Monster Summoning in Ravenloft - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Monster Summoning in Ravenloft

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
May 16, 2006 11:08:16 i am somewhat confused by the adjustments to the spell summon monster in ravenloft. i have looked through old 2.0 stuff as well as some d20 ravenloft material. is there no set list that is summoned in each land. it says only creatures present (other than elementals) in the land can be summoned. i feel like it makes the spell worthless (and maybe that is the point). should i come up with a specific list for each summon monster spell that will work in the land. any insight or reference material would be great.

thanks all
#2
Mortepierre
May 16, 2006 11:20:06 Nothing confusing about it. In each domain, you can only summon creatures found in that domain. In other words, no celestial/fiendish stuff. Elementals will show up but will be mist-formed and thus much more dangerous. Fiends can show up given some do exist in RL but for that to happen, they have to be in the same domain as your spellcaster when he casts the spell. Of course, the fact that they won't simply go POOF! once the spell ends makes it a wee bit more dangerous than usual...

So, yes, you've to come up with a summoning list for each and every domain. It's easier than it sounds, really. Incidentally, it also explains why native spellcasters tend to invest in the Knowledge (local) and Knowledge (nature) skills early on...

That said, the Gazetteer series is really invaluable in this regard given it lists the monstrous fauna/flora for each domain studied by the mysterious S.

And there is always the Entities from the Id metamagic feat (RLDMG, p.105) which allows you full use of the normal monster summoning table. Of course, having to be mad to use it is a pretty tough prerequisite...
#3
zombiegleemax
May 16, 2006 11:49:05 is there a somewhere online that i can find this Gazetteer series. sorry i am new to the ravenloft theme. thanks again for the information
#4
Mortepierre
May 16, 2006 13:11:56 Indeed, you can get pdf of all (5) gazetteers here:
http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=47_66&sort=xa&page=2

and, currently, at a rather cheap price too.
#5
zombiegleemax
May 16, 2006 14:37:31 mmm thanks for all the help.

one final mechanics question if you dont mind. am i to understand that when you use summon monster the creature stay there after the duration of the spell. i thought that this was only the case with calling magic (like planar ally and planar binding). am i reading this wrong.
#6
Mortepierre
May 16, 2006 16:45:15 Yes, you're reading it wrong I'm afraid. It's all explained on page 106 of the (3.5e) RL PHB, under the Summoning entry.

Van Richten's Pocket Guide to the Summon Monster spell:
a) PC casts the spell and chooses a creature
b) DM checks the local domain's ecology to see if the creature is available
c) assuming the creature is available, it appears and obeys the PC (if not, nothing happens except that the PC blew a spell)
d) at the end of the spell's duration, the creature goes POOF! and is transported back to wherever it was (in the domain) before the spell snatched it. Since it didn't cross a planar (or domain) border to do so, that magical journey works as intended and the creature is so happy at having returned home that it might just not hold a grudge toward the PC.

Note that really intelligent/vengeful creatures (fiends for example) might very well decide to track down the PC and make him pay for "enslaving" them (if only for a brief while). Given those creatures generally have magic powers of their own, it can be a simple matter of teleporting back one round later. Even if they have to walk, keep in mind that
1) they are still in the same domain (thus, not very far in all probability)
and
2) they know where the PC was but 6 seconds ago

Thus, summoning animals and dire animals is safe enough. Summoning anything else isn't (especially once you start toying with dread elementals)

Oh, and if the creature is one of those under the local darklord's control, it might disobey the PC depending on what the latter orders it to do. Summoning wolves to attack Strahd for instance would likely be the last mistake a spellcaster ever made.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax May 16, 2006 11:08:16	i am somewhat confused by the adjustments to the spell summon monster in ravenloft. i have looked through old 2.0 stuff as well as some d20 ravenloft material. is there no set list that is summoned in each land. it says only creatures present (other than elementals) in the land can be summoned. i feel like it makes the spell worthless (and maybe that is the point). should i come up with a specific list for each summon monster spell that will work in the land. any insight or reference material would be great. thanks all
#2 Mortepierre May 16, 2006 11:20:06	Nothing confusing about it. In each domain, you can only summon creatures found in that domain. In other words, no celestial/fiendish stuff. Elementals will show up but will be mist-formed and thus much more dangerous. Fiends can show up given some do exist in RL but for that to happen, they have to be in the same domain as your spellcaster when he casts the spell. Of course, the fact that they won't simply go POOF! once the spell ends makes it a wee bit more dangerous than usual... So, yes, you've to come up with a summoning list for each and every domain. It's easier than it sounds, really. Incidentally, it also explains why native spellcasters tend to invest in the Knowledge (local) and Knowledge (nature) skills early on... That said, the Gazetteer series is really invaluable in this regard given it lists the monstrous fauna/flora for each domain studied by the mysterious S. And there is always the Entities from the Id metamagic feat (RLDMG, p.105) which allows you full use of the normal monster summoning table. Of course, having to be mad to use it is a pretty tough prerequisite...
#3 zombiegleemax May 16, 2006 11:49:05	is there a somewhere online that i can find this Gazetteer series. sorry i am new to the ravenloft theme. thanks again for the information
#4 Mortepierre May 16, 2006 13:11:56	Indeed, you can get pdf of all (5) gazetteers here: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=47_66&sort=xa&page=2 and, currently, at a rather cheap price too.
#5 zombiegleemax May 16, 2006 14:37:31	mmm thanks for all the help. one final mechanics question if you dont mind. am i to understand that when you use summon monster the creature stay there after the duration of the spell. i thought that this was only the case with calling magic (like planar ally and planar binding). am i reading this wrong.
#6 Mortepierre May 16, 2006 16:45:15	Yes, you're reading it wrong I'm afraid. It's all explained on page 106 of the (3.5e) RL PHB, under the Summoning entry. Van Richten's Pocket Guide to the Summon Monster spell: a) PC casts the spell and chooses a creature b) DM checks the local domain's ecology to see if the creature is available c) assuming the creature is available, it appears and obeys the PC (if not, nothing happens except that the PC blew a spell) d) at the end of the spell's duration, the creature goes POOF! and is transported back to wherever it was (in the domain) before the spell snatched it. Since it didn't cross a planar (or domain) border to do so, that magical journey works as intended and the creature is so happy at having returned home that it might just not hold a grudge toward the PC. Note that really intelligent/vengeful creatures (fiends for example) might very well decide to track down the PC and make him pay for "enslaving" them (if only for a brief while). Given those creatures generally have magic powers of their own, it can be a simple matter of teleporting back one round later. Even if they have to walk, keep in mind that 1) they are still in the same domain (thus, not very far in all probability) and 2) they know where the PC was but 6 seconds ago Thus, summoning animals and dire animals is safe enough. Summoning anything else isn't (especially once you start toying with dread elementals) Oh, and if the creature is one of those under the local darklord's control, it might disobey the PC depending on what the latter orders it to do. Summoning wolves to attack Strahd for instance would likely be the last mistake a spellcaster ever made.