Monster Summoning and Animal Summoning

[manikus]

Thanks to Paul, we can summon monsters of all varieties in combat now. And further more, he has given us the ability to choose from a random list of monsters.

With lists supplied by Uatu, I've been able to determine which monsters will be summoned by each of the 7 monster summoning spells. There is a problem however and it's a very minor one. There are not enough monsters in the database to have four choices per spell (based on the list, but simplified and equalized for DC). There are two icons that Uatu has already done that are not part of the database that I will add to it, one for each of the lists I'm still trying to finish.

So, I'm asking that one of two things happen. First option is for Uatu to do two new icons which are recolors of his fire toad so that we have an ice toad and a giant toad. Second option are for two completely new icons to be created, preferably in the style of the monster icons. The two new icons would be one each from the following lists
1) troglodyte (short list I know)
2) carnivorous ape, 5-headed hydra, werewolf, owlbear, poisonous toad

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I will also be figuring out the lists for the 3 animal summoning spells. I believe that Uatu has all the icons I need to add more animals to the database, plus I even have a couple I've been sitting on for a design I was doing. I will keep you posted on this.
If there are any animals that Uatu has not done an icon for that you would like to be part of the monster database, supply an icon that I can use, and they're most likely a sure addition.

[Uatu]

What about Conjure Animals?

This spell is a bit complex, as the caster can select HD up to his own level, I think... I have a list I made here:

Hit Dice Animal Type Hit Dice Cost
1 Baboon 1 1/4
1 Dog, Wild 1 1/4
1 Flightless Bird 1/2
1 Jackal 1/2
1 Rat, Giant 1/2
2 Badger 1 1/2
2 Flightless Bird 2
2 Herd Animal 2
2 Horse, Wild 2
3 Axe Bird 3
3 Badger, Giant 3
3 Boar, Warthog 3
3 Camel 3
3 Cattle, Wild 2 1/2
3 Dog, War 2 1/2
3 Flightless Bird 3
3 Goat, Giant 3 1/4
3 Hyena 3
3 Lion, Mountain 3 1/4
3 Lynx, Giant 2 1/2
3 Mule 3
3 Stag 3
3 Wolf 2 1/2
3 Wolverine 3
4 Ape 4 1/4
4 Bear, Black 3 3/4
4 Beaver, Giant 4
4 Boar, Wild 3 3/4
4 Bull 4
4 Eagle, Giant 4
4 Irish Deer 4
4 Jaguar 4 1/4
4 Leopard 3 1/2
4 Owl, Giant 4
4 Ram, Giant 4
4 Weasel, Giant 3 1/4
4 Wolf, Dire 3 3/4
5 Ape, Carnivorous 5
5 Buffalo 5
5 Hyena, Giant 5
5 Otter, Giant 5
5 Skunk, Giant 5
5 Stag, Giant 5
5 Wolverine, Giant 5
6 Bear, Brown 6 1/4
6 Lion 5 1/2
6 Porcupine, Giant 6
6 Tiger 6 1/4
7 Boar, Giant 7
7 Lion, Spotted 6 1/2
8 Bear, Cave 7 1/2
8 Hippopotamus 8
8 Tiger, Sabre-Tooth 8 1/2
9 Rhinoceros 8 1/2
10 Elephant 10
10 Rhinoceros, Woolly 10
11 Elephant (Loxodont) 11
12 Mastodon 12
12 Titanothere 12
13 Mammoth 13
13 Whale (Small) 13
14 Baluchitherium 14
14 Whale (Small) 14
15 Whale 15
16 Whale 16
17 Whale 17
18 Whale 18
19 Whale 19
20 Whale 20
21 Whale 21
22 Whale 22
23 Whale 23
24 Whale 24
25 Whale 25
26 Whale 26
27 Whale 27
28 Whale 28
29 Whale 29
30 Whale 30
31 Whale 31
32 Whale 32
33 Whale 33
34 Whale 34
35 Whale 35
36 Whale 36

While I have some of the icons required for this spell, most are not yet filled in, so I guess I will have to make a whole bunch more

Also, note that this spell can summon whales - but we would need some method to differentiate aquatic environments from land environments, I guess...

[manikus]

Conjure Animals is not going to be part of the default spells. I read this yesterday and immediately knew that while this may be possible, the scripting is way beyond me.


So, Uatu, any interest in doing some re-colors of your fire toad?

[Uatu]

Hmm - I don't know from memory, but I think that the poisonous toad and giant toad might be different in size from the firetoad, but I will have to check. (Anyway, the size is small so that I may just do a new icon instead.)

Conjure Animals sure would be a tad more difficult than the other ones to script (Perhaps allowing the player to select something when casting a spell is too much?)

[Paul Stevens]

Having a script interact with the
player during combat is something
that eventually can be done. I think.

Keep it in mind after 1.0 and if it comes
to the top of the priority queue, I will
attempt it.

[manikus]

Originally Posted by Uatu Hmm - I don't know from memory, but I think that the poisonous toad and giant toad might be different in size from the firetoad, but I will have to check. (Anyway, the size is small so that I may just do a new icon instead.) Conjure Animals sure would be a tad more difficult than the other ones to script (Perhaps allowing the player to select something when casting a spell is too much?)

I would like an ice toad and a giant toad, which are the same size. I couldn't find an entry for fire toad, which book is it in? I decided that if the ice toad and giant toad were the same size as the fire toad, that would be okay by me. But, if you feel like doing a new icon or two, that would be awesome.

[Uatu]

Weren't some spells able to choose an effect in FRUA? (I dunno, I seem to remember something like that in the Gold Box games.)

Firetoad is in the Fiend Folio. (I will check sizes tonight )

[Uatu]

Hmm, have you thought about spells like Liveoak (6th druid)? That could be used to essentially summon a treant-like monster, but arguable should only work in a forest-type area... but that would make things somewhat complex, I guess.

[manikus]

Originally Posted by Paul Stevens Having a script interact with the player during combat is something that eventually can be done. I think. Keep it in mind after 1.0 and if it comes to the top of the priority queue, I will attempt it.

Yes, this is definitely something for after we reach 1.0.

There are only a couple of spells that this would be needed for, at least of the ones being considered now. Of course, once we have the ability, I'm sure a lot more spells will become available.

[manikus]

Originally Posted by Uatu Weren't some spells able to choose an effect in FRUA? (I dunno, I seem to remember something like that in the Gold Box games.) Firetoad is in the Fiend Folio. (I will check sizes tonight )

There is only one spell in FRUA and it is Fireshield (?), the one where it can either be hot or cold. FRUA does let you choose, and you get different graphics depending on your choice, but the mechanics are identical as far as FRUA is concerned.

Originally Posted by Uatu Hmm, have you thought about spells like Liveoak (6th druid)? That could be used to essentially summon a treant-like monster, but arguable should only work in a forest-type area... but that would make things somewhat complex, I guess.

I haven't thought about any spells that have not been posted in this thread. Well, in relation to adding them to DC that is.
Liveoak is one of those spells that are conditional, like the first two groups that nologgie listed. They may work good in conjunction with an event, but there is a lot of time in AD&D when you're in caves and dungeons or even on another plane. There is no way (currently) for DC to know this and keep the PC from using the spell.

Edited to add:
I do not mean to imply that DC cannot handle a spell like this, I simply mean that it requires additional work by the designer, such as adding ASLs for zones or levels so that the spell only fires in certain areas.