What are some good feats for a Summoner? [Archive] - Wizards Community

What are some good feats for a Summoner? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Red_Wizards_Rock
12-27-07, 01:21 AM Besides Augment Summon I haven't found much in the way of feats for a Summoner. Any help would be great thx a bunch anyone.
navar100
12-27-07, 01:45 AM Rapid Spell

The one round casting time becomes a standard action.

Extend Spell

To increase duration if it matters.

Silent Spell

Since if you are invisible when summoning you remain invisible, casting silently allows for humorous and tactical timing of creatures "suddenly" popping in from nowhere.
Rebel7284
12-27-07, 01:49 AM Look at treantmonk's malconvoker thread in the Char Op forum.
Ekko
12-27-07, 09:42 PM From the Ebberron Campaign Setting: Ashbound lets a druid double the duration of her summoning spells, and gives them a bonus of attack rolls. Child of Winter lets a druid summon vermin with her Summon Nature's Ally spells. Music of Growth lets a bard enhance animals and plants.

From Complete Arcane: Sudden Extend, Sudden Silent, Sudden Still, and Sudden Quicken are all useful and do not increase the spell's level.

A druid can also benefit from Natural Spell, allowing them to summon creatures while in a harmless-looking form (like a bird or a rabbit). No-one ever thinks "Hey! That bird has been chirping and shuffling around, and then this huge snake popped up to attack us! The bird obviously summoned it! KILL THE BIRD!" That just doesn't happen.

Looking at the above, if you want to be a summoner and have the ECS, being a druid is a good option. You can spontaneously convert spells into summons, and you get a really nice selection of feats to enhance summoning.
NoldorForce
12-27-07, 10:30 PM Rashemi Elemental Summoning (Unapproachable East) allows you to buff up [Earth] or [Air] elementals with some sort of potent subtype. [Earth] ones get to engulf people (tasty casters), while [Air] ones get Cone of Cold as a SLA (I don't recall the limitation).

Greenbound Summoning (Lost Empires of Faerun) turns your animal summons into Greenbound critters. The template provides a number of potent combat buffs; as such the feat is considered to be overpowered in the hands of a druid. (One of the designers had stated that it was supposed to be some sort of metamagic feat, but that was lost in the editing process.)
Novacat
12-27-07, 11:22 PM If you're not a druid, let us not forget Spontaneous Summoner from Complete Divine. Now you don't have to worry about preparing a bunch of summoning spells.
ultimateconjurer
12-28-07, 01:26 AM I like to grab Metamagic School Focus so I can have at least three of my highest summon monster spells as silent, still, rapid, extended spells. You could get the Suddens if you want, but I've never been a huge fan of them. Other than that I myself am at something of a loss for other feats for conjurers. I don't like Summon Elemental all that much, but that caster level buff could be helpful. A Robe of Mysterious Conjuration helps too if you are an arcane caster. 3 times per day you can drop a spell as a standard action and summon a monsters as if you had just cast a summon monster spell of the same level as the dropped spell.:D
ultimateconjurer
12-28-07, 01:33 AM Oh yeah, and you might want to find a secondary focus for your character since the most useful summons are always at your highest level of spells available to cast and once those run out you'll either have to rest a lot or summon lamer monsters. I'd also avoid Imbibed Summoning since Wizards don't have Greater Magic Fang, but Druids do so if you are a Druid then it isn't so bad. If you have Stormwrack then I'd trade in the Scorpions for the Crabs. They are much better grapplers and they'll deal more damage than the Scorpions and yes I've taken in the Scorpions' Poison into account. You'd be better off just casting Cloudkill.
MnemonicSV
12-28-07, 03:22 AM Summon Elemental [Reserve] isn't bad... lets you summon an (albeit weak) elemental without using up any resources. Good for if you need easy cannon fodder, or any simple tasks performed.
Ekko
12-28-07, 06:25 PM If you're not a druid, let us not forget Spontaneous Summoner from Complete Divine. Now you don't have to worry about preparing a bunch of summoning spells.
Spontaneous summoner (I believe, I don't own Complete Divine) would also allow a non-druid to take Ashbound and Child of Winter. Just a note.
Watsyurname529
12-28-07, 07:14 PM One of my PC's right now is playing a Summoner. First, it would be helpful to know what kind of Summoner you are playing/going to play. Either a Druid, Cleric, or Conjurer would be your basic three. Anyway, here are some suggestions:

