I'm having a problem with the "summon elemental" spell. Sometimes it won't allow itself to be cast and at other times it works well. I figure it's something I'm doing wrong but I'm not sure what.

During Combat (combat only spell), my mage selects the spell and a vertical wand appears (similar to the fireball/iceball targeting device.) I click in an area to set the spell and it doesn't set (default windows "bong" sound) the targeting device stays active. Click, click, click in various areas, nothing happens so I select another spell. The very next round it may work fine.

At first I though it needed an empty space, I was surrounded at the time by Higardi Highwaymen. Then it worked the next round, still surrounded, when I clicked on an opponent. Anyone with any insight here, please help.

First of all, pardon me if I'm stating the obvious here. I don't know the exact cause of this and haven't used this actual spell.

However I have used other "vertical wand" spells before, like "Sonic Boom", so I'll just do the same thing I do there.

You are selecting a power level, right? Plus I assume that you know about higher levels being a greater risk, too. I'm reading your question to state that you have been doing this and that you don't get a "spell fizzles" error.

Sometimes with these spells I need to physically select a group of enemies and have them glow green before I can complete the spell. Although I don't know why "Summon Elemental" would work this way. It sounds like when you successfully cast it the 2nd time, you were able to click on an enemy. Perhaps you need a nearby enemy to target.

Sorry I can't be more help than this.

Dan

It's a bit "twitchy". Sometimes, with many enemies or difficult terrain around, the summon spell has a hard time finding enough "space" for the elemental to appear in. You can usually get it to stick if you try a lot of different areas around you, unless you want it to appear in a specific spot. Can't help you with that case.

BlackRaven, I have had the same thing happen to me. It almost seems like it sticks and freezes. I wondered if this was a bug myself. Other times, it works great.

I guess "twitchy" is as good a description as any. I don't know why it would be particular since the elemental never materializes in the spot I select anyway. When it does work, if I clicked in front of the enemy on the right it might materialize on the far left and have to walk a full turn to engage.

Also, it doesn't seem to work like fireball where the enemy is "turned green" if in range, but it doesn't seem to work if the enemy is outside of normal range either.

Thanks all for the replies.

This actually has a very easy explanation. You ever noticed that creatures come in varying sizes? Well so do elementals. And the area in which you are trying to cast it has to be able to hold the elemental, not just ground space but also vertically. So if the ceiling is to low it will not allow you to summon it. A lower level elemental may be able to fit since they go from half human height pwr1 to gigantic pwr7. Hope this helps.