Nethermancer: Summoning

Discussion on playing Earthdawn. Experiences, stories, and questions related to being a player.
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TheOracle
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Nethermancer: Summoning

Post by TheOracle » Mon Jun 10, 2019 2:28 pm

My Nethermancy is reaching circle 5 soon. So I'm really looking to finally being able to use the "Summon" talent.

How do your characters use it? What kind of Ally Spirits do you prefer? What do you like to use them for?s

Lamoron
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Re: Nethermancer: Summoning

Post by Lamoron » Wed Jul 03, 2019 1:13 pm

I'm nearing 5th Circle as well, and would like much the same info :D

Belenus
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Re: Nethermancer: Summoning

Post by Belenus » Wed Jul 03, 2019 4:36 pm

In all my groups not a single nethermancer ever used the summing talent :|
But all those players were to lazy to read the rules for summoning and explaining it to them didn't help either.
I on my part never played a nethermancer ^^

Lamoron
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Re: Nethermancer: Summoning

Post by Lamoron » Thu Jul 04, 2019 6:21 am

It seems hard to use to be honest, but I have to buy it anyway and I do so loathe to waste things.
  • 30 minutes to perform the ritual, so unless it's a prepared fight then it's zero use in combat.
  • It stays just one hour for each success, so even a planned combat is difficult to make happen, unless you can spend 30 minutes within a reasonable distance of the combat, or roll really well which cannot be relied upon.
  • After you summon it, you still have to persuade the spirit to actually use it's cool powers to assist in your request.
The most interesting uses seem to be non-combat, with Bone Spirit or Fog Ghost being the combat spirits? Spellcasting seems interesting, as Ally spirits can gain access to any spell it seems, up to a rating equal to their strength, so if you need a specific spell it's no farther away than 30 minutes and a few good rolls.

THAT seems powerful, but is subject to DM-approval as "The gamemaster should determine the exact powers and spells of a particular ally spirit to suit the nature of the spirit and the needs of his game." - p. 376 of GMG.

The same can be said for talents. Need a magically trapped door opened and there's no rush, then summon yourself a buddy with rank = strength rating in Disarm Traps and Lock Picking.

TheOracle
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Re: Nethermancer: Summoning

Post by TheOracle » Fri Jul 05, 2019 9:19 am

My big problem with this talent is precisely this mismatch between the time it takes to use and the duration of the effect. If the duration were measured in days, that would be great. So "Summoning" for the signature talent of the Nethermancer appears unfortunately quite underwhelming.

I always found the old "spirit servant" spell great and extremely fluffy. Unfortunately it can't be emulated with this talent.

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