Variant Conjurer?

[Ceridan]

Thanks for dropping in. I have a query to put to the forum.

One of my players is playing a conjurer. He asked to be able to sommon specific creatures instead of, well random ones. His idea stems from a character from the final fantasy games. He wants to pick up pieces of defeated outsiders and use these pieces to summon forth the creature and use it for his own ends. I like the idea, however I was interested to find out if any game mechanics already exist to cover something like this?

[Arbitrarity]

Theres a variant sidebar in DMG. Basically says you get specifically summoned creatures, that if you Call them, you can equip them, if they die when summoned, you lose summoning access to them for a day. Also, depending onvariable dice rolls, you summon specific ones (i.e. bob is always 1, dan is always 2, so if you use a higher level summon for 1d3 creatures, and you summon 1, you get bob, if you get 2, you get bob and dan.)

Can't remember much else.

[Jasdoif]

Well, I'm not sure the summoning list variant is precisely what you're looking for, but it's a good start. You'd simply need the CR of those vanquished outsiders, and then decide which level of summon monster spell would be appropriate for it.

[Ceridan]

Theres a variant sidebar in DMG. Basically says you get specifically summoned creatures, that if you Call them, you can equip them, if they die when summoned, you lose summoning access to them for a day. Also, depending onvariable dice rolls, you summon specific ones (i.e. bob is always 1, dan is always 2, so if you use a higher level summon for 1d3 creatures, and you summon 1, you get bob, if you get 2, you get bob and dan.)

Can't remember much else.

I was thinking of something a little more involved. Think Summon planer ally where if you summon something you defeated you must bend it to your will or it will try to kill you. It stands to reason most evil outsiders would wish for revenge. If he managed to bend said nasty to his will, ethier by threat or bribe, than he could use a summon monster spell to make use of his new servent.

[Tellah]

You want the Malconvoker class, at least flavor-wise. I want to say it's in Complete Mage, but I'm AFB at the moment.

[Irreverent Fool]

Theres a variant sidebar in DMG. Basically says you get specifically summoned creatures, that if you Call them, you can equip them, if they die when summoned, you lose summoning access to them for a day. Also, depending onvariable dice rolls, you summon specific ones (i.e. bob is always 1, dan is always 2, so if you use a higher level summon for 1d3 creatures, and you summon 1, you get bob, if you get 2, you get bob and dan.)

Can't remember much else.

I just want to point out that while you CAN equip them, you have to do so by calling them into this plane via a planar binding spell or by seeking them out on their home planes. The sidebar specifically states that if you give them items and such, they will drop to the ground when the summoning spell ends.

Also, if Bob or Dan dies in the above example, you can't summon them again for 24 hours so when you cast that 1d3 creatures one and roll 2, if Bob is dead you'll only get Dan despite the roll.


Tellah has the right of it, I think. Malconvoker is what you're looking for. It's a PrC, but allows a good character to bind demons and devils into his service by essentially 'tricking' them. I also can't recall the book, but Wizards has a PrC index you can easily look it up on.

[Amiria]

Malconvoker is in Complete Scoundrel.

The Rapid Summoning variant is also very interesting for serious monster summoning. Sure, you'll lose your familiar, but you can now summon as a standard action. That means more mobility/options and your enemies can't interrupt your summonings as easily.

[Dausuul]

Thanks for dropping in. I have a query to put to the forum.

One of my players is playing a conjurer. He asked to be able to sommon specific creatures instead of, well random ones. His idea stems from a character from the final fantasy games. He wants to pick up pieces of defeated outsiders and use these pieces to summon forth the creature and use it for his own ends. I like the idea, however I was interested to find out if any game mechanics already exist to cover something like this?

Use the planar binding series of spells. I'd say having a piece of the defeated creature should count as a substitute for knowing its true name... it's a house-rule, but a very minor one and quite reasonable.

[ALOR]

since i am the player in question i supose i should give a more acurate idea of what i'm looking for.
ok in final fantasy 2 one of the PC's was a "caller". she gained the abilty to call various enemies she had defeated. for those familiar with the FF series this was the 1st attempt at summoning things like irifrit, shiva, odin etc and it went on to develop in to the big screne filling animations that it is today. it took so many spell point to summon the "mist dragon" which was her first creature, then as she gained power she could call more powerful creatures with an increased spell point cost. (i sometimes think i'm the only one on earth who remembers final fantasy 2, lol)

i realize that i probably won't be able to get exactly what i'm looking for because D&D doesn't translate this concept well and honestly i think the "summoning specific creature" sidebar will probably fill in just as well but i was just curious if this had been homebrewed or was in some obscure book that our group didn't know of
thank you all for your advice so far

[CASTLEMIKE]

A Conjurer Specialist using some of the variant rules in the D20 SRD or Unearthed Arcana and the Focused Specialist variant along with the Master Specialist PRC from Complete Mage along with learning an arcane variant of Lesser Planar Ally to qualify for the Thaumaturgist PRC from the DMG.

Decide on a specific fixed themed summoning list with your DM for your PC summoning choices.

Consider taking the Hidden Talent feat Astral Construct from the Expanded Psionics Handbook if you get PP for leveling up. Learn the level 4 Dweomer Transfer spell.

Flavorwise not powerwise consider taking the Summon Elemental reserve feat and the Cloudy Conjuration feat from Complete Mage .

See if your DM would let you take the Elemental Companion feat (For Druids) instead of a familiar. It wouldn't gain standard familiar benefits.