Summoning

[WaylanderPK]

Hi, I was plying around with a necromancer type, she could summon zombies,Ghosts, Banshees. But I was having trouble with the the break up of stats (level+2) and powers (level) - at Level4 summoning your creature comes with 12 Character points of Stats and 4 points in powers, I wondered if there was a good reason for this?

Anyhow I had a tinker with the summoning rules and came up with the following. It should work out the same in character points, but not lock the summoner into having uber stats if the beast in question doesn't require it.
Let me know if I've broken it somehow

The summoned being will have a pool of points equal to the user’s level in the powe according to the following formula: (power x3) +4. Thus, a character with Summoning 3 would be able to summon a creature with Brawn 2 Agility 2 Mind 1 and 3 points in powers. The person using the power decides the exact allocation of stats and powers for the summoned being (with a maximum of 5 in each stat and a minimum of 1).

A summoned being cannot have the following powers: Healing, Duplication, Shape-Shifting, X-Ray Vision, ESP Telepathy, Mind,Control, Clairvoyance, or Summoning/Animation. The summoned creature can have advantages and disadvanatges. No more than 1 of each for every 2 levels of Summoning. Each advantage cost one point, while each disadvantage awards a point.

A summoned creature may have any of the following Advantages: Appeal, Fearless, Frightening Presence, Immortality, Instant Change, Non Sentience, Photographic Memory, Unliving.

A summoned creature may have any of the following Disadvantages: Involuntary Change, Susceptibility, Freak, Unskilled.

A summoned creature may also have a Weakness.

So the upshot is a
Level 1 Summoning can summon a 7 point Creature
Level 2 Summoning can summon a 10 point Creature
Level 3 Summoning can summon a 13 point Creature
Level 4 Summoning can summon a 16 point Creature
Level 5 Summoning can summon a 19 point Creature

[Baelor]

Looks good to me. It means creating summoned critters uses the same system as a character, only a little less involved. I like the Adv/Disadv and Weakness add too. I have been allowing them for my own games, but so far it has only been NPCs doing the summoning. This works for PC summoners.

The only concern I might have is that a player could load up on powers as a cheap way to access most powers in the book. I think a strong concept for summoner and summoned would likely be fine to deal with this. If not, then perhaps a cap on points spent on Powers [Summoning level x ? in power points for powers] would be good, with ? determined by the specifics of the game/ situation/ GM.

[WaylanderPK]

Sure, its these kind of powers that can be gamed. So a GM needs to be on the ball . I totally see where you are coming from, 5 points for a 19 point creature can be horribly abused.

The best yardstick for me is reasonableness, if the summoner is trying it on he can expect short shrift from me.

I'll give you some examples - my Necromancer Summons 3 types of Undead, with level 4 summoning. With the old rules you had to give them unrealistic stats, didn't sit right with me.

Zombie Horde
B2 A2 M1
60 Hits/25 Soak
Attack 14 Defend 11 Grab 29;
Bites: (x2+15 Dmg),
Powers
Size 3, Armour 2
Advantage: Unliving

Ghost
B1 A2 M1 (8pts)
60 Hits/5 Soak
Attack 28 Defend 7
Boost Agility 2 - Hit only (2pts)
Ghost Form 3 [Enhancement: Second Nature, Limitation: Always On] (3pts)
Telekinesis 3 [Limitation: Range: Touch] (2pts)
Flight 1 [ Enhancement: Second Nature] (2pts)
Weaknesses: x2 Damage Holy attacks (+2pts)
Advantage: Unliving (1pt)

Banshee
B1 A1 M1 (6pts)
60 Hits/5 Soak
Attack 28 Defend 7
Boost Mind 3 - Damage only (3pts)
Ghost Form 3 [Enhancement: Second Nature, Limitation: Always On] (3pts)
Banshee Wail x2DM Mind Blast, Medium Cone (4pts)
Flight 1 [ Enhancement: Second Nature] (2pts)
Weaknesses: x2 Damage Holy attacks (+2pts)
Advantage: Unliving (1pt)
Disadvantage: Susceptible Holy Ground [-2] (+1pt)

[Baelor]

I agree completely. I would only introduce a cap if there was abuse of the system. In fact I think if I have a PC summoner show up, I will go with your method. It allows for a much more tailored approach.

Nice work on the examples too!