Summoning Changes

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Summoning Changes
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[The Astrolabe]

This page lists and explains Spells that work differently than in Vanilla NWN.

Summoning has been completely overhauled in Arelith. Every form of summoning, from base classes such as the wizard and the cleric, to blackguard and the shadowdancer were completely changed to follow different progressions, tiers of power and functions.

For specific summons stats and details, check the summons article.



Controlling Summons

All summons can be directly commanded using the Player Tool 1.

Prohibited Spells: Summons / Dominated Creatures / Animal Companions and Familiars

NOTE: This is a recent (11 July 2022) and massive change and will require further adjustment and balancing for the foreseeable future.

Summons, Dominated Creatures, Animal Companions and Familiars, for balance reasons, have limited spell enhancement (buffing) options. This is a customization on Arelith that is significantly different from Vanilla NWN. Such creatures can not be targeted with most single target, duration based spells. Multi-target, duration based and single target, instant spells are still fine to use on these creatures.

Note: Henchman are exempted from this limitation.

However, rapid buffing Runic Sequencers have been added to the loot matrix and Crafting systems to allow a single cast item cast into multiple buff delivery process which allows buffing summons with some prohibited spells in limited combinations.


A Prohibited Spells Table can be found here to reflecting which spells are specifically prohibited AND which spells are available using the craftable sequencers.

Multiple Creatures

Many summon spells will bring forth several creatures at the same time. These are treated as a "single" creature; if you summon any other creature that would occupy the "summoned" slot, the previous creatures are automatically unsummoned. Things that don't use the "summon" slot are the familiars, the animal companions, the henchmens, the ranger's charmed animal, dominated creatures, and a few others.

Summoning Streams

"Stream" books may be found randomly as loot. These books may either be used once per day to summon a relatively weak creature, or a character may use and consume them to permanently learn the respective stream. Once a stream has been learnt, the character may use the -stream command to select a predetermined creature out of a summoning spell.

“Streams” can also be transferred from one holder of a stream to another using Prisms.

For example, a wizard with a "Water" stream casting Summon Creature VIII would always conjure a water elemental, instead of randomly getting one between water, fire, earth or air.

There are a few streams that are limited by class and abilities, or having special conditions, like the undead streams, which can only be learnt through a ritual in a very specific location in the Underdark.

Streams affect all summoning spells casted by the character, including those from non-casting classes using items and scrolls.

Selectable Streams are divided up into following categories:

  1. Dragon
Usable with Epic Spell: Dragon Knight and allows the selection of which dragon to summon including Dracolich (should you meet the other requirements to summon it)
  1. Elemental
Usable with Summon Creature VII - IX and (in some cases) with Elemental Swarm allowing selection of which type of elemental to summon.
  1. Outsider
Usable with Planar Ally, Planar Binding, Lesser Planar Binding, Greater Planar Binding, Gate, Planar Gate, Epic Spell: Planar Conduit, Summon Fiend (Blackguard) and Eldritch Summon (Warlock) allowing selection of which type of outsider to summon.
  1. Undead
Usable with any Feat or Spell (Excluding Blackguard Undead) that summons Undead allowing selection of which type of outsider to summon.

In addition to the above Selectable Streams there are two other streams granted to summoners depending on starting location

  1. Surface Summons
Used with Summon Creature I to Summon Creature VI Spells summoning surface skinned versions of the summoned creature
  1. Underdark Summons
Used with Summon Creature I to Summon Creature VI Spells summoning underdark skinned versions of the summoned creature

Alignment divergence

Some summoning spells are random and may result in a variety of creatures. Others will have a specific result based on the alignment of the caster. However, a character that uses a -stream may force creatures from other alignments to come, though that incurs a failure chance in which the creature may turn hostile immediately upon summoning.

The chance is increased by 10% for each horizontal step beyond the first, and 10% for each vertical step away from the caster at a maximum of 30%.

That means that:

  • A LE character (bottom-left corner) would have 0% chance of failure at LE, but 10% at CE, 20% at CN, and 30% at CG.
  • A LG character would have 0% at LG and NG, but 10% at LN, CG and TN, 20% at LE, NE and CG, 30% at CE.

One can see the chance of hostility using the -stream command, use -stream ? for more details.

NOTE: This is currently not functioning as the color flags are not being processed properly. This has been reported as a bug here.

