Summons

From HGWiki

Planar Binding (Evil):

• Quasit, Bezekira, Jarilith, Lemure, Black Abishai, Blue Abishai, Green Abishai, Red Abishai, White Abishai, Dretch, Vrock, Imp, Nightmare, Nupperibo, Soulshell, Gadacro, Mane, Rutterkin
• Zovvut, Barbazu, Kyton, Maelephant, Barigura, Hezrou, Uridezu
• Armanite, Erinyes, Kocrachon, Incubus, Maurezhi, Succubus
• Spinagon, Narzugon, Bueroza, Hamatula, Osyluth, Bulezau, Glabrezu
• Amnizu, Brachina, Cornugon, Excruciarch, Bebelith, Nabassu, Palrethee, Dogai, Falxugon, Babau, Kelvezu, Advespa, Chasme
• Gelugon, Molydeus, Nalfeshnee, Adaru
• Malebranche, Pitfiend, Balor, Marilith, Alkilith (5% Chance)

Kralex:

I glanced over the code. I read only a fraction of it, and not very carefully, so take the following with caution. Anyway, here's what I gather so far. At CL 40 or more, the Summon Creature 1-9 spells all summon creatures from the same general pool. That pool is divided into sets. Which set you get depends on CL - 7 + which Summon Creature spell + number Conjuration foci + 1 if having ESF Anim Emp feat+ random number in 0 ... 4. Summon Creature 9 counts as a 4 in that sum, each lower Summon Creature counts as 1 less. You get the best set if that sum is 60+. If you are in the best set, you get a 1% chance of summoning those tentacle thingies from deep Elemental Planes, Xor-Yost and friends. Thus, if you have 60 CL and ESF Conju, then Summon 9 will always get you the best set. With 60Cl and LSF Conju, Summon 8 will also always give you the best set. With 59 CL (and no ESF Anim Emp), you need LSF Conju and Summon 9 to get the best set reliably. The random aspect means that you can get lucky and get the best set even with 4 less CL, for example.

Planar Ally, LPB, PB, GPB work similarly. The summon stuff from the same pool, divided into sets. GPB counts as +3, PA and PB as -1, LPB as -3 in the sum. You get the best set if the sum is 60+. In the best set, for good casters there is a 1% chance of summoning a Planetar; for evil casters a 5% chance of summoning an Alkilith (which in a test killed the first Uro spawn easily). Note unlike other summons the Alkilith does not have Haste or Keen so giving it these two buffs in addition to an acid weapon can turn it into a veritable engine of destruction as it inflicts acid vulnerability on hit. There does not seem to be a "lucky" summon for neutral casters. The Marilith breaches on hit if you give it weapon buffs of any kind which can also be useful. None of the summons have innate immunity to Breach or Mord so casting buffs which can be dispelled by these effects are generally short lived.

Stuff works similarly for other summoning spells. (Greater) Shadow Conjuration and Shades all summon stuff from the same pool of shade-like mobs and use Illu foci instead of Conju. The undead making spells (including PM class ability) use Necro. ESF:Anim Emp does not add a bonus for shades or undead. The best undead you can get are Dust Wight or Sanguinous Drinker. Neither shades nor undead seem to have a "lucky" summon. The drinker tends to be the summon of choice due to its ability to self heal by draining HPs from creatures it hits, all undead summons require Harm potions/spells to heal.

Note: There are creatures that have the ability to dismiss summons (with the exception of the Epic spell ones although including the Bard Army) some of these being Cornugons & Glabrezu, these should be killed before letting your summons enagage spawns unless you want them to have a very short lived duration.