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Unearthed Arcana

SUMMON MONSTER VARIANTS

The summon monster and summon nature's ally spells provide effective and versatile options for spellcasters of every level. In addition to their obvious effectiveness during combat, each summoning spell can potentially add further diversity and interesting flavor to groups of conjurers or even individual summoners. This variation might be as simple as allowing a group of conjurers access to monsters of only one alignement or subtype or as complex as creating individualized summoning lists for each spellcaster.
THEMED SUMMONING LISTS
Themed summoning lists provide many interesting possibilities for variant summoners, and they can add a tremendous amount of flavor and character to the spellcasters in your game. With this variant, you choose the monsters available to a spellcaster or to a group of spellcasters by selevting a theme the monsters to be summoned must all share. By selecting different themes for diggerent groups of spellcasters, you give each group's summoning a unique flavor.

To create a variant list, simpley start with the standard list of monsters and add and remove creatures og the appropriate power level. This allows an infividual spellcaster access to a much smaller number of monsters at each level, but the spells remain versatile and effective.

Without a goal in mind, however, this procedure tends to create a very haphazard list. Start with a basic concept, or theme, to guide your selection. Choose a theme from those listed below or make one up yourself. Once you have a theme in mind, try to limit your list only to creatures that fit the theme.

Sample themes include alignment (law, chaos, good, evil), base creature type (such as animal, elemental, fey, or outsider), creature subtype (such as fire or shapechanger), and template (such as celestial or fiendish).

Simply choosing a theme like this doesn't always yield a perfect list, occasionally leaving a level without a suitable monster. As long as you can find a template that fits the theme, though, you can solve this problem. Simply choose a base monster and apply the template that fits the theme, then compare the monster's adjusted CR, Hit Dice, and special abilities to the monsters available at the spell level. If the monster seems to match the power and abilities of the monsters at the same spell level in the standard lists, it's probably ok to add the monster to the themed list.

For example, when building the sample earth themed list below, there was only one monster from the existing summon nature's ally V list that fit the theme (the Large Earth Elemental). Although the ankheg is a magical beast not normally subject to a summon nature's ally spell, its burrowing and acid spit abilities made it a natural for the list. Adding the earth creature template from Manual of the Planes brought the ankheg to the proper power level. In addition, adding the template provided a stronger link with the theme of the list.

Sample Shemed List: Stone/Earth
Creature
TemplateAlignmentCR
Summon nature's ally I
Badger
-N1/2
Dog
Earth1N1/3
Summon nature's ally II
Elemental, Small (Earth)
-N1
Wolf
Earth1N1
Summon nature's ally III
Dire Badger
-N2
Dire Weasel
Earth1N2
Stone Spike2
-N2
Summon nature's ally IV
Elemental, Medium (earth)
-N3
Earth mephit
-N3
Salt mephit
-N3
Xorn, minor
-N3
Summon nature's ally V
Ankheg
Earth1N4
Elemental, Large (earth)
-N5
Summon nature's ally VI
Elemental, Huge (earth)
-N7
Rhinoceros
Earth1N6
Xorn, Average
-N6
Summon nature's ally VII
Elemental, Greater (earth)
-N9
Xorn, Elder
-N8
Summon nature's ally VIII
Dune Stalker2
-NE9
Galeb Duhr2
-N9
Summon nature's ally IX
Elemental, Elder (earth)
-N11
Unicorn, celestial charger
Earth1NG14
1 Appears in Manual of the Planes.
2 Appears in Monster Manual II.

