I consider this a permanent bonus to attack "at the time of summoning" and therefore still applies to the attack rolls of the summoned creature

Temporary - I'm fine with these not applying to a summoned creature, no question here.
* Your PC has Shield or Shield of Faith active at the time of summoning (therefore has a power bonus to AC that goes away at the end of the turn or at the end of the encounter)
* Your PC is hit by an enemy that gave some -2 attack due to a fear effect (save ends)

Situational bonuses -- This is where I start to get fuzzy on whether I should consider these "temporary" or not.

* Your PC has combat reflexes (+1 AC vs OAs). Your PC always has it, but it only kicks in based on actions. Does the summoned creature get it in that same situation? If it was a racial bonus for halflings (like the human example above) instead of a feat, would it make a difference in your opinion? Thoughts?

* Your PC is a tiefling and always gets a bonus to attack bloodied creatures. Does the summoned creature get that same bonus in the same situation? Thoughts?

* Your PC is a deva and have a +1 bonus to defenses against attackers who are bloodied. It depends on the status of the summoned creature's attacker. Does the summoned creature get it? Thoughts?


and so on...

Anyway, as said, my brain is just making this third group "situational modifiers" and so I thought I'd see if I should toss situational in to "not temporary" (because they are always on) or "temporary" (because they are not always active)... or if I should just try and keep them on a case-by-case basis?
I have a gut reaction/opinion, but I want to make sure I am not missing anything ...


In an unrelated question of the night, how come I am referring to "my brain" in the third person? Obviously, my problems go much further than this thread question alone

 

[fba827]

bump - anyone have thoughts on this?

 

[Starfox]

Just say NO to situational modifiers!

More seriously, I think of the situational modifiers as super-temporary, applying only for a round or two, and thus definitely not applicable to summoned creatures.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

I'm going to withhold judgment until I have a chance to actually READ the PHB2. There may well be more clarifying information there than what is just in the keyword description, or they may have even added or changed material. If none of those things are true then I would expect errata...

Purely based on the preview text you quoted, I'd say my feeling is about the same as yours. It would seem that the RAI is "the summoning has the same stats you would normally have." I think the point was to make a reasonably simple rule you could follow. So I would interpret it this way: The summoning has your defense and attack numbers as of the point you summoned it, less any temporary modifiers (those due to a power being in force at the moment of summoning). In other words the numbers written on your character sheet. I would say those are its numbers and it doesn't get situational modifiers based on your feats or items. Once its numbers are established, they don't change except in response to situations the summoning itself encounters, so it can obviously benefit from a warlord buff, etc. placed on IT.

That seems to be the simplest and most logical way to go, and probably avoids both complications and potential corner cases.