Summoning: Casting times and preferences

[Rackhir]

This is the one I've been using:

It doesn't seem to have the augment summoning versions of the creatures.

 

[Arnwyn]

Casting defensively won't help against readied actions, and I've yet to DM a NPC caster that can keep casting after taking 50+ points of damage...gotta love high-level D&D...

Oh, indeed... but then, the 1 round casting time isn't even an issue at this point, now is it?

My response was clear, and still stands - with proper tactical positioning, the druids (and, generally, spellcasters) IMC have all fared reasonably well; well enough, at least, to be able to cast the summoning spells fairly often (though never 100% of the time, of course - but then, I shouldn't even have to say this, as I'm not one for the discussion of wacky and irrelevant extremes).

 

[dogoftheunderworld]

There's always Natural Spell, though.

Decisions - full attack on the barbarian, or the spellcasting squirrel?

-Hyp.

That's the way my high level druid worked it out. Fly around the battle field as a tiny hawk (nice AC bonuses, too). Summon Elephant. Next round, it arrives just in time to cast Animal Growth. Bam! Gargantuan Elephant trampling the puny villian and his minions

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

There's always Natural Spell, though.

Decisions - full attack on the barbarian, or the spellcasting squirrel?

That has got to be the best reason I could imagine to get a cat familiar.

 

[MarkB]

That has got to be the best reason I could imagine to get a cat familiar.

Nah, start doing that and then it'll only be a matter of time before it starts dragging in dead druids onto the kitchen floor and looking all pleased with itself.

 

[Hypersmurf]

That's the way my high level druid worked it out. Fly around the battle field as a tiny hawk (nice AC bonuses, too). Summon Elephant.

How did you maintain minimum forward speed while taking a full round Cast A Spell action?

-Hyp.

 

[Solarious]

Alternatively, you can use ieattrollsforbreakfast's Ready to Summon Monsters. Just tinker around a little with the resistances (fiendish, celestial, or psudonatural switching), and you're usually good to go.

 

[frankthedm]

How did you maintain minimum forward speed while taking a full round Cast A Spell action?

It Probably slid by the DM.

 

[Voadam]

I've gotten them off in a couple of situations as FRCT. Single opponent not in melee. Did this with two druid characters and one wizard one. Also summoning allies before teleporting in buffed up to engage a known enemy in combat. Summoning the good outsider to heal outside of combat.

Ran an NPC encounter where a sorcerer was behind a rock to mud field and a wall of fire with a big guardian creature on her side and she got off several summoned monsters. They were very weak compared to the party.

 

[dogoftheunderworld]

How did you maintain minimum forward speed while taking a full round Cast A Spell action?

-Hyp.

Ummm.... gliding? Free fall? Flavor? Rule 0? ITotallyDidNotThinkOfItAndNeitherDidTheDM?