Some all purpose feats:

Augment Summon - Good bonus +4 Str & Con
Imbue Summoning (Requires Augment Summon) - You may cast a Touch spell of 3rd level or lower on the creature(s) summoned. For example, you could have Bull's Strength cast on them as they are summoned. Uses one spell slot higher than normal.
Extend Spell - If you really need long lasting summons
Rapid Spell - Make that Full-Round Action a Standard one

Druid ones (both from Eberron):

Ashbound Summoner - Doubles duration of Summon Nature's Ally, gives a Luck bonus to Attack rolls.
Child of Winter - Summon Vermin w/ Summon Nature's Ally

More Eberron ones:

Dragonmarked Summoner - Summoned Creatures gain a deflection bonus to AC depending on the strength of your dragonmark.

Unearthed Arcana for Conjurers (Note: These are class abilities):

Rapid Summoning - VERY GOOD. Trade your familiar for the ability to cast Summons as a standard action
Spontaneous Summoning - Trade bonus conjuration spells to loose a prepared spell to cast Summon monster of a lower level.
Augment Summoning - Trade all bonus feats for enhancements to your summons. Increased Str & Con, harder to dispel. Get Augmented Summoning instead of Scribe Scroll at 1st level.

PrC's:

Master Speciallist for Conjurers - Gain some decent abilities along with further enhancements to all Conjuration spells, and full spell casting.
Malconvoker - Summon Evil creatures and trick them into doing your bidding.
ultimateconjurer
12-28-07, 08:24 PM If you are a Cleric or a Sorcerer then your best friend is the Malconvoker or the Thurmaturgist if you are just a Cleric. If you are a Wizard or Sorcerer you could get Arcane Disciple and pick the summoner domain. That would allow you to get into Thurmaturgist without having to take augment summoning. I prefer the Alienist personally. You can still get Demons and Angels if you get Fierce Pride of the Beast Lands, Abyssal Army, Hellish Horde, and Heavenly Host. Also Summon Elemental Monolith is handy. As for feats there are always the fillers: Great Fortitude, Lightening Reflexes, Iron Will, and Improved Toughness.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Red_Wizards_Rock 12-27-07, 01:21 AM	Besides Augment Summon I haven't found much in the way of feats for a Summoner. Any help would be great thx a bunch anyone.
navar100 12-27-07, 01:45 AM	Rapid Spell The one round casting time becomes a standard action. Extend Spell To increase duration if it matters. Silent Spell Since if you are invisible when summoning you remain invisible, casting silently allows for humorous and tactical timing of creatures "suddenly" popping in from nowhere.
Rebel7284 12-27-07, 01:49 AM	Look at treantmonk's malconvoker thread in the Char Op forum.
Ekko 12-27-07, 09:42 PM	From the Ebberron Campaign Setting: Ashbound lets a druid double the duration of her summoning spells, and gives them a bonus of attack rolls. Child of Winter lets a druid summon vermin with her Summon Nature's Ally spells. Music of Growth lets a bard enhance animals and plants. From Complete Arcane: Sudden Extend, Sudden Silent, Sudden Still, and Sudden Quicken are all useful and do not increase the spell's level. A druid can also benefit from Natural Spell, allowing them to summon creatures while in a harmless-looking form (like a bird or a rabbit). No-one ever thinks "Hey! That bird has been chirping and shuffling around, and then this huge snake popped up to attack us! The bird obviously summoned it! KILL THE BIRD!" That just doesn't happen. Looking at the above, if you want to be a summoner and have the ECS, being a druid is a good option. You can spontaneously convert spells into summons, and you get a really nice selection of feats to enhance summoning.
NoldorForce 12-27-07, 10:30 PM	Rashemi Elemental Summoning (Unapproachable East) allows you to buff up [Earth] or [Air] elementals with some sort of potent subtype. [Earth] ones get to engulf people (tasty casters), while [Air] ones get Cone of Cold as a SLA (I don't recall the limitation). Greenbound Summoning (Lost Empires of Faerun) turns your animal summons into Greenbound critters. The template provides a number of potent combat buffs; as such the feat is considered to be overpowered in the hands of a druid. (One of the designers had stated that it was supposed to be some sort of metamagic feat, but that was lost in the editing process.)
