Augment Summoning

[Dread Polack]

I'm making a druid for my upcoming D&D campaign, and I'm looking into taking Augment Summoning to buff up my summoned critters. It seems like the prerequisite, Spell Focus (conjuration), seems like a hefty price for this feat, especially since there are few conjuration spells for druids that require a saving throw, thus making the first feat pretty useless.

Is this fair? Is Augment Summoning a worthwhile feat? (+2 hp per hit die and +2 damage per attack sounds like it could be awesome, or could be no big deal). Is it worth two feats?

Dread Polack

 

[frankthedm]

I'm making a druid for my upcoming D&D campaign, and I'm looking into taking Augment Summoning to buff up my summoned critters. It seems like the prerequisite, Spell Focus (conjuration), seems like a hefty price for this feat, especially since there are few conjuration spells for druids that require a saving throw, thus making the first feat pretty useless.

Is this fair? Is Augment Summoning a worthwhile feat? (+2 hp per hit die and +2 damage per attack sounds like it could be awesome, or could be no big deal). Is it worth two feats?

I'd never let a druid take it without the prerequirement, especially considering how potent the SNA spells are. 3rd spell level's Dire wolf going from +11 to hit/1d8+10 damage to +13 to hit / 1d8+13 damage is signifigant

Feats ain't cheap, but considering how much a druidcan make use of SNA, it is a decent core feat tree.

 

[Vorput]

You're right- the pre-req stinks- but Augment Summoning is one of the feats well worth the pre-req.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Isn't there at least one other really good summoning feat out there that uses Augment Summoning as a pre-req? Yet another reason not to nerf the AS pre-reqs.

 

[Pinotage]

Definitely worth the prerequisite. Augment Summoning is a must for any druid that intends to use their SNA spells a lot.

The specialist conjurer can take the Conjurer variant from UA that gives Augment Summoning as a bonus feat at first level without the Spell Focus prerequisite. That can be combined with casting summoning spells as a standard action, but given the SM spells as so much weaker than SNA, that's not too bad.

Note as well that with Spell Compendium, there are a few new conjurations spells that benefit from Spell Focus, making it worthwhile to have sometimes. Arc of Lightning, I think, springs to mind.

Pinotage

 

[evermind]

Isn't there at least one other really good summoning feat out there that uses Augment Summoning as a pre-req? Yet another reason not to nerf the AS pre-reqs.

There is "Beckon the Frozen" ( Frostburn) requires "Augmented Summoning" as a preq. Since it adds +1D6 Cold damage to each and every attack by a summoned criter and adds the cold subtype to its profile (basically rendering it immune to cold ) without any disadvantages .
Now consider what that does for the damage output of a multiple attack critter like a Hippogriff (available through SNA at level 3 for a human druid with all benefits from that feat ).

Still feeling short-changed ? Sorry, "Augment Summoning" is one of the strongest feats available for a non-melee druid and it comes pretty cheap already.

After all, its basically +2 HP/HD, +2 to all Fort Saves, +2 to attack rolls and damage.... nifty.

Oh, did someone mention that it also stacks with the bonus from "Augment Elemental" (magic of Eberron, but well.. its not very eberron-specific ).... which are pretty easy to summon for druids ?

 

[Nifft]

Is this fair? Is Augment Summoning a worthwhile feat? (+2 hp per hit die and +2 damage per attack sounds like it could be awesome, or could be no big deal).

+2 HP/hd, +2 Fort saves, +2 to attack rolls (probably), +2 (or +3) to damage, +2 to Trip, Grapple, Jump, Climb, Swim... yeah. It's worth it.

Cheers, -- N