Summoning Spells in Athas - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Summoning Spells in Athas

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Ahglock
Aug 24, 2010 23:40:09 Since Planar Travel is difficult and animals and monsters are different how do summoning spells work. My initial impression is summoning elementals and constructs would be fine, but demons seem difficult, not sure about animals though. Is there anything on this or is it just something the GM figures out on his/her own.
#2
mouthymerc
Aug 25, 2010 6:53:10 Demons are fine as the Elemental Chaos and the Abyss are still around. Animals or creatures would just be changed to a corresponding Dark Sun one. The same thing is done for beastmaster rangers and familiars.
#3
Rustmonster
Aug 25, 2010 10:56:11 Reflavour. It's really not that hard. Just choose something Athasian that fits the mechanics of the summon and off you go.
#4
Duskweaver
Aug 25, 2010 11:29:54 For some reason, I now have the mental image of a wizard's summoned succubus wearing a cheap Halloween mask and pretending to be some sort of primal spirit, making rather unconvincing "rawr!" noises as her summoner makes his Bluff check to pass off his (blatantly obvious) arcane summoning spell as a primal power.

"I can be whoever you want me to be, master..."
"OK, can you be a bear tembo or a wolf kirre or something? Preferably very quickly before anyone smells the brimstone?"
"Oh, master! I didn't realise you were into that sort of thing!"
#5
tavitin
Aug 25, 2010 12:38:53
For some reason, I now have the mental image of a wizard's summoned succubus wearing a cheap Halloween mask and pretending to be some sort of primal spirit, making rather unconvincing "rawr!" noises as her summoner makes his Bluff check to pass off his (blatantly obvious) arcane summoning spell as a primal power.

"I can be whoever you want me to be, master..."
"OK, can you be a bear tembo or a wolf kirre or something? Preferably very quickly before anyone smells the brimstone?"
"Oh, master! I didn't realise you were into that sort of thing!"

I raise my glass to you sir, after coughing half of it in laghter
#6
big_goon
Aug 25, 2010 15:25:16 Many of the Summoning powers wouldn't benefit from Arcane Defiling at all (because they don't make an attack by themselves). Making a Wizard-Demonologist or Elementalist Summoner/Pyromancer would be fun (Defiler or Elemental Priest Themes would be especially appropriate) but the mechanics don't work. So, what what about the following feat-power/boon?

Defiler Summoning
Free Action
Trigger: You cast a Daily Arcane spell with the Summoning keyword and the summoning spell does not make an automatic attack.
Effect: As a free action the summoned creature makes a standard action to attack. All of the summoned creature's allies within a Close Burst 20 take damage equal 1/2 a healing surge (...Defiling).

Hmm... this is a draft, and missing some bits. This means the caster takes damage... I'm not sure I like that. But it's a cool idea, no?
#7
Duskweaver
Aug 25, 2010 16:02:54
Many of the Summoning powers wouldn't benefit from Arcane Defiling at all (because they don't make an attack by themselves).

I think you are wrong there.

The trigger for Arcane Defiling is: "You make an attack roll or a damage roll as part of an arcane daily attack power."

You're still making attack and damage rolls when you attack with your summoned creatures. A summoned creature's attacks are part of the daily power used to summon it. So Arcane Defiling works fine.

The only slightly weird thing is that you're going to be sucking the life out of your summoned creature to boost its attack.

EDIT: Actually, I'm not sure about that last point. Arcane Defiling does necrotic damage equal to half the ally's healing surge value, but summoned creatures don't have any surges and don't technically have a healing surge value. So would a summoned creature actually take any damage when defiled?
#8
big_goon
Aug 25, 2010 16:30:02 I thought it was the opposite of what you said: I believe the attack made by the summoned creature is separate from your Arcane Daily because it's a separate Standard Action. The Daily Attack power is the summoning itself.

Also, it would seem that the Summoned creature would take damage based on one of your surges. Summoned creatures say that they don't have healing surges, but they have a healing surge value. That value should be equal to your healing surge value. Since they are considered an ally, they would take damage.