Novacat 12-27-07, 11:22 PM	If you're not a druid, let us not forget Spontaneous Summoner from Complete Divine. Now you don't have to worry about preparing a bunch of summoning spells.
ultimateconjurer 12-28-07, 01:26 AM	I like to grab Metamagic School Focus so I can have at least three of my highest summon monster spells as silent, still, rapid, extended spells. You could get the Suddens if you want, but I've never been a huge fan of them. Other than that I myself am at something of a loss for other feats for conjurers. I don't like Summon Elemental all that much, but that caster level buff could be helpful. A Robe of Mysterious Conjuration helps too if you are an arcane caster. 3 times per day you can drop a spell as a standard action and summon a monsters as if you had just cast a summon monster spell of the same level as the dropped spell.:D
ultimateconjurer 12-28-07, 01:33 AM	Oh yeah, and you might want to find a secondary focus for your character since the most useful summons are always at your highest level of spells available to cast and once those run out you'll either have to rest a lot or summon lamer monsters. I'd also avoid Imbibed Summoning since Wizards don't have Greater Magic Fang, but Druids do so if you are a Druid then it isn't so bad. If you have Stormwrack then I'd trade in the Scorpions for the Crabs. They are much better grapplers and they'll deal more damage than the Scorpions and yes I've taken in the Scorpions' Poison into account. You'd be better off just casting Cloudkill.
MnemonicSV 12-28-07, 03:22 AM	Summon Elemental [Reserve] isn't bad... lets you summon an (albeit weak) elemental without using up any resources. Good for if you need easy cannon fodder, or any simple tasks performed.
Ekko 12-28-07, 06:25 PM	If you're not a druid, let us not forget Spontaneous Summoner from Complete Divine. Now you don't have to worry about preparing a bunch of summoning spells. Spontaneous summoner (I believe, I don't own Complete Divine) would also allow a non-druid to take Ashbound and Child of Winter. Just a note.
Watsyurname529 12-28-07, 07:14 PM	One of my PC's right now is playing a Summoner. First, it would be helpful to know what kind of Summoner you are playing/going to play. Either a Druid, Cleric, or Conjurer would be your basic three. Anyway, here are some suggestions: Some all purpose feats: Augment Summon - Good bonus +4 Str & Con Imbue Summoning (Requires Augment Summon) - You may cast a Touch spell of 3rd level or lower on the creature(s) summoned. For example, you could have Bull's Strength cast on them as they are summoned. Uses one spell slot higher than normal. Extend Spell - If you really need long lasting summons Rapid Spell - Make that Full-Round Action a Standard one Druid ones (both from Eberron): Ashbound Summoner - Doubles duration of Summon Nature's Ally, gives a Luck bonus to Attack rolls. Child of Winter - Summon Vermin w/ Summon Nature's Ally More Eberron ones: Dragonmarked Summoner - Summoned Creatures gain a deflection bonus to AC depending on the strength of your dragonmark. Unearthed Arcana for Conjurers (Note: These are class abilities): Rapid Summoning - VERY GOOD. Trade your familiar for the ability to cast Summons as a standard action Spontaneous Summoning - Trade bonus conjuration spells to loose a prepared spell to cast Summon monster of a lower level. Augment Summoning - Trade all bonus feats for enhancements to your summons. Increased Str & Con, harder to dispel. Get Augmented Summoning instead of Scribe Scroll at 1st level. PrC's: Master Speciallist for Conjurers - Gain some decent abilities along with further enhancements to all Conjuration spells, and full spell casting. Malconvoker - Summon Evil creatures and trick them into doing your bidding.
ultimateconjurer 12-28-07, 08:24 PM	If you are a Cleric or a Sorcerer then your best friend is the Malconvoker or the Thurmaturgist if you are just a Cleric. If you are a Wizard or Sorcerer you could get Arcane Disciple and pick the summoner domain. That would allow you to get into Thurmaturgist without having to take augment summoning. I prefer the Alienist personally. You can still get Demons and Angels if you get Fierce Pride of the Beast Lands, Abyssal Army, Hellish Horde, and Heavenly Host. Also Summon Elemental Monolith is handy. As for feats there are always the fillers: Great Fortitude, Lightening Reflexes, Iron Will, and Improved Toughness.