Summons seems kinda incapable of hitting anything on core?

[Soul]

Is it just me or do even the highest level summons seem to barely ever manage to hit their targets? Also is there any way to fix my Angel's summons so it doesn't always just summon spirit paladins? It seems like they get summoned no matter what I try to summon lol

[Aldain]

Judging by the tactical advice I've seen around these forums, summons only exist to body-block melee enemies so it doesn't matter anyway? Or at least that's what I'm gonna predict as at least one following response to the thread.

[Frozen Dervish]

Originally posted by Aldain:

Judging by the tactical advice I've seen around these forums, summons only exist to body-block melee enemies so it doesn't matter anyway? Or at least that's what I'm gonna predict as at least one following response to the thread.

That's pretty much true Summons are terrible since almost all enemies are double to triple the level they should be while the summons are basic pathfinder creatures.

[Soul]

Ah balls, well thanks for the info.

[LordSith]

Yes it's the first crpg where not using summons as not been a bad move... i don't get why the enemies have AC 40 while the same creature summon style has like 20. (it's an exagerated example!)

[PopsurSocks]

I haven't actually tested summons, but I imagine that they are like most other things in this game - you need to spend feats and buffs to get them to really be effective.

There are feats which let you add dex and strength bonuses to your summons. You can also buff them after they are summoned with Bards, Skalds and other buffing classes. You can also buff them with spells like Haste, Bless, Mass Bulls strength, etc etc etc

Not sure why anyone would expect them to be effective as attackers without spending extra effort and spells into making them good, thats not how the game works with anything else why would it be different for summons.

[Soul]

I mean yeah, feats are important and buffs too but if I summon a Vrock I expect it to be able to go toe to toe with an enemy Vrock lol

[Hobocop]

Yep, they're largely there to moshpit and maybe land a hit every once in a while with a natural 20.

The once per day summoning book you can find in the Lost Chapel is pretty good for the point you get it at, though.

[Elnidfse]

Summons are very very very very very bad this time around. Having played through with a beast tamer bard using every single summon buffing item possible on top of marrying the entire "mass" line of spells and taking things like whip (haste on summons) + free (so the whip doesn't stagger me) I'll advise you to consider playing any other kind of build.
It does not function late chapter 3 and at all in chapter 4 other than making turns last forever with bodies that will then proceed to never hit anything ever.
Enemy AC is simply too high.

If you want summons. Go Lich and use repurpose of slain enemies. Their stats are better, they're tankier, and they are generally more useful

[Dallar]

Depends from summons too. The ones you get from spells are pretty terrible until higher levels.The ones from items are somewhat decent,even good, on lower levels. Angels from that book in lich hideout carried me trough quite a few battles.

[Elnidfse]

Originally posted by Dallar:

Depends from summons too. The ones you get from spells are pretty terrible until higher levels.The ones from items are somewhat decent,even good, on lower levels. Angels from that book in lich hideout carried me trough quite a few battles.

I like when it rolls me the demons more given that their attack string includes a vampiric touch that hits touch AC. You can take those outside and fight the hidden super boss for that map and have them carry the entire fight.

[lar unuruur]

summons are weak even on dedicated summoner. but companions are quite fine, but still need right feats.

[Fluff]

I won't agree for 1 thing - Duality of Conjuration and Summoning

That with Ascendant summons gives you several (up to 4) tanky minions that produce Holy auras or Drain enemy with touch attacks. They can also crit. A very simple but nice addition to the buff character.

If you will on top of that - Book of dreams - Brazen whip - items = etc. they become a bit better.
If you will on top of that - Augment and Superios summoning - feat = they become even tankier/can hit more.

But summons from spells <6 circle are pretty much useless yeh.

[Soul]

I haven't done a lich playthrough yet, how does repurpose work? I get that it animates the target to serve you upon death, is it temporary like 1round per level deal? or semi(leave the area and poof)permanent?

[Icyage]

if a monster dies within the timer of repurpose it becomes your undead minion. strength should depend on whatever you repurposed. i just had like 3 balors and other stuff running behind me ^^ there seems to be NO timer. i had stuff from midnight fane still be arround after comeing back from the abyss

[Soul]

Originally posted by Icyage:

if a monster dies within the timer of repurpose it becomes your undead minion. strength should depend on whatever you repurposed. i just had like 3 balors and other stuff running behind me ^^ there seems to be NO timer. i had stuff from midnight fane still be arround after comeing back from the abyss

Wait whattt the undead pets just persist in the area you summon them permanently? That's awesome! haha Good to know good to know, thanks. I think that also solves the problem of building a companion with a high enough AC to tank too lol We shall see