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Summoned Creatures

A summoned creature is a being temporarily called into existence by your magic. Unlike pets or familiars, summoned creatures are conjured or animated, exist only while sustained by your power, and vanish when their Source is depleted or you choose to dismiss them.

Summoned creatures act as your magical extensions on the battlefield. They inherit your Echelon bonuses, operate with their own hit points and Source allocation, and follow your intent—either acting autonomously or under your direct command. They cannot replenish themselves, and their strength is limited by the SD you invest in them.

  • Inherit your Echelon bonuses
  • Do not require item binding
  • Have independent HP and Source allocation
  • Act with autonomy

Summoning Mechanics​

  • Uses spellcasting rules
  • Must learn each summoning spell rank separately
  • Spend SD equal to the creature’s rank (based on item tiers)
  • May exceed proficiency cap in expenditure to summon

Summoning Difficulty​

Single creature:

DC = 30 + rank – (Spellcasting Score + Proficiency if proficient)

Multiple creatures:

DC = 30 + highest rank + number of creatures – (Spellcasting + Proficiency if proficient)

Source Commitment​

  • Max active summons = your total SD
  • Allocate SD to each summoned creature during summoning. Each summons must retain 1 SD to remain active.
  • While any summons are active:
    • You do not suffer empty pool penalties

Example​

You have 12 SD and summon two creatures:

  • 10 SD to one, 2 SD to the other
  • You can’t spend any more SD unless one is dismissed

Source Return​

  • SD committed to a summon is locked as long as it has 1 SD or more
  • If the summon drops to 0 HP or is dismissed:
    • Half of its remaining SD is returned (min 0)

Replenishment & Redistribution​

  • Only the summoner regains SD via Replenishment
  • You may manually transfer or redistribute SD to your summons on your turn by using a Core Action or Equivalent

Example: You regain 6 SD → You choose how much to allocate to summons

Redistributing SD​

  • Add/remove SD from a summon by spending a Core Action or equivalent on your turn
  • HP adjusts immediately based on new SD total

Hit Points​

HP = SD committed × Summoning Die Size

  • Summoning Die Size is based on your caster level: d6, d8, or d10

Example:
4 SD with a d8 summoning die = 32 HP

Summon Attributes​

Each summon has:

  • 50ft movement per round
  • Press the Attack, Dig In, Arcane Advantage
  • Attack rolls use your proficiency (unless commanded)
  • Summons may cast cantrips you know in place of melee/ranged attacks.

Summon Rolls​

Summons use the character’s proficiency for all combat rolls (unless commanded)

  • d20 + proficiency

Example:
Your summon makes a melee, ranged, or spell attack = d20 + Your Proficiency (unless Commanded)

Summon vs Familiar​

FeatureSummonFamiliar
HPIndependentNone (damage transfers to you)
Bound to ItemNoYes
Source UseFrom youFrom you or their item
Discipline ChecksNoYes (via your stats)
RegenerationCannot self-regenItem-based

Summoning Limits​

  • Cannot exceed your total SD in active summons (# limited by your total SD)
  • Summons cannot:
    • Summon other creatures
    • Use conversion
    • Scale damage with SD unless "Commanded"
  • You may dismiss individually or all at once (Core Action / equivalent)

Dismissed summons return half of current SD (min 0)

You + summons share the same proficiency cap for SD spent per round

Status & Discipline Checks​

  • Cannot make Discipline Checks
  • Can suffer status effects (fear, poison, paralysis)

If targeted or affected:

  • Use your spellcasting score, and proficiency

Scaling and Damage​

Unless commanded:

  • Use your proficiency for all rolls (roll a d20 + your proficiency)
  • Base damage = your proficiency
  • Damage may be scaled with:
    • Unspent Movement (Press the Attack/Arcane Advantage)

Summoned Actions & Control​

  • Summons follow your intent, acting semi-autonomously:
    • Attack known threats
    • Move to specified locations
    • Defend allies

Core Action: Command​

Under Command, checks are made with your spellcasting abiity + proficiency if proficient.

Spend 1 Core Action (or equivalent) to:

  • Command a group (shared 50ft pool of movement and collective SD for 1 Action)
  • Actions taken apply to all summons in the group, and SD spent are divided as you choose among the group.

Note: if an action expending Source Dice would use a summons last SD, that summons or group of summons expire.

  • Control a single summon using its full pool and SD

  • While under command, Summons' damage = to your base spell damage

Example: Activating a spell through your summons costs 2 Core actions or Equivalent -- Core action: Command and a Core Action + Spell Level