Best creatures for Conjure Ice Beast?

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

volatris

Aug 06, 2009 16:41:51		The conjure ice beast spells, from Frostburn, are gained as free spells known to Frost Mages (at least 1 through 4 are). Assuming Sorcerer entry and no particular focus on summoning, what are the best creatures to create with these spells for the level at which you get them?
  • Conjure Ice Beast I - Character Level 8
  • Conjure Ice Beast II - Character Level 10
  • Conjure Ice Beast III - Character Level 12
  • Conjure Ice Beast IV - Character Level 14

These spells work just like summon monster, but the the created creature (it's creation, not summoning) has the ice beast template (Frostburn, pg. 138), can be chosen from either the summon monster or summon nature's ally lists, and creatures a fixed number of lower level creatures (2 if one level lower, 4 if two levels lower).

Ice beast template in summary:
  • Type change to Construct, Cold subtype. Gains immunity to cold, vulnerability to fire, and Construct traits.
  • Lose Constitution bonus to HP, gain bonus HP (Small = 10, Large = 30, Gargantuan = 60)
  • No Constitution, no Intelligence, Charisma is 1
  • No skills
  • No feats except attack improvements
  • Lose any fly speed
  • Natural armor changes to new value (Small = +2, Large = +6, Gargantuan = +11)
  • Gains a bit of DR/magic.
  • BAB becomes 3/4, saves are 1/3 HD.
  • Lose all special attacks of base creature
  • Gain one of the following special attacks, chosen at casting time:

  • Deal 1d6 cold damage within 10' aura
  • Engulf, creatures one size small make relatively easy Reflex save modified by creature's Strength to avoid being engulfed (pinned inside, 2d6 cold damage/round)
  • Extra 1d6 cold damage on melee attacks
  • Breath weapon doing 1d6 cold damage with easy Reflex save

It seems to me the Engulf option is the best of the special attacks, especially if you have a very big creature with a very high Strength modifier to boost the Reflex save. A good Grapple check would help it maintain the pin. Are there any other particularly clever ways to get the most out of this template?

So what type of summon nature's ally / summon monster creatures go best with this to achieve different objectives considering the late level a Frost Mage acquires these spells?
  • Deal damage
  • Provide flanking
  • Grapple dangerous foes
  • Other "utility" uses

Which creatures get better from applying this template, which get worse?
#2

hogarth

Aug 06, 2009 20:20:59 		My favorites:
lvl 1: wolf, medium centipede (w/ cold aura)
lvl 2: hippogriff, large centipede (aura or engulf)
lvl 3: dire wolf, huge centipede (engulf)
lvl 4: 2 dire wolves, 2 huge centipedes (engulf)

The centipedes are useful for a) extra size=extra hp, and b) climb speed.
#3

ah_andras

Aug 07, 2009 9:43:04 		1- Wolf (aura)
2-2 Wolves
3-Ape (touch); Dire Wolf (Aura), Lion (Touch)
4- Giant Croc (engulf); Dire Ape (touch); Tiger (touch)

The giant croc is brutal at 4th, the ref dc to avoid engulf is 21, and its grapple check is also 21.