Best Spells/Feats for Arcane Summoner?

[Aemoh87]

I am building up a quick arcane summoner and I was wondering what the best feats and spells are. Maybe even some prestige class ideas. This character will be Chaotic Evil fyi.

[HunterOfJello]

Is this for a wizard? Sorcerer? Homebrew Summoner class?


If it was a druid I would suggest Ashbound as a low level feat. It can be taken by a Dragonwrought Kobold Sorcerer also, by using some true dragon and Eberron shenanigans.


Otherwise the Spell Focus (conjuration) -> Augment Summoning -> Imbue Summoning spell line is pretty good.

That feat chain works well with Sorcerers who have Versatile Spellcaster.

~

If you're playing a Wizard, there's a wizard variant where you can get Augment Summoning as an alternate class feature at level 1. I forget what you have to give up for it, but the source is Unearthed Arcana.

[Dead_Jester]

I am building up a quick arcane summoner and I was wondering what the best feats and spells are. Maybe even some prestige class ideas. This character will be Chaotic Evil fyi.

Malconvoker is always good, although RAW you can't be evil (for the love of god, I never understood why people who use fiends for their own purposes can't also be evil...)

You might also want to check out the Focuses Specialist PrC, and the Rapid Summoning ACF for more summoning goodness.

As for feats, the standard conjuration focus/augmented summoning is great, but unless you're a Druid, then you can't really use the really good stuff (read, the OP things...)

As for items, the Ring of Mighty summons is worth mentioning.

For more stuff, you can always look through the old Summoning Handbook (http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19864066/Summoning_Handbook)

[Akal Saris]

I like the Summon Elemental feat from Complete Mage, you can take it at 8th or 9th level. Very flexible tool.

Otherwise, Augment Summoning is the only real no-brainer, aside from finding a way to cast Summon spells as a standard action rather than 1 round.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

The Rapid Summoning (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/specialistWizardVariants.htm#conjurerVariants) ACF for Conjuration specialist Wizards should be at the top of your list. Enhanced Summoning at that same link is also a pretty good choice, unless you're using Martial Wizard (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#wizard) to get Improved Initiative at level 1.

Get a Hummingbird familiar, it gives you +4 initiative. Go with an Elf subrace, preferably Gray Elf, and take the Elf Wizard 3 racial substitution level to double the bonus your familiar grants, making that +8 initiative. With Improved Initiative and the spell Nerveskitter that's a +17 bonus without even counting your Dex bonus.

Master Specialist in Complete Mage is pretty good. As an evil character, pick up Arcane Disciple (CD) for the Lust domain (SC) and you can ban Enchantment and still dip one level of Mindbender, then take Thaumaturgist (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/thaumaturgist.htm). For an evil planar cohort I'd get a Ghaele Eladrin with the Corrupt Creature template (BoVD), if your DM will even let something that silly happen.

[Hober Mallow]

One feat to add to the list is "Beckon the Frozen" from Frostburn.

Gives summoned creatures the cold subtype, but the good news is +D6 damage to all their natural attacks.

The pre-req is Augment Summoning and Spell Focus conjuration.

It's very important to get some way of summoning as a standard action. I've seen full round summoners get hammered because they are immediately targeted for ranged attacks and dispels, whilst they are casting, to interrupt their spell.

[Vladislav]

The Rapid Summoning (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/specialistWizardVariants.htm#conjurerVariants) ACF for Conjuration specialist Wizards should be at the top of your list. Enhanced Summoning at that same link is also a pretty good choice, unless you're using Martial Wizard (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#wizard) to get Improved Initiative at level 1.

Get a Hummingbird familiar, it gives you +4 initiative....

Alas, doesn't work.


Rapid Summoning (Ex)

...
A conjurer using this variant permanently gives up the ability to obtain a familiar.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

There's a feat called Obtain Familiar in Complete Arcane, which would actually be worth getting if you get +8 initiative out of it.