Wizard - Conjurer Summoner Kit Description: Summoners are figures of some controversy in most societies, because their spellcasting contacting extraplanar powers, tapping directly into extraplanar power sources, and particularly summoning creatures (often from other planes) and binding them to their will. Some philosophers think that it is only right and fitting that wielders of magic should learn to understand the mechanisms of power, for they believe that in the art of summoning is perhaps one of the lessons needed for humankind (and similar races) to take the next step toward advancement as a race. After all, it is by similar means and types of powers that ultra-powerful beings from beyond the material world often exercise their authority in the world of men. Those who support this position condone the work of Summoners on the premise that their research may also one day serve as the line of defense against the intrusion of extraplanar creatures into the affairs of society. Of course, there are others who feel that Summoners, however useful their skills might be, are tampering with forces that are truly beyond their control. By dabbling in matters best left in the hands of the gods, Summoners risk drawing unwanted attention from such powers (possibly seeking revenge for the subversion of their supernatural servants by the Summoner), or at the least beginning to adopt the arrogance of gods themselves. In short, the general populace views Summoners with respect, suspicion, and not a small amount of fear. Requirements: As a standard Conjurer. Weapons & Armor: As a standard Conjurer. Special Benefits: Summoners have exceptional skill in calling other creatures to them and compelling them to do their bidding. They are also expert at dealing with creatures from other planes (including sending them back where they belong) as a result of their frequent commerce with such creatures during their training. They can learn spells of any Realm that involve summoning creatures from afar or from other planes or banishing or binding summoned creatures as if they were within their Primary FOS. In addition, they gain the following abilities: Banishment: Summoners may attempt to banish or dispel summoned creatures, affecting as many hit dice of creatures as he or she has levels, though no creature to be affected may have more hit dice than half the Summoner's level (rounding up). This may be done once per day, and all creatures to be targeted gain a save vs. breath weapon to avoid this banishment, though magic resistance does not apply. Banishment can also be attempted against a spell such as summon swarm or insect plague that conjures a large horde of very weak creatures, in which case it should be treated as a dispel magic attempt at double the Summoner's level. Comprehensive Conjuring: As a standard Conjurer, save that a Summoner's bonuses apply only to spells that summon or banish creatures. A Summoner has double the normal chance to recognize summoned creatures but has no chance to recognize magically created material or objects. Summoning Mastery: A Summoner has the unique ability to learn any creature- summoning spell, regardless of level or Realm; thus, even a 1st level Summoner could learn a 9th level spell, as long as it is one that summons creatures of some type. A Summoner suffers no penalty when attempting to learn a summoning spell that would normally be beyond his or her abilities. Summoners have another unusual ability in terms of how they memorize spells of summoning. They may memorize summoning spells one level higher than those they would normally able to use (e.g., a 5th level Summoner could memorize a 4th level summoning spell). They can also memorize any summoning spell they know using a spell 'slot' of any level, subject to the restriction that at least half of all 'spell slots' of a given level must be spells of that level (e.g., a 3rd level Summoner has two first level spell slots, and at least one of those slots must be used to memorize a 1st level spell. The other slot, however, could be used to memorize a 1st, 2nd, or even 3rd level summoning spell). Regardless of the type of 'spell slot' used to memorize a given spell, it takes effect normally when cast. This ability can only be used with respect to creature-summoning spells. There is a danger inherent in using Summoning Mastery in this way, however, because any time a Summoner attempts to use a spell at a level below its true level, there is a 10% chance per level of difference between the actual spell level and the 'spell slot' used to memorize it that the caster will lose control of the spell as it is being cast and the summoned creatures will arrive completely uncontrolled. They may simply vanish (if they have the ability to do so), or they may remain and visit their displeasure on anyone near enough to feel their wrath, which usually includes the Summoner and his or her party. Even if the spell goes off normally, there is a similar chance that the summoned beings will break free of the Summoner's control at a random point during the spell's duration. Example: A Summoner casts monster summoning I as a 1st level spell. The summoned monsters have a (2 x 10) 20% chance to arrive completely uncontrolled. If this check is passed, the summoned monsters have a 20% chance of breaking free of the Summoner's control at some point during the spell's duration. A final benefit of a Summoner's Summoning Mastery is that he or she knows certain special rituals and adjustments to make to spells that enable them to summon the strongest and fittest creatures available. Hence, any creature summoned by a Summoner gains a +1 bonus to its attack rolls and Armor Class. For spells such as summon swarm, which do not require a roll to hit, damage is instead increased by 1 point per die. Special Hindrances: Summoners depend a great deal on their minions to do their dirty work, and thus they do not learn as well as other Sorcerers do how to apply their magical prowess to direct spellcasting at their foes. They focus on learning the use of magical channels in order to contact or summon creatures rather than tapping such energy directly. Thus they lack a standard Conjurer's ability to Channel Energy. Summoners are very fond of their particular specialty and resent attempts by others to paint them as dangerous meddlers with things best left alone. They are protective of the respect and propriety of their profession, and they are active in promoting it as a useful and viable branch of magic. They eschew other forms of magic in favor of their beloved summonings (and related banishment and binding spells), and as a result they suffer a -10% penalty to learn Conjuration spells and a -20% penalty to learn non-Conjuration spells of any other type. Bonus Proficiencies: Monster Lore Required Proficiencies: Reading/Writing, Spellcraft Preferred Proficiencies: Animal Lore, Astrology, Battle Magic, Celestology, Ceremony/Ritual, Demonology, Divining, Leadership, Lightning Reflexes, Luck, Necrology, Observation, Rune Lore, Sixth Sense, Tactics, Thaumaturgy ***DISCLAIMER*** As with all postings by me of classes or races, it should be noted that portions of the information contained herein were inspired by or derived from information in published works of TSR, Inc., and may contain references to those works, quotations or passages of text (especially in the area of 'Character Description', where applicable sections from TSR works were often carried over more or less intact into my campaign world), or particular powers or abilities invented by TSR staff writers. No relationship with TSR, Inc., is to be implied by this use, nor is any attempt being made to solicit profit or remuneration of any kind. I have read the TSR Online Policy document, and have tried to accommodate the stipulations contained therein. In instances where I have lifted an essentially complete class or race without significant alteration, I have not included these in my postings but instead have inserted a reference to the appropriate D&D sourcebook for those curious in including it in their campaign. Only variations that include a significant component of original work, alteration, or reformulation (including the compositing elements from various TSR sources into new combinations) of have been included in this set of postings. Jason Eric Nelson < tjaden@u.washington.edu >