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Roythebattousai
2008-03-24, 03:17 PM
I dunno, like... If my character was to die sometime soon(altogether possible.)... I'd reroll a new one... but... What would I be?

I don't want to be something conventional, like a Fighter....
But I want to be something useful still.

So I was wondering if there was any class that... could just like... summon beasts from the depths of an alternate plane of reality.

I dunno... Open gates and bring forth, lesser fire elementals, Ice Elementals, Greater Storm Elementals, etc.

Is this in existence? or am I just daydreaming.

If I am, then I might just end up being a Tinker Gnome.:smallbiggrin:

Proven_Paradox
2008-03-24, 03:24 PM
If you want to summon, the best way to go is almost certainly druid. If you're more focused on arcane, however, you might check out the Alienist PrC in Complete Arcane (trade sanity for stronger summoned monsters what are also abominations against nature, in short).

bugsysservant
2008-03-24, 03:27 PM
Summoning elementals? Like a druid? Or something more focused? Isn't there a prestige class, alienist or something, that focuses on screwy things from the far realm? Or, within core for PrCs, there is the thaumaturgist, which is focused on summoning, though it isn't generally regarded as all that powerful.

What books do you have available? Allowed? Can you specify on what you want your summoner to do, or whether you have a preference for other abilities?

Hal
2008-03-24, 03:36 PM
There's Bonded Summoner in PHB2, which gives you an elemental familiar that gets more powerful over time, as well as eventually allowing you to turn into an elemental. You have to choose Earth, Air, Fire, or Water at the beginning, though.

Albonor
2008-03-24, 03:44 PM
You can also try the Malconvoker from Complete Scoundrel, or the Master Specialist (Conjuration) from Complete Mage...Alienist as a feel to it though...

Kurald Galain
2008-03-24, 03:45 PM
There's a Reserve Feat in the complete mage that lets you summon elementals at will.

MeklorIlavator
2008-03-24, 03:45 PM
If you have/can get access to the Complete Scoundrel, you might try the Malconvoker[sic]. It summons demons yet remains good.

Edit: Hey, ninjas can't summon:smallyuk:

Keld Denar
2008-03-24, 03:55 PM
Don't forget about Rashamani Summoning if you are into the whole Realms thing. It adds some pretty insane bonuses to your summoned elementals.

The best elementals to summon are Air>>Earth>>Water>>Fire in decending order. Water elementals are actually the strongest, combining elements of the air and earth elementals, but because they can only exist in and around water, they are kind of limited. Fire elementals suck. Not only are they limited to areas near fire like water elementals, but they are just plain weak mechanically. Air elementals have huge fly speeds and Whirlwind is a really powerful ability. Earth elementals are strong tanks, and have a natural bullrush ability called Push, which is really really nice. They also scale AB very well, so their power attack is very strong.

Druid is probably the strongest choice, with the feats Spell Focus:Conjouration>>Augemented Summoning and Rashamani Summoning. Also, get Natural Spell at Druid 6, its that good.

MeklorIlavator
2008-03-24, 04:19 PM
I know the restriction on water elementals, but where is the restriction on fire elementals. All I saw was a restriction on them being able to not cross water unless they could jump over it.

Dode
2008-03-24, 04:29 PM
Either Druid or Spirit Shaman.

Ascension
2008-03-24, 05:36 PM
I'll second the malconvoker. It's fun, flavorful, and by the time you reach the fifth level in it, quite powerful. There's a complete guide to malconvoker optimization on the WotC boards that's quite nice.

Hyrael
2008-03-24, 06:23 PM
I've done the very same thing, and summoning turns out to be very, very good. Especialy if you also use Planar Binding.

Here's a nice build:
LN Human Sorceror 10/Malconvoker 9/Monk 1,
Improved familiar, Ascetic mage, agument summoning, spell focus (conjuration). Specialized in Acid and Cold damaging spells (with a good mix between targeted and area effect), Summoning, Preped' Bound Devils, And Utility/Mobility. In extremely dire situations, you leap into the thick of combat, lunge at the BBEG, and yell "Get ready to meet THE MORMONS!" and planeshift the bastard to Celestia

You do wind up having to keep track of alot of actions, though. You have yourself, your familiar (who can also cast, thanks to Imbue With Spell Ability) a bound Barbed devil, and two summoned Fiendish T-Rexes.

Alienist is also very, very cool, btw

Chronos
2008-03-24, 06:34 PM
I'm not sure whether the OP is meant as a joke, or if he just has no experience whatsoever with D&D. Re-read it, folks... He's not asking what class is best at summoning; he's asking if there's any class that can do it at all. Every spellcasting class has a spell for summoning creatures at every spell level.

And he also wants something "not like a fighter, but still useful", which seems to indicate that he thinks Fighter is one of the more useful classes. While this may be true in some games, it unfortunately isn't so in D&D 3rd edition.

RandomNPC
2008-03-24, 06:47 PM
what do you mean fighters are the best at everything.


anyway, who hasn't wanted to stat out a class of nothing but summoning, call natures ally, and... wait a minuet....

druid/wizard/mystic thurge with spell focus conj. and augment summoning.

you need it they can summon it!!!!


(yes i know mystic is a trap, but how many things can you summon with that build and good stats?)

Bag_of_Holding
2008-03-24, 06:47 PM
OK, if OP doesn't have too much D&D experience (read: not a qualified cheesemaker), then I'd definitely recommend Druid. You don't have to worry about preparing summoning spells, has some decent options and if all else fails you can wild shape into something and rip their faces off.




So I was wondering if there was any class that... could just like... summon beasts from the depths of an alternate plane of reality.

I dunno... Open gates and bring forth, lesser fire elementals, Ice Elementals, Greater Storm Elementals, etc.

Is this in existence? or am I just daydreaming.

Well, if you want to summon elementals then druid is your natural choice then. They get it the earliest, and boy aren't they strong.

Chronos
2008-03-24, 06:57 PM
(yes i know mystic is a trap, but how many things can you summon with that build and good stats?)1d4+1 per round, same as either class separately. But the theurge will have to settle for one or two lists lower.

Squash Monster
2008-03-24, 07:08 PM
Malconvoker is definitely the way to go. Being able to summon pairs of fiendish creatures is a great ability.

And, better yet, the best way into it is to be a focused specialist conjurer wizard. So if things go wrong at any point, you still have Solid Fog and other awesomeness.

horseboy
2008-03-24, 07:36 PM
Edit: Hey, ninjas can't summon:smallyuk:Must...resist...joke...
SUMMONING JITSU!!!!!!