... I don't have any references at all for this, but that seems to be the "most obvious" ruling. Of course, I've been wrong many times before... uhg, the ruling for Summoning is very hacked.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Ahglock Aug 24, 2010 23:40:09	Since Planar Travel is difficult and animals and monsters are different how do summoning spells work. My initial impression is summoning elementals and constructs would be fine, but demons seem difficult, not sure about animals though. Is there anything on this or is it just something the GM figures out on his/her own.
#2 mouthymerc Aug 25, 2010 6:53:10	Demons are fine as the Elemental Chaos and the Abyss are still around. Animals or creatures would just be changed to a corresponding Dark Sun one. The same thing is done for beastmaster rangers and familiars.
#3 Rustmonster Aug 25, 2010 10:56:11	Reflavour. It's really not that hard. Just choose something Athasian that fits the mechanics of the summon and off you go.
#4 Duskweaver Aug 25, 2010 11:29:54	For some reason, I now have the mental image of a wizard's summoned succubus wearing a cheap Halloween mask and pretending to be some sort of primal spirit, making rather unconvincing "rawr!" noises as her summoner makes his Bluff check to pass off his (blatantly obvious) arcane summoning spell as a primal power. "I can be whoever you want me to be, master..." "OK, can you be a bear tembo or a wolf kirre or something? Preferably very quickly before anyone smells the brimstone?" "Oh, master! I didn't realise you were into that sort of thing!"
#5 tavitin Aug 25, 2010 12:38:53	For some reason, I now have the mental image of a wizard's summoned succubus wearing a cheap Halloween mask and pretending to be some sort of primal spirit, making rather unconvincing "rawr!" noises as her summoner makes his Bluff check to pass off his (blatantly obvious) arcane summoning spell as a primal power. "I can be whoever you want me to be, master..." "OK, can you be a bear tembo or a wolf kirre or something? Preferably very quickly before anyone smells the brimstone?" "Oh, master! I didn't realise you were into that sort of thing!" I raise my glass to you sir, after coughing half of it in laghter
#6 big_goon Aug 25, 2010 15:25:16	Many of the Summoning powers wouldn't benefit from Arcane Defiling at all (because they don't make an attack by themselves). Making a Wizard-Demonologist or Elementalist Summoner/Pyromancer would be fun (Defiler or Elemental Priest Themes would be especially appropriate) but the mechanics don't work. So, what what about the following feat-power/boon? Defiler Summoning Free Action Trigger: You cast a Daily Arcane spell with the Summoning keyword and the summoning spell does not make an automatic attack. Effect: As a free action the summoned creature makes a standard action to attack. All of the summoned creature's allies within a Close Burst 20 take damage equal 1/2 a healing surge (...Defiling). Hmm... this is a draft, and missing some bits. This means the caster takes damage... I'm not sure I like that. But it's a cool idea, no?
#7 Duskweaver Aug 25, 2010 16:02:54	Many of the Summoning powers wouldn't benefit from Arcane Defiling at all (because they don't make an attack by themselves). I think you are wrong there. The trigger for Arcane Defiling is: "You make an attack roll or a damage roll as part of an arcane daily attack power." You're still making attack and damage rolls when you attack with your summoned creatures. A summoned creature's attacks are part of the daily power used to summon it. So Arcane Defiling works fine. The only slightly weird thing is that you're going to be sucking the life out of your summoned creature to boost its attack. EDIT: Actually, I'm not sure about that last point. Arcane Defiling does necrotic damage equal to half the ally's healing surge value, but summoned creatures don't have any surges and don't technically have a healing surge value. So would a summoned creature actually take any damage when defiled?
#8 big_goon Aug 25, 2010 16:30:02	I thought it was the opposite of what you said: I believe the attack made by the summoned creature is separate from your Arcane Daily because it's a separate Standard Action. The Daily Attack power is the summoning itself. Also, it would seem that the Summoned creature would take damage based on one of your surges. Summoned creatures say that they don't have healing surges, but they have a healing surge value. That value should be equal to your healing surge value. Since they are considered an ally, they would take damage. ... I don't have any references at all for this, but that seems to be the "most obvious" ruling. Of course, I've been wrong many times before... uhg, the ruling for Summoning is very hacked.