D&D Summon In Dungeons & Dragons, "summoning" refers to the magical ability to call forth creatures, objects, or entities from other planes of existence or magical realms and bring them into the material world. Summoning is a powerful and versatile form of magic that allows characters to summon allies, creatures, or items to aid them in various situations. **Key Points about Summoning**: - **Spellcasters**: Summoning is primarily associated with spellcasters, particularly those who specialize in conjuration magic. Wizards, sorcerers, and druids are among the classes that can access summoning spells. - **Summoning Spells**: Spells that involve summoning are typically found in the Conjuration school of magic. These spells allow characters to conjure creatures, elementals, celestial beings, or even objects to assist them. - **Creature Allies**: One common use of summoning is to call forth creatures to fight on the summoner's behalf. These summoned creatures can vary in power and abilities, depending on the spell's level and the summoner's proficiency. - **Duration**: Summoned creatures or objects typically have a limited duration of service. After a certain period, they return to their plane of origin or cease to exist, depending on the spell's description. - **Control**: The summoner usually has control over the summoned entities, directing their actions and commands. However, maintaining control may require concentration, and some summoned creatures may have independent motives. - **Versatility**: Summoning spells can be used for various purposes, such as combat, reconnaissance, utility, or solving puzzles. They provide versatility and creative solutions to challenges. - **Planar Creatures**: Some summoning spells call creatures from other planes of existence, such as the Feywild or the Elemental Planes. These summoned creatures often have unique qualities and abilities associated with their plane of origin. **Examples of Summoning Spells**: - **Summon Elemental**: A spellcaster can summon an elemental (e.g., fire, water, earth, or air) to assist in combat or perform tasks related to their element. - **Summon Celestial**: A summoner can call upon a celestial being, such as an angel or unicorn, to aid in protecting or healing allies. - **Conjure Animals**: This spell allows a druid to summon a group of animals to fight on their behalf. The specific animals summoned are determined by the spell's level. - **Find Familiar**: Wizards and warlocks can summon a magical familiar that serves as a loyal companion and can perform various tasks. - **Gate**: A high-level spell that opens a portal to another plane of existence, allowing the summoner to call powerful entities or even deities to assist in a dire situation. **Roleplaying Considerations**: Characters who can summon often have a deep connection to the magical realms or planes from which they draw their summoned entities. Roleplaying summoning can involve describing the rituals, incantations, or gestures used to call forth these beings. It can also involve roleplaying interactions with the summoned creatures, as they may have their own personalities and motivations. **Resource Management**: Summoning spells consume spell slots, which are a finite resource for spellcasters. Players must carefully consider when and how to use summoning spells to maximize their effectiveness. In summary, summoning in D&D is a magical ability that allows characters to bring creatures, objects, or entities from other planes of existence into the material world. It provides a wide range of tactical options, from combat allies to problem-solving solutions, and is a fascinating aspect of magic in the world of Dungeons & Dragons.