Is there a way to use Summoned Monster spells effectively?

[Citadel97501]

Hello, I was just wondering if there is a way to continuously summon monsters similar to how a warlock plays with his unlimited SLA's, or at reasonably low levels (level 1 to 3) keeping 1 to 2 monsters summoned out all day?

I am just looking for an interesting idea, that isn't a gish for self buffs but something that plays with utility and what not for summons?

[MeimuHakurei]

Clerics that are evil have the ability to control undead, although you have to be Level 2 to make use of it - namely, you can permanently control undead whose total HD is equal to your turning level, with each individual undead having at most only half that amount. Choosing certain domains allows you to select other types of creatures to control this way (elemental domains, for instance). Additionally, the Planar Ally spells allow you to offer a tribute to an outsider to serve you for a certain task.

[Khedrac]

The reserve feat summon elemental (CM 47) effectively does this for you. You need a 4th or higher level summoning spell available to cast, but you can then summon a small elemental at will which lasts for one round per level of the qualifying spell.

Unfotunately the earliest this comes online is level 7 (4th level spells), but a free elemental is quite powerful out of combat at that level - trapfinding, earthglide/swimming/flying scouting, remote object manipulation, fire-starting etc.
Edit: and to manage it at 7th you need some way of getting a new general feat at 7th - in most games this is likely to be 9th.

[Firest Kathon]

You could port over the Pathfinder Summoner (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/unchained-classes/summoner-unchained/) class (unless you are already playing Pathfinder, then you can just use it :smalltongue:). Their Eidolon class feature is a permanently summoned companion.

[Uncle Pine]

City of Splendors: Waterdeep has the Halaster's Fetch spell line, which works like Summon Monster except that at the end of the duration of the spell (1 round/level) the creature doesn't disappear although it becomes free-willed and outside your control... unless you crank up your diplomatic skill and create your own army of celestial monkeys. :smallbiggrin:

[Elkad]

What if we homebrew it.
Start with a naked caster chassis. Spell progression is either L6, or restricted L9. (leaning towards 6)

Major class feature is the ability to cast Summon Monster at will, but only one in effect at a time. Level of the spell increasing with your level of course.
You start with Summon Monster 0 at will (see PF Summon Minor Monster (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/summon-minor-monster/)), but only get 1 creature (effectively the L0 version). At Lvl2 you get Summon Monster 1 at will, and unlock the next spell every odd level, topping out with Summon Monster IX at L18.

Maybe put a slight spammability restriction on it.
Cast it statmod times, and then have to spend a couple minutes meditating to reset (turning it into an encounter power).

Other fillin features
A summon 3 or more levels below your current top-level is Standard action. 5 or more levels is Swift. 7 or more is Immediate.
Sturdy Summons (dispel resistance).
Aug Summoning (and similar ramping effects).
Scry on summon.
Summon Swarm 1+statmod times a day (at L5?)

How badly can we break this. Tier2? Tier1?

[Andor13]

If you use the Dragon magazine vestiges (https://www.scribd.com/doc/38835505/Tome-of-Magic-Additional-Vestige-Collection-v2-1-2), a binder can do it. Although not at low levels. Desharis and Zceryll will let you animate or summon a minion all day long, but they are both 6th level vestiges, and therefore not available until 12th level.

[Zanos]

A level 3 death master has animate dead for permanent skeletons and zombies, and also gets a skeleton companion thing.

[Particle_Man]

It's not all day and it is very specific in what you get, but "Mount" has a pretty long duration for a low-level spell.