Expanding Summon Nature's Ally

[molten_dragon]

As various splatbooks have come out, several of the new monsters added to the game have been put on the Summon Monster list. Summon Nature's Ally though, has been almost completely neglected. It got a couple creatures added through the Fiend Folio, a handful more from Stormwrack (although they aren't really added, since they replace other creatures on the list), and a single group of monsters (storm elementals) in MM3.

I'd like this thread to be devoted to improving Summon Nature's ally, both by adding new creatures, and if necessary, changing the level of some of the creatures already on the list (or removing them altogether). If you're going to suggest creatures, please make sure they fit thematically, and please suggest which level of SNA they should go under.

Below is the list of RAW creatures that can be summoned with the various SNA spells for reference. The next post in this thread will be to keep the edited list.

Books I've looked through so far: MM1, MM2, MM3, MM4, MM5, Arms and equipment guide, Book of exalted deeds, Book of vile darkness, Cityscape, Complete adventurer, Complete arcane, Complete champion, Complete divine, Complete mage, Complete scoundrel, Complete warrior, Draconomicon, Dragon magic, drow of the underdark, DMG1, DMG2, Dungeonscape, exemplars of evil, fiend folio, Fiendish Codex 1 and 2, Frostburn, Heroes of battle, heroes of horror, libris mortis, lords of madness, MiC, Magic of incarnum, miniatures handbook, planar handbook, PHB 1 and 2, races of destiny, races of stone, races of the dragon, races of the wild, sandstorm, savage species, spell compendium.

Summon Natures Ally 1
Dire Rat
Eagle
Monkey
Octopus
Owl
Porpoise
Small Viper
Wolf
Hippocampus (replace wolf) - stormwrack

Summon Nature’s Ally 2
Black Bear
Crocodile
Dire badger
Dire bat
Small Elemental
Hippogriff
Medium shark
Medium viper
Squid
Wolverine

Summon Nature’s Ally 3
Ape
Dire weasel
Dire wolf
Dire eel (replace dire wolf) - Stormwrack
Giant eagle
Lion
Giant owl
Satyr (without pipes)
Large shark
Constrictor snake
Large viper
Thoqqua
Small storm elemental

Summon Nature’s Ally 4
Juvenile arrowhawk
Brown bear
Giant crocodile
Deinonychus
Dire ape
Dire boar
Dire barracuda (replace dire boar) - Stormwrack
Dire wolverine
Medium elemental
Flamebrother salamander
Sea cat
Huge shark
Huge viper
Tiger
Juvenile tojanida
Unicorn
Minor xorn
Bloodthorn - fiend folio
Yellow musk creeper - fiend folio

Summon Nature’s Ally 5
Adult arrowhawk
Polar bear
Dire lion
Elasmosaurus
Large elemental
Elementite Swarm (replace large elemental) - Planar handbook
Griffon
Janni
Rhinoceros
Ichthyosaur (replace rhino) - stormwrack
Satyr (with pipes)
Giant constrictor snake
Nixie
Adult tojanida
Orca whale
Fossrgrim - fiend folio
Medium storm elemental

Summon Nature’s Ally 6
Dire bear
Huge elemental
Elephant
Girallon
Megaraptor
Archelon (replace megaraptor) - stormwrack
Giant octopus
Pixie (no special arrows)
Average salamander
Baleen whale
Average xorn
Oread - fiend folio
Spriggan - fiend folio
Large storm elemental

Summon Nature’s Ally 7
Elder arrowhawk
Dire tiger
Greater elemental
Caller from the deeps (replace greater elemental) - stormwrack
Djinni
Invisible stalker
Pixie (with sleep arrows)
Giant squid
Triceratops
Tyrannosaurus
Cachalot whale
Elder xorn
Dire rhino - fiend folio
Kelp angler - fiend folio
Huge storm elemental

Summon Nature’s Ally 8
Dire shark
Roc
Noble salamander
Mosasaur (replace noble salamander) - stormwrack
Elder tojanida
Sporebat - fiend folio
Greater storm elemental