The three "protection from alignment" spells reduce this chance accordingly, 10% for the first, 20% for the second, and completely negating it with 30% at the third, provided you are warding against the alignment of the creature you intend to summon.

The three spells are Protection from Alignment, Magic Circle Against Alignment, and Aura Versus Alignment. This means that the full 30% negation can be achieved only with the help of a Cleric without needing 65 Lore for an 8th circle spell. As a reminder, Magic Circle Against Alignment and Aura Versus Alignment were changed to a persistent buff at time of casting, and no longer require continuous proximity to the caster.

Note: A Warlock summoning any Evil planar being using any in game spell/feat/item/etc. is exempted from alignment divergence hostility.

Spell Focus Bonus

Spell foci feats will provide a stat bonus to every summon that corresponds to the magic school. Conjuration affects Conjuration summons, Necromancy affects Necromancy summons.

Each level of focus provides:

  • +1 to all skills the summon has ranks in
  • +1 hit die worth of hit points (meaning, as if the creature was 1 level above in terms of HP, both adding base class HP and CON modifier).
  • +1 AB
  • +1 Damage
  • +1 AC
  • +1 Universal Saves

Affected Spells/Abilities List

Spells and "abilities" specifically affected by the corresponding foci.
Conjuration
Does not receive the above Spell Foci bonuses. Instead, it only has its summon tier raised by 1 with Greater Spell Focus: Conjuration. Casters with one of the Cleric Animal Domain OR the Cleric Vermin Domain AND the Greater Spell Focus: Conjuration feat will receive both the increased tier and the Spell Foci bonuses.
Behaves as Summon Creature. Receives summons one tier higher or both summons one tier higher and the bonus above if the caster has one of the Cleric Animal Domain OR the Cleric Vermin Domain AND the Greater Spell Focus: Conjuration feat.
Evocation
Illusion
Necromancy

Excluded Spells/Abilities List

Spells and "abilities" specifically NOT affected by the corresponding foci.
Conjuration

Epic Caster Bonus

Epic levels in the summoning class will also increase the power of epic summons.

  • +1 AB per odd epic caster level
  • +1 prime attribute per odd epic caster level (i.e. strength or dexterity)
  • +1 universal saving throws per even epic caster level
  • +1 AC per even epic caster level
  • +1 skills per epic caster level
  • +1 hit dice worth of hit points per epic caster level
  • +1 caster level per epic caster level

Remember that Epic levels start at level 21 for base classes, and 11 for prestige classes, that can be acquired once the character reaches level 20. Only the highest epic caster level is used for this. When the class level is not used, the caster level is used - classes that increase the general caster level, like the pale master and the Harper scout count and the added caster level is used for the bonus.

The bonus apply if they are from the class casting the spell. A cleric 10/blackguard 20 won't get the level bonus from the cleric's spellbook, but he would from his blackguard abilities. Shadowdancers do not apply for any of these bonuses.

Spells and abilities that are affected by epic caster level:

Animal Companion

See Ranger/Druid.

Undead Summoning

The Undead Summoning system is a heavily customized system on Arelith, offering a number of different types of undead which can be summoned (Undead: Summoning Streams) and a Tiered (T1 to T7) power level within each of the Undead: Summoning Streams.

Note: Although the Dracolich is an Undead Summon, it is considered a Dragon Stream Summon and will not be covered under this section.
Note: All summons below are Undead and thus Evil including the Shaman Summoning Stream of Beast Revenant (It is not a nature spirit summon, it is explicitly Undead AND Evil).
  • Type of Undead: The type of undead is controlled by the selection of the Undead: Summoning Stream.
  • Number of Undead: The undead summoning spells and feats will summon a number of creatures relative to the summoning Stream (type of undead) and which spell/feat is used. Each Summoning Stream has a maximum allowed number of summons.
  • Tier of Undead: The undead summoned within a particular summoning stream will increase in strength (Tier) depending on the Undead Caster Level (UCL) of the summoner, the stream and which spell/feat is used to summon. The Tiering and UCL relationship is shown on the individual summoning stream pages (click on any summoning stream name to be linked to the page for that stream).
  • UCL is capped at 17 and is granted to any class that has the native ability to summon undead using spells and/or feats (not items).
  • UCL is the highest individual casting class Caster Level capable of summoning undead natively (including additive Caster Level prestige classes like Palemaster and Loremaster where relevant, see the prestige class for more details).
  • Palemaster, Dirgesirger and Blackguard summoning using a feat uses level*2 as UCL.
UCL is capped by HD - IE, you need a Hit Dice of 17 to access T5 undead.
  • UCL becomes irrelevant once a character has the Epic Spell: Mummy Dust feat or has the Dirgesinger Dirge of Awakening combined with 10 Dirgesinger levels, both enable T6 and T7 across all spells/feats.
  • Exception: UCL for Blackguard is Blackguard level x2, UCL is capped at 17 (Tier 5) without Epic Fiend and "Mummy Dust" (Tier 6) with Epic Fiend
Example: Anything / 9 Blackguard = 17 UCL


