Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sunic_Flames 07-27-07, 11:07 AM	Both the PHB and the SRD state summon monster and summon nature's ally spells are 1 round actions to cast. The SRD for the wizard conjurer variant states the rapid summoning ability lowers casting times from a full round action to a standard action. And another thread around here states that summons don't appear until right before the beginning of the next turn as 1 round =/= 1 full round. So which is correct?
Marcus Majarra 07-27-07, 11:34 AM	The summoned creatures appear as soon as the spell is finished casting. Normally, summon monster and summon nature's ally have a casting time of 1 round. This means that the spellcaster begins casting on his turn as a full-round action, and finishes casting right before the beginning of his turn, in the following round. At this point the summoned creatures appear. The conjurer variant Rapid Summoning changes the casting time of the conjurer's summon monster spells to 1 standard action. As such, the conjurer can very well start and finish casting the spell within his own turn, the monsters appearing and acting at that time.
Sunic_Flames 07-27-07, 12:33 PM	The summoned creatures appear as soon as the spell is finished casting. Normally, summon monster and summon nature's ally have a casting time of 1 round. This means that the spellcaster begins casting on his turn as a full-round action, and finishes casting right before the beginning of his turn, in the following round. At this point the summoned creatures appear. The conjurer variant Rapid Summoning changes the casting time of the conjurer's summon monster spells to 1 standard action. As such, the conjurer can very well start and finish casting the spell within his own turn, the monsters appearing and acting at that time. I see. The fact it said full round to standard implies it was once full round. I know there's a way to make it shorter, but I forgot what it was and isn't so much a rules question.
Marcus Majarra 07-27-07, 01:27 PM	I know of one other way to reduce the casting time of summon monster spells: the Rapid Spell feat (Complete Divine).
Kouk 07-27-07, 02:36 PM	A full-round action is not the same as a spell with a casting time of 1 round, despite the apparent similarity. Casting Time Most spells have a casting time of 1 standard action. Others take 1 round or more, while a few require only a free action. 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. ... When you begin a spell that takes 1 round or longer to cast, you must continue the concentration from the current round to just before your turn in the next round (at least). If you lose concentration before the casting is complete, you lose the spell. A full-round action to cast spell is pretty rare, the most often seen full-round action casting time is when a Sorcerer or Bard (or other spontaneous caster) uses a Metamagic feat. Usually spells have just Standard action or "1 (entire) round" casting times. So shortening a 1 round casting time to a Standard Action is a big deal.