Summon Nature’s Ally 9
Elder elemental
Grig (with fiddle)
Pixie (with sleep and memory loss arrows)
Celestial charger unicorn
Plesiosaur (replace celestial charger) - stormwrack
Kelpie - fiend folio
Octopus tree - fiend folio

[molten_dragon]

Okay, here's the list so far. Monsters that come from anywhere but the Monster Manual have a notation for what book they're from

Summon Natures Ally 1
Dire Rat
Eagle
Baboon
Octopus
Owl
Porpoise
Small Viper
Wolf
Badger
Manta Ray
Caribou - frostburn
Seal - frostburn
Brixashulty - Races of the wild
Chordevoc - Races of the wild
Serval - Sandstorm

Summon Nature’s Ally 2
Black Bear
Crocodile
Dire badger
Dire bat
Small Elemental
Small paraelemental - Manual of the planes
Hippogriff
Medium shark
Medium viper
Squid
Wolverine
Hippocampus - Stormwrack
Boar
Cheetah
Leopard
Monitor Lizard
Swindlespitter - MM3
Sailsnake - MM4
Walrus - frostburn
Dire jackal - Sandstorm

Summon Nature’s Ally 3
Ape
Dire weasel
Dire wolf
Dire eel - Stormwrack
Giant eagle
Lion
Giant owl
Satyr (without pipes)
Large shark
Constrictor snake
Large viper
Thoqqua
Small storm elemental - MM3
Bison
Cryptoclidus - MM2
Dire toad - MM2
Dire hawk - MM2
Fleshraker - MM3
Wizened elder - MM4
Dire eagle - Races of stone
Protoceratops - Sandstorm

Summon Nature’s Ally 4
Juvenile arrowhawk
Brown bear
Giant crocodile
Deinonychus
Dire ape
Dire boar
Dire barracuda - Stormwrack
Dire wolverine
Medium elemental
Medium paraelemental - Manual of the planes
Flamebrother salamander
Sea cat
Huge shark
Huge viper
Tiger
Juvenile tojanida
Unicorn
Minor xorn
Bloodthorn - fiend folio
Yellow musk creeper - fiend folio
Spriggan - Fiend Folio
Assassin Vine
Owlbear
Dire snake - MM2
Thorn - MM3
Wood woad - MM3
Megaloceros - frostburn
magma hurler - Mini HB
Dire puma - Sandstorm
Dire vulture - Sandstorm

Summon Nature’s Ally 5
Adult arrowhawk
Polar bear
Dire lion
Large elemental
Large paraelemental - Manual of the planes
Griffon
Janni
Rhinoceros
Ichthyosaur - stormwrack
Satyr (with pipes)
Giant constrictor snake
Adult tojanida
Orca whale
Fossrgrim - fiend folio
Vine Horror - Fiend folio
Medium storm elemental - MM3
Sea tiger - MM3
Bloodstriker - MM3
Verdant reaver - MM5
Glyptodon - frostburn
Smilodon - frostburn
Cave ankylosaurus - Mini HB
Cave Triceratops - Mini HB
Cave Tyrannosaurus - Mini HB
Elementite Swarm - Planar Handbook
Diprotodon - Sandstorm
Hippopotamus - Sandstorm

Summon Nature’s Ally 6
Dire bear
Huge elemental
Huge paraelemental - Manual of the planes
Elephant
Girallon
Megaraptor
Archelon - stormwrack
Giant octopus
Average salamander
Baleen whale
Average xorn
Oread - fiend folio
Large storm elemental - MM3
Elasmosaurus
Tendriculos
Allosaurus - MM2
Ankylosaurus - MM2
Quetzalcoatlus - MM2
Dire elk - MM2
Legendary eagle - MM2
Legendary ape - MM2
Bearhound - MM3
Briarvex - MM4
Vinespawn - MM5
Djinni
Ironthorn - Sandstorm

