control of summoned creatures [Archive] - Wizards Community

control of summoned creatures [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Yaeri
10-10-05, 05:54 AM As DM I've always chosen what the summoned creatures of players attack, (the nearest enemy) but I've let my players always roll the dice. I'm not sure but I thought such a thing was described in the books.
Now I've been running into some threads which fueled suspicion that I've been doing this wrong; that the wizard-player can freely control a summoned creature.
How's it officially done?
Terratek
10-10-05, 07:18 AM You can control a summoned creature as long as you can communicate with it. Otherwise, it just attacks the summoner's enemies as well as it can.
SALDAR
10-10-05, 07:22 AM The character that summoned the creature controls the creature's actions if communication is possible, otherwise it simply attacks the summoner's enemies starting with whatever enemy is closest too it.
runestar
10-10-05, 07:25 AM Technically, as a dm, you are above reproach, but yeah, everything those before me said. :P
Ut-Napishtim
10-10-05, 08:18 AM Are you sure you mean summoned creatures? Everything that's above is correct, but things are different with called creatures. What's the difference? Called creatures come from the assorted Planar Binding spells, while summoned creatures come from the various Summon Monster spells. Summoned creatures are automatically controlled and only around for a limited duration, while called creatures must be bartered with and may be around indefinitely - although few would like that I'd imagine. Remember though that communication must be possible for the caster to direct anything in either case.
Yaeri
10-10-05, 09:48 AM Just to be sure I understood...
What you mean is that animal-like creatures attack the nearest enemy, while monsters they can communicate with verbally can be told what to do, and thus be controlled by the player him/herself?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Yaeri 10-10-05, 05:54 AM	As DM I've always chosen what the summoned creatures of players attack, (the nearest enemy) but I've let my players always roll the dice. I'm not sure but I thought such a thing was described in the books. Now I've been running into some threads which fueled suspicion that I've been doing this wrong; that the wizard-player can freely control a summoned creature. How's it officially done?
Terratek 10-10-05, 07:18 AM	You can control a summoned creature as long as you can communicate with it. Otherwise, it just attacks the summoner's enemies as well as it can.
SALDAR 10-10-05, 07:22 AM	The character that summoned the creature controls the creature's actions if communication is possible, otherwise it simply attacks the summoner's enemies starting with whatever enemy is closest too it.
runestar 10-10-05, 07:25 AM	Technically, as a dm, you are above reproach, but yeah, everything those before me said. :P
Ut-Napishtim 10-10-05, 08:18 AM	Are you sure you mean summoned creatures? Everything that's above is correct, but things are different with called creatures. What's the difference? Called creatures come from the assorted Planar Binding spells, while summoned creatures come from the various Summon Monster spells. Summoned creatures are automatically controlled and only around for a limited duration, while called creatures must be bartered with and may be around indefinitely - although few would like that I'd imagine. Remember though that communication must be possible for the caster to direct anything in either case.
Yaeri 10-10-05, 09:48 AM	Just to be sure I understood... What you mean is that animal-like creatures attack the nearest enemy, while monsters they can communicate with verbally can be told what to do, and thus be controlled by the player him/herself?