Templates and Summoning questions

[Aesmael]

Where can I find templates for things such as anarchic, axiomatic, fey and shadow creatures? Halfbreeds? Planetouched versions? Would there be any problems with using aasimar and tieflings as templates rather than races in their own right? I'm running on the assumption that other planes deserve ecologies too, and that planar beings don't especially favour humans when intoxicated.
Also, am I correct in believing that the summon monster spell will summon a creature with a challenge rating approximately equal to the spell's level? Thinking of Summon Monster I, reduce the CR by one? I feel I am missing some subtlety in its workings.
Your help would make things much easier for me, so please?

 

[Kodam]

Hi!

The axiomatic, anarchic and shadow Templates can be found in the Manual of the Planes. Its 3.0 though and they might be updated to 3.5 elsewhere.

Your assumption concerning SM is quite close. It starts out at CR 1/3-1/2 with SM1 and ends at CR 11-12 with SM9. But creatures with magical or special abilities are harder to summon than pure melee meat shields.

Kodam

 

[dcollins]

Also, am I correct in believing that the summon monster spell will summon a creature with a challenge rating approximately equal to the spell's level? Thinking of Summon Monster I, reduce the CR by one? I feel I am missing some subtlety in its workings.

By the core rules, summon monster can summon what's itemized in the lists and nothing else. Those lists happen to comply loosely with the guideline you state.

Summoning anything not listed in the PHB is a rules variant (see Unearthed Arcana or some issues of Dragon magazine).

 

[Aesmael]

Well, thanks. If anyone knows where (if) they have been updated to 3.5 I would appreciate hearing about it. Ah, also forgot to ask about elemental creatures.

Of course, I tried creating some axiomatic/anarchic templates of my own, but ran into difficulty devising a spell-like progression for the half-breeds. Hence the desire for official product.

Edit - And the ever-present desire for ideas and concepts originating outside of myself. Impatience too, mustn't forget the impatience