Summon Nature’s Ally 7
Elder arrowhawk
Dire tiger
Greater elemental
Greater paraelemental - Manual of the planes
Caller from the deeps - stormwrack
Invisible stalker
Giant squid
Triceratops
Tyrannosaurus
Cachalot whale
Elder xorn
Dire rhino - fiend folio
Kelp angler - fiend folio
Huge storm elemental - MM3
Treant
Forest sloth - MM2
Legendary wolf - MM2
Legendary snake - MM2
Red sundew - MM2
Mastodon - MM3
Warbound impaler - MM3
Burrow root - MM5
Indricothere - Fiend Folio
Megatherium - Fiend folio
Wooly mammoth - frostburn
Zeuglodon - frostburn
Qorrashi - frostburn
Dire tortoise - Sandstorm
Saguaro Sentinel - Sandstorm

Summon Nature’s Ally 8
Dire shark
Roc
Noble salamander
Mosasaur - stormwrack
Elder tojanida
Sporebat - fiend folio
Greater storm elemental - MM3
Nymph
Greenvise - MM2
Legendary bear - MM2
Oaken Defender - MM4
Dire polar bear - frostburn

Summon Nature’s Ally 9
Elder elemental
Elder paraelemental - Manual of the planes
Celestial charger unicorn
Plesiosaur - stormwrack
Kelpie - fiend folio
Octopus tree - fiend folio
Spinosaurus - MM2
Dire elephant - MM2
Legendary tiger - MM2
Night twist - MM3
Verdant Prince - MM4
Ironmaw - Fiend folio
Tlalusk - Frostburn

[molten_dragon]

Here I've started an analysis of what sorts of creatures are on the SNA list, and rough power levels of each level of the spell.

The summon nature's ally spell summons 'natural' creatures. These mainly fall into the animal type, with a few elementals, fey, magical beasts (all of which are basically fantasy animals, such as the griffon or girallon), and plants (all of which come from fiend folio, there are no core plant summons) to round out the lists.

Power levels
I realize that CR is not the best metric by which to judge a creature's power, however it is one of the quickest and easiest ways to do so, so initially that's how I'll be judging what level spell a critter should fall under. If a good argument can be made for putting a creature in a different level because it is over/under CR'd, I'll do so. Below are the CR's of the creatures on the SNA list by RAW.

SNA 1: Under CR 1, with two exceptions (wolf CR 1, and Hippocampus CR 2)

SNA 2: CR 1 and 2

SNA 3: CR 2 and 3

SNA 4: CR 3 and 4

SNA 5: Mainly CR 4 and 5 with a couple exceptions (Elasmosaurus CR 7, Ichthyosaur CR 6, and Nixie CR 1)

SNA 6: Mainly CR 6 and 7, with a couple aquatic CR 8's, Pixie with no special arrows (less than 4), and spriggan at CR 3

SNA 7: Mainly CR 8 and 9, with a couple CR 8's, and Pixie with sleep arrows (again less than 4)

SNA 8: CR 9 and 10

SNA 9: CR 10 - CR 13 with pixie (both special arrows) at CR 4 and grig at CR 1.

[molten_dragon]

So before I start combing books looking for new creatures to add, I thought I'd take a look at the ones on the list and see if any of them don't fit well.

First off, I don't see the point in the stormwrack creatures that get added to the list by replacing something else. I think it's better to just add them to the list and be done with it. However, if someone can make a good argument for the replacement mechanic, I'll listen.

That being said, the first standout I see is the Monkey. The weakest critter (CR 1/6) on the level 1 list, it seems like it would be better replaced by the baboon (CR 1/2)

The next is the Hippocampus, which with a CR of 2, 25 hit points, and 2 natural attacks at +5 and +0, seems to fit much better on the level 2 list.

Next is the elasmosaurus. While it's probably borderline, it seems like it fits better in SNA 6 than SNA 5.

Then we get to the nixie. I'm really not sure who in their right mind thought that this thing was powerful enough to be on the SNA 5 list. It's CR 1, with 3 hit points, an AC of 14, and anemic attacks. It does have DR 5/cold iron, and SR 16, and a 3/day charm person ability with a DC of 15, but I would maybe put this thing on the SNA 3 list at most. Possibly SNA 2, although the charm person ability at that level would probably be a bit overpowered. I'm tempted to just remove it altogether though.

