[3.5] A New Summoning Mechanic (PEACH)

[Chainsaw Hobbit]

This is an alternate mechanic for summoning spells, made to streamline and simplify the current summoning system.

NOTE: This new mechanic is meant to work alongside the existing summoning system, not replace it.

Here are a few examples:

Summon Feral Drake
Conjuration (Summoning) [see text]
Level: Sor/Wiz 2, Brd 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: One summoned creature
Duration: 2 rounds/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

In an unoccupied space within the spell's range you summon a medium-sized dragon with 1 hit point, your saving throws, an AC of 10 + your level, and a speed of 8 (40 ft).
Once per round it can attack an adjacent foe with a bonus equal to you caster level -1 (dealing 1d8 + half your caster level damage on a hit).
If the creature is takes damage you can choose to negate all of the damage to the creature but instead take half of the damage (This damage can in no way be reduced or resisted).
Note: The feral drake is not an actual creature but a spell effect that resembles one. It has no ability scores, can not receive buff spells or ability damage, and can be removed with Dispel Magic. It has no statistics beyond the ones stated.


Summon Flame Demon
Conjuration (Summoning) [see text]
Level: Sor/Wiz 4, Brd 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: One summoned creature
Duration: 2 rounds/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

In an unoccupied space within the spell's range you summon a medium-sized outsider (demon) with 1 hit point, Dr 10/-, immunity to fire damage, your saving throws, an AC of 13 + your level, and a speed of 6 (30 ft).
Once per round it can make a melee attack with a bonus equal to 2 + your caster level (dealing 1d10 + half your caster level damage on a hit), or a ranged touch attack with a range of 10 and an attack bonus equal to 2 + your caster level (dealing fire damage equal to 2d6 + half your caster level on a hit).
If the creature is takes damage you can choose to negate all of the damage to the creature but instead take half of the damage (This damage can in no way be reduced or resisted).
Note: The flame demon is not an actual creature but a spell effect that resembles one. It has no ability scores, can not receive buff spells or ability damage, and can be removed with Dispel Magic. It has no statistics beyond the ones stated.


Summon Shadow Spirit
Conjuration (Summoning) [see text]
Level: Sor/Wiz 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: One summoned creature
Duration: 2 rounds/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

In an unoccupied space within the spell's range you summon a medium-sized undead with 1 hit point, DR 15/-, your saving throws, an AC of 16 + your level, and a speed of 6 (30 ft), and phasing.
Once per round it can make a touch attack against an adjacent foe with a bonus equal to you caster level +2 (dealing 1d6 + half your caster level constitution damage on a hit).
If the creature is takes damage you can choose to negate all of the damage to the creature but instead take half of the damage (This damage can in no way be reduced or resisted).
Note: The shadow spirit is not an actual creature but a spell effect that resembles one. It has no ability scores, can not receive buff spells or ability damage, and can be removed with Dispel Magic. It has no statistics beyond the ones stated.


Summon Frost Devil
Conjuration (Summoning) [see text]
Level: Sor/Wiz 4, Brd 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: One summoned creature
Duration: 2 rounds/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

In an unoccupied space within the spell's range you summon a medium-sized dragon with 1 hit point, DR 12/-, your saving throws, an AC of 15 + your level, and a speed of 6 (30 ft).
Once per round it can attack an adjacent foe with a bonus equal to you caster level +2 (dealing 2d8 + your half caster level cold damage on a hit).
If the creature is takes damage you can choose to negate all of the damage to the creature but instead take half of the damage (This damage can in no way be reduced or resisted).
Note: The frost devil is not an actual creature but a spell effect that resembles one. It has no ability scores, can not receive buff spells or ability damage, and can be removed with Dispel Magic. It has no statistics beyond the ones stated.

[Drolyt]

Why not make it so the summon doesn't have any hp but instead shares the casters hp?

[Chainsaw Hobbit]

Why not make it so the summon doesn't have any hp but instead shares the casters hp?

Because with this system you can choose weather or not to take damage and save it when it get's hurt.
That's a choice that makes the system more interesting.

[Drolyt]

Because with this system you can choose weather or not to take damage and save it when it get's hurt.
That's a choice that makes the system more interesting.

Makes sense, but how about this. Instead of taking half the damage to restore the summons hp to 1, how about make it so that every time the summon takes damage the caster has the option of taking half that damage instead. Less clunky, methinks, than how you have it written. Of course I might be wrong.

[Toptomcat]

Are these things actually creatures or merely spell effects that happen to resemble them? Do they have ability scores, can they receive buff spells?

[Chainsaw Hobbit]

Are these things actually creatures or merely spell effects that happen to resemble them? Do they have ability scores, can they receive buff spells?

They are merely spell effects and cannot receive buff spells. They have no stats beyond what I have stated.

[GoatBoy]

Interesting, because it incorporates the 4e "minion" system of just having the one hit point. But keep in mind that you'll probably have to stat them out in the case of things like grapples or trips, or opposed in-battle skill checks like feinting, stuff of which 4e conveniently disposed.

Otherwise, the idea of a summoning spell that's more straightforward, but also more limited, than Summon Monster n is a fine idea.

[Toptomcat]

There are many references to 'level' here: specify character, class or caster level.
Can they move? Take actions other than moving or attacking? Make special attacks like trip or sunder attempts? Be subject to trips, grapples, and the like? In exactly what respects are these spell effects creaturelike?
You should probably remove the (summoning) subschool from these spells, since it contains baggage that you don't seem to want.
In the description for Summon Shadow Spirit, what is 'phasing'- incorporeality? Also, what is 'resist 15 to all damage'- DR 15/-- and universal energy resistance 15, or actual reduction of *all* damage types by 15, even odd and exotic damage types like force or dessication or divine that typically bypass abilities like that? Also, does it apply if you decide to take damage for it- in other words, if it's hit by an attack that does 17 damage, do you take 1 damage or 8 damage?

In short, it's an interesting concept that needs more development before it's usable.

[Chainsaw Hobbit]

There are many references to 'level' here: specify character, class or caster level.
Can they move? Take actions other than moving or attacking? Make special attacks like trip or sunder attempts? Be subject to trips, grapples, and the like? In exactly what respects are these spell effects creaturelike?
You should probably remove the (summoning) subschool from these spells, since it contains baggage that you don't seem to want.
In the description for Summon Shadow Spirit, what is 'phasing'- incorporeality? Also, what is 'resist 15 to all damage'- DR 15/-- and universal energy resistance 15, or actual reduction of *all* damage types by 15, even odd and exotic damage types like force or dessication or divine that typically bypass abilities like that? Also, does it apply if you decide to take damage for it- in other words, if it's hit by an attack that does 17 damage, do you take 1 damage or 8 damage?

In short, it's an interesting concept that needs more development before it's usable.

Fixed.


I also added another spell.

[Toptomcat]

You've definitely tightened things up, but it's still quite unclear in what respect these summons are creaturelike and in what respect they aren't.