Sample Themed List: Heavens
Creature
TemplateAlignmentCR
Summon monster I
Dog
CelestialLG1/3
Hawk
Celestial or air1CG1/3
Porpoise
CelestialNG1/2
Summon Monster II
Dog, riding
CelestialCG1/2
Eagle
Celestial or air1CG1/2
Summon monster III
Dire Badger
CelestialLG2
Elemental, Small (air or fire)
-N1
Hippogriff
Celestial or air1CG2
Summon monster IV
Archon, lantern
-LG2
Bariaur2
-CG3
Giant eagle
Celestial or air1LG4
Lion
CelestialCG4
Summon monster V
Archon, hound
-LG4
Brown bear
CelestialLG5
Elemental, Medium (air or fire)
-N3
Summon monster VI
Eladrin, bralani
-CG6
Elemental, Large (air or fire)
-N5
Polar bear
CelestialLG6
Summon monster VII
Elemental, Huge (air or fire)
N7
Guardinal, avoral
-NG7
Summon monster VIII
Elemental, Greater (air or fire)
-N9
Dire bear
CelestialLG9
Summon monster IX
Elemental, Elder (air or fire)
-N11
Roc
Celestial or air1LG11
1 Appears in Manual of the Planes.
2 Appears in Book of Exalted Deeds and Manual of the Planes.

Sample Themed List: Fiendish Gnoll
Creature
TemplateAlignmentCR
Summon monster I
Dire Rat
FiendishCE1/3
Hawk
FiendishCE1/3
Summon monster II
Ghoul (extraplanar)
-CE1
Gnoll
FiendishCE1
Hyena
FiendishCE1
Summon monster III
Demon, dretch
-CE2
Elemental, Small (earth or fire)
-N1
Gnoll, 1st-level fighter
FiendishCE2
Hyena
Shadow1CE2
Summon monster IV
Dire hyena (as dire wolf)
FiendishCE4
Dire hyena (as dire wolf)
Shadow1CE4
Ghast (extraplanar)
-CE3
Howler
-CE3
Summon monster V
Elemental, Medium (earth or fire)
-N3
Gnoll, 4th-level barbarian
FiendishCE5
Marrash2
-LE5
Summon monster VI
Elemental, Large (earth or fire)
-N5
Chaos Beast
-CN7
Gnoll, 5th-level ranger
FiendishCE6
Summon monster VII
Elemental, Huge (earth or fire)
-N7
Demon, Babau
-CE5
Gnoll, 7th-level rogue
Shadow1CE8
Summon monster VIII
Elemental, Greater (earth or fire)
-N9
Gnoll, 8th-level fighter
FiendishCE9
Demon, Vrock
-CE9
Summon monster IX
Elemental, Elder (earth or fire)
-N11
Demon, bebilith
-CE10
Demon, hezrou
-CE11
1 Appears in Manual of the Planes.
2 Appears in Monster Manual II.

Individualized Summoning Lists

In this variant, each spellcaster has a unique list of monsters she can summon with any single summon monster or summon nature's ally spell. When a spellcaster first gains access to a summon spell, she chooses one monster from the list. This chosen monster is the only monster she can summon with that spell. The DM is free to choose the means through which characters can add monsters to their summon lists with this variant, but it's important that the method be consistent for all spellcasters. Here are some suggestions for determining when a spellcaster may add monsters to their summoning lists.

Add one monster to one summoning list whenever access to a new spell level is gained. Most characters using this option won't have more than a couple of monsters available for each spell. Most favorable for characrers with access to a number of summon spells (such as clerics and druids).

Add one monster to each summoning list whenever access to a new spell level is gained. Characters using this option have the most monsters available for their lowest-level (or first gained) summon spells, and fewer for those spells gained at higher levels. Most favorable for characters with access to a number of summon spells (such as clerics and druids).

Add one monster to one summoning list to which the caster has access (or knows, for characrers with a limited number of spells known) whenever a new spellcasting level is gained. Similar to the second option, but each list is about twice as long.

Add a monster to the appropriate summoning list whenever the charater witnesses another spellcaster summon that creature. With this variant, the DM might also require a successful Spellcraft check (DC 15 + Spell level) to learn how to summon the new creature.

Sample Individualized lists presented below were generated using the "add one monster to one summoning list whenever a new spellcasting level is gained" procedure. Both spellcasters gain access to a 9th level summoning spell at 17th level. Because of this, it's best for them to simply pick a monster from their highest available list at levels 1st through 17th. However, because the number of 9th level spells they can cast each day is severely limited, they are often best served by adding monsters to lower-level summoning lists at class levels 18th through 20th. This explains the strange order of levels at the end of the individualized summoning lists. For example, when the dwarven cleric below reaches 18th level, he has access to only two 9th-level spells per day. Although he prepares the summon monster XI spell nearly every day, the elder earth elemental is the best possible choice for him in nearly every combat, and adding a new monster to his summon monster IX list doesn't help him much. Instead, he adds the celestial dire tiger to his summon monster VIII list.


