Controlling summoned creatures [Archive] - Wizards Community

Controlling summoned creatures [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Kardh
12-13-06, 01:44 PM I'd like some input on how summoned creatures should act and perhaps if someone has some extra reading material on the subject. I find the core rule books somewhat lacking in the area.

I have a druid that summons creatures to no end, which of course is fair enough. The problem I have is to determine how they should act. The rules state that "It attacks your opponents to the best of its ability. If you can communicate with the creature, you can direct it not to attack, to attack particular enemies, or to perform other actions."

The first questions is regarding "It attacks your opponents". What ability does a summoned creature have to determine who is the opponent? A typical animal should have some difficulty knowing who are my friends and opponents when being summoned. We've let this slide and let the summoned creature just know that, with no more explanation.

Furthermore, what if the status changes after the casting of the spell? Perhaps the assumed opponent is found to actually be a friend, or more to the situation at hand in our campaing: she has surrendered (we're doing the arena fight in Age of Worms). Will the summoned animal continue attacking the former opponent as it has little understanding of the rules for this special encounter or does it possess some ability to know better?

And for the latter part "If you can communicate with the creature". How to interpret "communicate"? The dictionary gives a wide definition about being able to impart knowledge to a subject, but I guess it should be interpreted more as both speak a common language than being able to do some haphazard sign language as when using the handle animal skill or otherwise not being able to understand eachother's spoken words.

And finally: What kind of action is it to direct the summoned creature? Free? Move equivalent or standard? Can she control only 1 or more creatures in the same action? (as in "All attack that wizard!" for example).
Vegepygmy
12-13-06, 03:15 PM What ability does a summoned creature have to determine who is the opponent?My opinion is that the summoned creature treats other creatures as "opponents" based on the caster's perception. If the caster's perception changes after the spell is cast, so does the summoned creature's.

How to interpret "communicate"?I interpret it as sharing a common language, telepathy, or some similar effect. Note that even if you can't communicate, that just means you can't automatically direct it to do other things. Handle Animal should still work just fine on a summoned animal, for example.

And finally: What kind of action is it to direct the summoned creature?Directing it by spoken command would be a free action. Using Handle Animal to "handle" an animal is a move action, to "push" it is a full-round action.
Seeker95
12-13-06, 03:56 PM Accidentally hit my back arrow when typing my response, and gave up.
Just chiming in to agree with VP's answers. He has steered you in the right direction.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kardh 12-13-06, 01:44 PM	I'd like some input on how summoned creatures should act and perhaps if someone has some extra reading material on the subject. I find the core rule books somewhat lacking in the area. I have a druid that summons creatures to no end, which of course is fair enough. The problem I have is to determine how they should act. The rules state that "It attacks your opponents to the best of its ability. If you can communicate with the creature, you can direct it not to attack, to attack particular enemies, or to perform other actions." The first questions is regarding "It attacks your opponents". What ability does a summoned creature have to determine who is the opponent? A typical animal should have some difficulty knowing who are my friends and opponents when being summoned. We've let this slide and let the summoned creature just know that, with no more explanation. Furthermore, what if the status changes after the casting of the spell? Perhaps the assumed opponent is found to actually be a friend, or more to the situation at hand in our campaing: she has surrendered (we're doing the arena fight in Age of Worms). Will the summoned animal continue attacking the former opponent as it has little understanding of the rules for this special encounter or does it possess some ability to know better? And for the latter part "If you can communicate with the creature". How to interpret "communicate"? The dictionary gives a wide definition about being able to impart knowledge to a subject, but I guess it should be interpreted more as both speak a common language than being able to do some haphazard sign language as when using the handle animal skill or otherwise not being able to understand eachother's spoken words. And finally: What kind of action is it to direct the summoned creature? Free? Move equivalent or standard? Can she control only 1 or more creatures in the same action? (as in "All attack that wizard!" for example).
Vegepygmy 12-13-06, 03:15 PM	What ability does a summoned creature have to determine who is the opponent?My opinion is that the summoned creature treats other creatures as "opponents" based on the caster's perception. If the caster's perception changes after the spell is cast, so does the summoned creature's. How to interpret "communicate"?I interpret it as sharing a common language, telepathy, or some similar effect. Note that even if you can't communicate, that just means you can't automatically direct it to do other things. Handle Animal should still work just fine on a summoned animal, for example. And finally: What kind of action is it to direct the summoned creature?Directing it by spoken command would be a free action. Using Handle Animal to "handle" an animal is a move action, to "push" it is a full-round action.
Seeker95 12-13-06, 03:56 PM	Accidentally hit my back arrow when typing my response, and gave up. Just chiming in to agree with VP's answers. He has steered you in the right direction.