Undead Stream - Categories

  • Undead streams come in three categories based on how many creatures (maximum) that are spawned

Undead Stream - Spells/Feats

Spells and class feats affect the number (fewer than max allowed by stream) or power (UCL based Tier level) of the resulting summons. The below table outlines how each spell/feat affects the number summoned and, where relevant, the Tier for each Summoning Stream.

General Rules:

  • Spells:
  • Animate Dead: Summons 2 less than max allowed at UCL Tier with a min of 1 summoned. If max allowed is 1 then UCL Tier -1 for summon.
  • Create Undead: Summons 1 less than max allowed at UCL Tier with a min of 1 summoned. If the max allowed is 2 then UCL Tier for 1 summon and UCL Tier -1 for 1 summon.
  • Create Greater Undead: Summons the max allowed at UCL Tier.
  • Epic Spell Mummy Dust: Summons 1 at Tier 7 (T7) and any remaining up to the max allowed at Tier 6 (T6)
  • Feats:
  • Animate Dead: Summons 1 less than max allowed at UCL Tier with a min of 1 summoned. If the max allowed is 2 then UCL Tier for 1 summon and UCL Tier -1 for 1 summon.
  • Summon Undead: Summons the max allowed at UCL Tier.
  • Summon Greater Undead: Summons 1 at Tier 7 (T7) and any remaining up to the max allowed at Tier 6 (T6)
  • Create Undead: Summons 1 less than max allowed at UCL Tier (Capped at T5). If max allowed is 1 then UCL Tier -1 for summon.
  • Epic Fiend adds UCL Tier +1 to Create Undead Summons (Capped at T6).
  • Undead Specialists
Necromancer Specialist Wizards and Undeath Domain Clerics gain a chance for a bonus second higher Tier undead summon when they have the Epic Spell: Mummy Dust feat or have 10th level in the Dirgesinger class combined with Dirge of Awakening.
  • 4 Summon Streams: Bonus Chance of a second T7 conversion
  • 3 Summon Streams: Bonus chance of a second T7 conversion
  • 2 Summon Streams: Bonus chance of an additional summon at T5
  • 1 Summon Streams: Bonus chance of an additional summon at T4
Undead Stream - Tier and Number Summoned Table
Stream Max # Spells Pale Master Blackguard Undead
Specialists*
Animate
Dead 		Create
Undead 		Create
Greater
Undead 		Epic
Mummy
Dust 		Animate
Dead 		Summon
Undead 		Summon
Greater
Undead 		Create
Undead 		Epic
Fiendish
Servant
Abomination 1 1x UCL Tier -1 1x UCL Tier 1x UCL Tier 1x T7 1x UCL Tier 1x UCL Tier 1x T7 1x UCL Tier -1
(T4 Max) 		1x T5 1x T7,
1x T4
Beast Revenant 1 1x UCL Tier -1 1x UCL Tier 1x UCL Tier 1x T7 1x UCL Tier 1x UCL Tier 1x T7 1x UCL Tier -1
(T4 Max) 		1x T5 1x T7,
1x T4
Drowned 3 1x UCL Tier 2x UCL Tier 3x UCL Tier 1x T7,
2x T6 		2x UCL Tier 3x UCL Tier 1x T7,
2x T6 		2x UCL Tier
(T5 Max) 		2x T6 2x T7,
1x T6
Ghost 2 1x UCL Tier 1x UCL Tier,
1x UCL Tier -1 		2x UCL Tier 1x T7,
1x T6 		1x UCL Tier,
1x UCL Tier -1 		2x UCL Tier 1x T7,
1x T6 		1x UCL Tier
(T5 Max) 		1x T6 1x T7,
1x T6,
1x T5
Ghoul 3 1x UCL Tier 2x UCL Tier 3x UCL Tier 1x T7,
2x T6 		2x UCL Tier 3x UCL Tier 1x T7,
2x T6 		2x UCL Tier
(T5 Max) 		2x T6 2x T7,
1x T6
Mummy 3 1x UCL Tier 2x UCL Tier 3x UCL Tier 1x T7,
2x T6 		2x UCL Tier 3x UCL Tier 1x T7,
2x T6 		2x UCL Tier
(T5 Max) 		2x T6 2x T7,
1x T6
Skeleton 4 2x UCL Tier 3x UCL Tier 4x UCL Tier 1x T7,
3x T6 		3x UCL Tier 4x UCL Tier 1x T7,
3x T6 		3x UCL Tier
(T5 Max) 		3x T6 2x T7,
2x T6
Vampire 2 1x UCL Tier 1x UCL Tier,
1x UCL Tier -1 		2x UCL Tier 1x T7,
1x T6 		1x UCL Tier,
1x UCL Tier -1 		2x UCL Tier 1x T7,
1x T6 		1x UCL Tier
(T5 Max) 		1x T6 1x T7,
1x T6,
1x T5
Wight 2 1x UCL Tier 1x UCL Tier,
1x UCL Tier -1 		2x UCL Tier 1x T7,
1x T6 		1x UCL Tier,
1x UCL Tier -1 		2x UCL Tier 1x T7,
1x T6 		1x UCL Tier
(T5 Max) 		1x T6 1x T7,
1x T6,
1x T5
Wraith 4 2x UCL Tier 3x UCL Tier 4x UCL Tier 1x T7,
3x T6 		3x UCL Tier 4x UCL Tier 1x T7,
3x T6 		3x UCL Tier
(T5 Max) 		3x T6 2x T7,
2x T6
Zombie 3 1x UCL Tier 2x UCL Tier 3x UCL Tier 1x T7,
2x T6 		2x UCL Tier 3x UCL Tier 1x T7,
2x T6 		2x UCL Tier
(T5 Max) 		2x T6 2x T7,
1x T6
* This is assuming the specialist condition is met and the bonus is provided, which in some cases can exceed the max allowed summons for a particular Undead: Summoning Stream. See Necromancer Specialist Wizards and Undeath Domain Cleric for more details