Sample Individualized List: Dwarven Cleric
A dwarf cleric with a penchant for melee combat, he has had considerable success in using the first round of combat to summon a physically powerful monster and then wading into combar beside it. His individualized summoning list is described below.

The list below was constructed using the procedure in which the caster gains access to a new monster on one summoning list each time he gains a level. With this dwarven cleric's tactics and personality in mind, the first monster taken at any spell level is a large, physically powerful monster. Subsequent monsters at the same spell level tend to have more versatile movement and spell-like abilities.

LevelCreatureTemplateAlignmentCR
Summon monster I
1stBadgerCelestialLG1/2
2ndHawkCelestialLG1/2
Summon monster II
3rdWolfCelestialLG1
4thShark, MediumCelestialLG1
Summon monster III
5thBlack bearCelestialLG2
6thElemental, Small (fire)-N1
Summon monster IV
7thLionCelestialLG4
8thArchon, Lantern-LG2
Summon monster V
9thBrown bearCelestialLG5
10thElemental, Medium (fire)-N3
Summon monster VI
11thDire lionCelestialLG7
12thWhale, orcaCelestialLG7
Summon monster VII
13thElephantCelestialLG9
14thGuardinal, avoral-NG9
Summon monster VIII
15thEarth Elemental, Greater-N9
16thLillend-LG7
18thDire tigerCelestialLG10
Summon monster IX
17thEarth elemental, elder-N11
19thRocCelestialLG11
20thGuardinal, leonal-NG12
Sample Individualized List: Halfling Druid
A halfling druid who favors ranged combat from atop her long-time riding dog animal companion, she prefers to summon mobile monsters capable of keeping up with her mount's speed and fast enough to stay between her and her opponents in the midst of a running battle.

The list below was constructed using the procedure in which the caster gains access to a new monster on one summoning list each time she gains a level. With this halfling druids' tactics and personality in mind, the first monster taken at any spell level is a swift animal, usually one capable of flight. Subsequent monsters at the same spell level tend to be larger quadrupeds capable of serving as temporary mounts.

LevelCreatureTemplateAlignmentCR
Summon natures's ally I
1stOwl-N1/4
2ndWolf-N1
Summon natures's ally II
3rdDire bat-N2
4thBear, black-N2
Summon natures's ally III
5thEagle, giant-NG3
6thDire wolf-N3
Summon natures's ally IV
7thArrowhawk, juvenile-N3
8thUnicorn-CG3
Summon natures's ally V
9thGriffon-N4
10thBear, polar-N4
Summon natures's ally VI
11thElephant-N7
12thDire bear-N7
Summon natures's ally VII
13thArrowhawk, elder-N8
14thElemental, greater-N9
16thDire tiger-N8
20thDjinni (genie)-NG5
Summon natures's ally VIII
15thRoc-N9
19thDire shark-N9
Summon natures's ally IX
17thEarth elemental, elder-N11
18thUnicorn, celestial charger-CG13

BEHIND THE CURTAIN: SUMMONING LISTS
A lot of this variant's potential to enrich the game requires that you differetiate summoners along specific lines and assign each a different list, lending a specific flavor to each group. Here are a few ways in which you can categorize spellcasters who use summoning spells.
  • By wizard specialization (wizard vs. conjurer; other specialist wizards might also have unique lists).

  • By class (wizard vs. sorcerer, arcane vs. divine, each class, and so on).

  • By race (dwarves summon earth creatures, elves summon fey creatures, and so on).

  • By home region (nation, city, plane, and so on).

  • By current location (for example, when near a volcano, spellcasters summon fire creatures).

  • By caster alignment.

  • By gender.

  • By spellcasting guild.

  • By individual.