Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Dinin13 Sep 02, 2015 18:47:30	I was a big fan of the Monster Summoning spells from the 1st and 2nd edition, and while making a Conjurer NPC, I found that there is nothing like them in 5th. I was wondering if a version of this spell has appeared in the campaign books? If not, I have already used the rules for creating new spells in the DM's guide to convert it to 5th, just wondering if it may have appeared in any of the supplemental books, then I might have to go get it.
#2 WorBlade Sep 02, 2015 22:32:50	I have not seen anything beyond the few spells in the PHB. I assume it was a meta rules decision along the "streamlining" theme to reduce the number of random critters that get tossed into combats that the Dm needs to be aware of in a melee.
#3 Mechatarrasque Sep 03, 2015 8:50:35	I think they were trying to solve the "there is a cool new monster in Monster Manual III, can I summon it?" problem by making the conjure spells based on criteria instead of a set list of monsters.  I have to admit it is a much more elegant solution than "take a feat, get more monsters added to the summon spells" that 3/3.5 and Pathfinder (or at least 3PP serving them) do.  The issue is that those spells don't really kick in until a PC gets 4th level spells (conjure minor elementals, woodland beings, and animals), which means that at low levels, the only "monster summoner" option is being a chain warlock (and in that case, your familiar isn't a particularly good combat option compared to the warlock's other abilities).  Also, in 5e a lot of buff spells are concentration and I think all the conjure spells are, so 1 PC can't do both at once.  The unfairly maligned planar ally is not a concentration spell in 5e (it just takes a spell slot and a lot of gold), which makes the cleric (and bard via magic secrets) the best "old school" monster summoner prior to 17th level.  Planar Ally is unfortunately a 6th level spell.   I would recommend this progression for lower level casting:   level 1 spell:  1 monster of CR 1/4 or lower level 2 spell:  1 monster of CR 1/2 or lower level 3 spell :  1 monster of CR 1 or lower  at level 4 spell casting, they can take conjure minor elementals/woodland beings/animals depending on class:  1 monster of CR 2 or multiple lower monsters
#4 Dinin13 Sep 18, 2015 22:31:26	Thanks for the suggestion.
#5 Krusk Sep 23, 2015 15:44:10	hordes of dudes breaks 5e pretty quick, so its pretty much not allowed. hiring like 10 dudes with bows can be enough to end most encounters thanks to bonded accuracy.    Your best/only bet in 5e is to learn how to charm people via magic into following you, or to take animate dead and make some skeletons who follow you. No real summoning but this is kind of like it.