Planar Conduit Summoning

See Epic Spell: Planar Conduit.

Shadow Conjuration

Shadow Conjuration: Summon Shadow follows similar rules as necromancy, but the spell belongs to the illusion school.

The duration of Summon Shadow is rounds/caster level. Turns per level with Spell focus. Hours per level with Greater Spell focus. Hours * 2 per level with Epic spell focus.

Shadow Conjuration: 2 shadows.
Greater Shadow Conjuration: 3 shadows.

Shadow

The Shadowdancer does not use this shadow.
  • Shadow Stats: 10 Strength, 14 Dexterity, 5 Constitution, 6 Intelligence, 12 Wisdom, 13 Charisma
  • Shadows Feats: Blind Fight, Crippling Strike, Improved Knockdown, Sneak Attack (+1d6)
  • Shadow Skills: Hide, Move Silently, Listen, Spot
  • Shadow Properties: DR 5/+1, 50% Concealment + 10% / Illusion Focus, Undead Immunities
  • Shadows come equipped with a random No Damage weapon
  • Shadows level up to the caster's level using the Outsider class
  • Shadows gain bonus AB equivalent to the caster's prime attribute bonus (e.g. a wizard with 20 intelligence would summon a shadow with an additional +5 AB)

Surface/Underdark summons

The Summon Creature I to Summon Creature VI spells will conjure different creatures depending whether the character is a surfacer or an underdarker, the latter including monster races but excluding outcasts and slaves. The summons are basically the same, albeit thematically dark.

Experience Calculations

  • Summons count as only half a party member when calculating experience, but only if this would cause the summoner to lose experience.
  • Summons no longer impact the party's overall level for experience calculations unless they are of a higher challenge rating than the summoner level (in which case the summon's challenge rating will be used instead of the summoner's level).
  • All members of the party receive XP for any kill in the map, even out of sight and with a summon delivering the killing blow.
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