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

Summoning

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
johnthedm7000
Aug 14, 2008 16:33:52 With the bag of tricks recently having been previewed, with what looks like sound mechanics-we know it's possible in 4th edition. We have the technology-we can remake it, stronger, faster, more balanced than it was before. Sorry...just had to make that joke.

Seriously though, am I alone in wishing that come the arcane power source book there are some warlock/wizard/sorcerer spells that have a similar effect to the bag of tricks items? Along with perhaps some rituals mimicking the planar binding school of spells in that they require a long casting time, a magic circle, and a period of negotiation between the ritualist and the summoned creature (aka a skill challenge). The cost of such a ritual, along with the bargaining would go a long way towards balancing summoning-along with restricting it to normal monsters or perhaps PC-friendly versions of those same monsters.

What do you guys think?
#2
samyueru
Aug 14, 2008 16:55:23 I personally think they way to balance summoning is to let you only summon minions. Also, make it so that you have to spend your standard action to give the monster in question a Standard, Move, Minor, and Free action (basically a turn). Then the broken starts being cut down. After all, who summons Orcus, then beats people over the head with a sword shouting "And I want my steak PINK IN THE MIDDLE DAMN YOU" at him?
#3
Mist-Bound
Aug 14, 2008 18:14:09 If memory serves, aren't there some planar contact rituals in the newest Dragon article? Off the top of my head, they're merely 'speak with' rituals, but could that be a sign that perhaps they plan to develop actual 'conjuration' type rituals?
#4
johnthedm7000
Aug 14, 2008 19:22:06 Unfortunately there weren't any planar contact or planar binding style rituals in the Dragon mag expansion. That's not to say the rituals in there were bad-they were awesome, but they didn't have the demon/devil/elemental planar binding goodness that I was looking for. The closest thing to planar binding that we've gotten so far is the ritual in the PHB that allows you to speak with a powerful planar creature through means of an illusion and ask it questions. Close, but no cigar.
#5
Nautilus
Aug 19, 2008 23:40:35 I believe summoning will be an option for wizards in Arcane Powers, along with illusions.
#6
johnthedm7000
Aug 20, 2008 0:06:20 Yeah I recently heard that...and am really excited-that alone has sold me on arcane power (well so long as the system is balanced and fun to play with). I hope we get some details on it, or failing that on more magic items that have summoning related mechanics in later previews.
#7
serphet
Aug 20, 2008 0:10:04 bag of tricks will probably be the norm for summoning abilities

that is, spend a Healing surge to summon, it acts after you (in same initative), and you use a minro action to command it (though you use a minor to tell it what to do, so "attack blank" means it will attack that until further notice, thus you dno't lose all minor actions), basically you have a monster base, and the type rolled (or chosen maybe), and apply a creature modifier to that base. (sounds like astral construct actually)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 johnthedm7000 Aug 14, 2008 16:33:52	With the bag of tricks recently having been previewed, with what looks like sound mechanics-we know it's possible in 4th edition. We have the technology-we can remake it, stronger, faster, more balanced than it was before. Sorry...just had to make that joke. Seriously though, am I alone in wishing that come the arcane power source book there are some warlock/wizard/sorcerer spells that have a similar effect to the bag of tricks items? Along with perhaps some rituals mimicking the planar binding school of spells in that they require a long casting time, a magic circle, and a period of negotiation between the ritualist and the summoned creature (aka a skill challenge). The cost of such a ritual, along with the bargaining would go a long way towards balancing summoning-along with restricting it to normal monsters or perhaps PC-friendly versions of those same monsters. What do you guys think?
#2 samyueru Aug 14, 2008 16:55:23	I personally think they way to balance summoning is to let you only summon minions. Also, make it so that you have to spend your standard action to give the monster in question a Standard, Move, Minor, and Free action (basically a turn). Then the broken starts being cut down. After all, who summons Orcus, then beats people over the head with a sword shouting "And I want my steak PINK IN THE MIDDLE DAMN YOU" at him?
#3 Mist-Bound Aug 14, 2008 18:14:09	If memory serves, aren't there some planar contact rituals in the newest Dragon article? Off the top of my head, they're merely 'speak with' rituals, but could that be a sign that perhaps they plan to develop actual 'conjuration' type rituals?
#4 johnthedm7000 Aug 14, 2008 19:22:06	Unfortunately there weren't any planar contact or planar binding style rituals in the Dragon mag expansion. That's not to say the rituals in there were bad-they were awesome, but they didn't have the demon/devil/elemental planar binding goodness that I was looking for. The closest thing to planar binding that we've gotten so far is the ritual in the PHB that allows you to speak with a powerful planar creature through means of an illusion and ask it questions. Close, but no cigar.
#5 Nautilus Aug 19, 2008 23:40:35	I believe summoning will be an option for wizards in Arcane Powers, along with illusions.
#6 johnthedm7000 Aug 20, 2008 0:06:20	Yeah I recently heard that...and am really excited-that alone has sold me on arcane power (well so long as the system is balanced and fun to play with). I hope we get some details on it, or failing that on more magic items that have summoning related mechanics in later previews.
#7 serphet Aug 20, 2008 0:10:04	bag of tricks will probably be the norm for summoning abilities that is, spend a Healing surge to summon, it acts after you (in same initative), and you use a minro action to command it (though you use a minor to tell it what to do, so "attack blank" means it will attack that until further notice, thus you dno't lose all minor actions), basically you have a monster base, and the type rolled (or chosen maybe), and apply a creature modifier to that base. (sounds like astral construct actually)