Next up, the Pixie, which shows up on three of the lists. It has greater invisibility at will, spell resistance 15, DR 10/cold iron, and a list of fairly impressive spell like abilities (including polymorph). However, it also has 3 hit points. Honestly, I think it might be best to just remove the pixie from the list.

Spriggans are interesting monsters, but I see nothing about them that really justifies them being on the level 6 list. Level 4 seems a better fit (they don't do any more damage in either form than something like a brown bear, and their spell like abilities are no more powerful than something like a unicorn)

And finally the Grig. A CR 1 monster shows up on the Summon Nature's Ally 9 list. Its defenses aren't even as good as a pixie's, and the only thing it really has going for it is Otto's Irresistible dance, but that has a save DC of 12. Just take it off the list.

[molten_dragon]

Starting with added creatures from the MM1. There are several plants and fey, and oddly enough a few animals not on the list.

Assassin Vine - CR 3, probably fits on SNA 4. Not as good of a grappler or damage dealer as the brown bear or giant crocodile, but plant traits, and the ability to use entangle at will make it competitive.

Nymph - CR 7, but with level 7 druid spellcasting, and some very nice spell-like abilities. Power-wise, it probably falls slightly behind the celestial charger, so I'd put it at SNA 8 (which helps flesh that list out a bit)

Owlbear - CR 4, and fits quite well with the other SNA 4 creatures.

Tendriculos - CR 6, but a fantastic grappler, with a very nasty swallow whole ability. Less powerful than some of the CR 7's (tyrannosaur for example) and roughly on par with the dire bear, so call it SNA 6.

Treant - CR 8, slightly less powerful than most of the SNA 6 creatures by itself due to relatively weak attacks and low hit points. However due to its animate trees ability, you're going to get 3 of them, so I think it fits decently well at SNA 7.

Then we get to animals. Several from the MM were left off the list for some reason.

Badger - odd since dire badger is on the list. A solid addition to SNA 1.

Bison - CR 2, which is quite low given its damage-dealing ability and high hit-points. If fits quite well with other SNA 3 creatures such as ape, dire wolf, and lion.

Boar - also CR 2, but weaker than the bison. Solid SNA 2

Cheetah - another solid entry for SNA 2

Leopard - Fits well with other SNA 2 critters

Monitor lizard - another one for SNA 2

Manta ray - It's got a lot of hit points, but not much else, I'd probably put it at SNA 1.

[molten_dragon]

Have now gone through several other books and added a bunch of new creatures. At the moment I've gone through most of the core 3.5 and 3.0 books. I haven't yet started on any campaign setting material, and I may have missed a couple core books.

[Debihuman]

The only reason for substituting the creatures from Stormwrack is that most of the standard creatures aren't suitable for non-aquatic campaigns. Since you can't summon a creature in an inappropriate environment in the first place, it's a rather lame excuse. I say add them instead.

Apparently WotC never defined what a "natural" creature was. Since you can summon a hippogriff or elemental with SNA II, there's probably no reason that you couldn't summon an owlbear. It could be WotC thought that by speculating that a "demented wizard" create the first one that somehow owlbears aren't "natural." I'm not sure it is possible to define a "natural" creature in D&D terms other than by prohibiting Undead and Constructs.

Debby

[blackjack217]

The only reason for substituting the creatures from Stormwrack is that most of the standard creatures aren't suitable for non-aquatic campaigns. Since you can't summon a creature in an inappropriate environment in the first place, it's a rather lame excuse. I say add them instead.

Apparently WotC never defined what a "natural" creature was. Since you can summon a hippogriff or elemental with SNA II, there's probably no reason that you couldn't summon an owlbear. It could be WotC thought that by speculating that a "demented wizard" create the first one that somehow owlbears aren't "natural." I'm not sure it is possible to define a "natural" creature in D&D terms other than by prohibiting Undead and Constructs.

Debby

No undead, no constructs nothing from the outer planes (aka no demons/devils/angels/archons ect.)

[Talya]

Seems to me, that Fiend Folio takes the brokenly overpowered druid class, and then at level 11 takes the broken shards of your game and proceeds to split them at the atomic level.

