Summoning Monsters

[WhatGravitas]

Sure, nobody sans the designers know about that very much - but we've heard a bit in the first play testing. Therefore, I'm spun some thought:

-> My pet peeve with Summon Monster is that the creatures are becoming too weak (esp. towards to higher end of levels - they become flanking bonuses), due to the dramatic loss of power with the CR difference - I really hope that will change with the more linear monster power. If PCs can face more weak monsters, without mopping the floor instantly, the same will hopefully true for summoned monsters.

-> But seeing the out-of-combat usefulness of monsters (trap-springing, scouting, messaging, healing), I guess that summoning will remain restricted - however, due to a possible streamlining of the system, summoning is probably no longer a headache?

-> And finally, will they make "upgrading" monsters? In 3.5, every some levels, you revise your choice of monsters completely, if you're summoning stuff. For example the "fire snake"-guy from the first play test report, will he remain a "fire snake"-summoner on higher levels? (yeah, I know that's a NPC) I really hope for monsters you can keep - I want to have monsters with... character, that you keep over your entire career (if you want).

Any other thoughts about it? Or news? Or other stuff?

Cheers, LT.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I pretty much echo your questions and concerns. I think the solution to a lot of them would be to have monster-specific summonings that provide an inflexible but powerful summoning or a weaker spell that provides a variety of choices, at the same effective "level."

 

[WyzardWhately]

I like to imagine they're going to fix summoned monsters, and I suspect that the Minion rules are going to be related to this.

 

[Masquerade]

-> My pet peeve with Summon Monster is that the creatures are becoming too weak (esp. towards to higher end of levels - they become flanking bonuses), due to the dramatic loss of power with the CR difference - I really hope that will change with the more linear monster power. If PCs can face more weak monsters, without mopping the floor instantly, the same will hopefully true for summoned monsters.

I suspect that this problem falls under the category of "problematic math" to which a couple of the designers have alluded. They seem to be examining these things quite carefully.

I would definitely hope to be able to build a "fire snake" guy at any level, but we'll see.

 

[The Human Target]

I hope Summoning ends up looking like the psionic Create Construct.

 

[Nifft]

I hope Summoning ends up looking like the psionic Create Construct.

Word.

Alternately, each caster summons unique, named critters (which would need similar rules to build).

Cheers, -- N

 

[Zurai]

Word.

Alternately, each caster summons unique, named critters (which would need similar rules to build).

Cheers, -- N

This would make my week.

'Course, I'm a fan of Final Fantasy summons, so take that with a grain of salt.

 

[Masquerade]

Alternately, each caster summons unique, named critters (which would need similar rules to build).

+1.

'Course, I'm a fan of Pokémon, so take that with a grain of salt. ^_^

 

[WhatGravitas]

This would make my week.

'Course, I'm a fan of Final Fantasy summons, so take that with a grain of salt.

Same here - because that's (partially) the image behind my inspiration. I hope they'll do that - then they can even spell "summons"-minis in their DDM line. And I'd get my summons. Everybody happy!

Cheers, LT.

 

[Gort]

I always thought druid summons actually needed to be downgraded, especially around the level 5-10 range. The creatures have good attacks, lots of hitpoints, and if you kill one, who cares? It was going to die in a few rounds anyway.