[3.5] Summoning Focused Sorcerer Advice

[RFLS]

Hey, Playground! I was hoping for some advice on a character I'm making for a game that's about to start. The game is starting at level 25, with no Epic spellcasting on the table. The character I've been working on is going to be all about the summoning and controlling of evil monsters, making pacts with devils and demons that he doesn't intend to keep, etc. Build-wise, he's Binder 1/Sorcerer 4/Anima Mage 10/Mindbender 1/Malconvoker 9. I'm pretty set on those classes, I think. What I'm having a hard time with is picking feats and spells. So, questions:


What would be some good feats (aside from the obvious, such as Extend Spell) ?
Apart from the Planar Binding line and Summon Monster I-IX,what should I be looking at for spells?
Any good vestiges to bind for a summoner?
Any other advice? This is my first foray into playing a high level full-caster.

[Spuddles]

Rashemi Elemental Summoning for buffer air and earth elementals.

Nexus Method gets you all Summon Monster spells I-IX.

Both are from campaign settings, though.

Actually binding Zyrcell gets you summon monster with pseudonatur template.

[RFLS]

Hmm....I like Rashemi Elemental Summoning, but I can't use Nexus Method (sorcerer, not wizard). Zycell looks really, really nice. Definitely using that.

Anything for someone focused on summoning demons/devils in particular?

[Psyren]

1) Take the Metamagic Specialist Sorcerer ACF from PHB2 - this will let you, 3+Int times per day, apply metamagic to your spells without increasing the casting time. You can then get your familiar back with the Obtain Familiar feat, which is better anyway since that version stacks with your caster level instead of your sorcerer level.

2) Take the Rapid Spell feat as well so you can summon as a standard action if you need to. Combine with Metamagic School Focus (Conjuration) and you can cast 3 Rapid Spells per day for free.

[Urpriest]

1) Take the Metamagic Specialist Sorcerer ACF from PHB2 - this will let you, 3+Int times per day, apply metamagic to your spells without increasing the casting time. You can then get your familiar back with the Obtain Familiar feat, which is better anyway since that version stacks with your caster level instead of your sorcerer level.


At this level, wouldn't the Rapid Metamagic feat be a better choice?

Anyway, definitely don't pick up Summon Monster I. Fill your low level spells known with buffs and Quicken fodder, and only learn the highest few levels of Summon Monster.

[Psyren]

SMI has its uses though. Celestial monkeys can turn latches and open chests for instance.


At this level, wouldn't the Rapid Metamagic feat be a better choice?

You can easily get both, but yeah I had forgot that one.

[RFLS]

SMI has its uses though. Celestial monkeys can turn latches and open chests for instance.

You can easily get both, but yeah I had forgot that one.

Is there any reason to have both? I can't see one; it looks like the feat is strictly better than the ACF, and I can definitely (should definitely) trade out the familiar for something else.

[Karnith]

Is there any reason to have both? I can't see one; it looks like the feat is strictly better than the ACF, and I can definitely (should definitely) trade out the familiar for something else.
There are Arcane Spellsurge tricks that will become unavailable to you with Rapid Metamagic (since Rapid Metamagic applies to all of your spells). It shouldn't affect you too much as a summoner, since your bread-and-butter spells have full round casting times anyway.

There isn't really a reason to have both, though.

[Spuddles]

You are going to have a buttload of wealth, which will let you get all the spells you would want via WBL. The ancestral relic: runestaff would be great if you were good. Anima Mage suggests that you are not. Could a Hellbred take levels in Anima Mage and not be evil? I cant remember how that race works.

Runestaff, Knowstones, and Drakeshelm all provide ways to know more spells. Pathfinder's Page of Spell Knowledge are probably the cheapest method.

Can you use chaos shuffle? Level 25, you only have 2 epic feats. It'd be nice to have more, as some epic feats are amazing.


SMI has its uses though. Celestial monkeys can turn latches and open chests for instance.

At level 25? I feel like there are better ways. Unseen Servant Horde lasts 25 hours and can lift an averag of 160lbs and comes with 32 "hands".

[RFLS]

I technically have access to Chaos Shuffle, but I feel that it would tip over the DM's optimization line, sadly. As for the SMI thing, I think I might pick it up with a knowstone. In character, it definitely doesn't make sense to not have access to the spell, but I see the point about wasting the slot.

[Psyren]

At level 25? I feel like there are better ways. Unseen Servant Horde lasts 25 hours and can lift an averag of 160lbs and comes with 32 "hands".

You have those 1st-level slots anyway regardless though. You may as well summon disposable monkeys with them.

[Spuddles]

You have those 1st-level slots anyway regardless though. You may as well summon disposable monkeys with them.

I would rather have first level spells known for Magecraft, Appraising Touch, and other similar, +skill spells. Being able to summon angelmonkey for a couple minutes whenever you need him is also pretty awesome, really. Especially if you use the variant where you summon the same monster every time.

"Now angelmonkey, what was it that killed you in the Room of Deadly Traps? Poison Gas? A fusillade of darts? a fireball?"