Seriously...who's idea was it to make SNA VI (which a druid can cast at 11) able to summon a fey creature (the mountain nymph known as an Oread) that can cast a big pile of Spell Like Abilities, including Earthquake - a level 8 druid spell - with CL14?


No undead, no constructs nothing from the outer planes (aka no demons/devils/angels/archons ect.)

I would not call this a hard and fast rule; even Core SNA has the Celestial Charger (SNAIX) (Celestial creatures sound outer-planes-ish). I would possibly make a case for some Eladrin (the Fey-Celestial Outsiders of 3e, not the elves of 4e) belonging on the SNA list.

[Debihuman]

Amend it to no Constructs, no Undead and no Outsiders.

Extraplanar creatures aren't necessarily Outsiders. As mentioned before, the celestial charger is Magical Beast with the Extraplanar Subtype.

Eladrin is Subtype in 3.5. However, in the MM3.5 the brilani and ghaele are Outsiders so they would not be able to be summoned by SNA.

Debby

[ShriekingDrake]

This is a fantastic resource that would make a nice handbook. Thanks so much for putting this together.

It would be worth a moment's glance at Dragon Magazine 302, which has a nice article on expanding summoning lists, including examples of expanding SNA. I think you'd appreciate it.

[backpackjack]

It might be good to delve into some of the setting-specific books. I think we could expand the list more.

[ShriekingDrake]

Here are some Eberron Monsters to consider for SNA. I've listed the CR but I'll leave it to better heads to assist with the appropriate SNA level.


EBERRON CAMPAIGN SETTING
Clawfoot, Dinosaur CR2
Fastieth, Dinosaur CR ½
Glidewing, Dinosaur CR3
Horrid Ape CR4
Horrid Rat CR1
Valnear Riding Horse CR1
Magebred Heavy Horse CR1

FIVE NATIONS
Dragonhawk, CR6
Magebred Brown Bear CR4
Magebred Ghost Tiger CR4

SECRETS OF XEN’DRIK
Jungle Giant CR8 (?)

FORGE OF WAR
Mistling Dryad CR5

[backpackjack]

Those are good ones from Eberron. Are those the only books you checked or should I be looking through other books?

I was also thinking that we might add to the list creatures like Boggles from MMII (probably CR'ed right, which is uncommon for MMII). To me they're more like fey then monstrous humanoids and they have interesting abilities which could make for good role-playing in some circumstances.

BPJ

[ShriekingDrake]

I looked through most of the Eberron products, but I'm sure I overlooked good options.

I had never thought about Boggles this way. But I LIKE IT. Going forward, in my world, boggles are now fey!!

[backpackjack]

What about Phantom Fungus (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/phantomFungus.htm), which seems like a no brainer to me. And it spices up the list a little. I mean, who couldn't find uses for an invisible four-legged fungus?

BPJ

[molten_dragon]

Here are some Eberron Monsters to consider for SNA. I've listed the CR but I'll leave it to better heads to assist with the appropriate SNA level.


EBERRON CAMPAIGN SETTING
Clawfoot, Dinosaur CR2
Fastieth, Dinosaur CR ½
Glidewing, Dinosaur CR3
Horrid Ape CR4
Horrid Rat CR1
Valnear Riding Horse CR1
Magebred Heavy Horse CR1

FIVE NATIONS
Dragonhawk, CR6
Magebred Brown Bear CR4
Magebred Ghost Tiger CR4

SECRETS OF XEN’DRIK
Jungle Giant CR8 (?)

FORGE OF WAR
Mistling Dryad CR5

It's been a long time since I last looked at this thread, and I see there have been some new posts. I can try to sort these by CR, but I don't have access to all the books in question to do a real good analysis of all the critters added.

[ShriekingDrake]

Did anyone ever look through the Faerun books?

[DracoDei]

Well, I do have one homebrew I added to the SNA lists, although I did require sword-sage levels (you can remove that requirement), and it is only for humor campaigns.
Tittering Brick Squirrels (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140707)

[DracoDei]

I would also search around the forums and see if you can find a skunk you like. I know Vorpal Tribble had one.

If you don't find one that suits you, I might be able to find a print copy of one I wrote out in MS Word before I had even heard of GitP. Plus dire skunks.