Help with a Summoner

[jywu98]

I need help creating a 8th level Archivist focused on summoning with 32 point buy. What feats and spells should I take? Should I prestige?

[Amechra]

Summon Nature's Ally and Summon Monster (all their iterations) are your best choices.

I would also suggest grabbing the Corrupt Summons spell from somewhere if you are evil (because creating an "Only Evil creatures can be summoned here" is lulzy, especially since the summoned creature will attack their summoner if they aren't evil.) Other than that, I would really suggest the Summon Elemental reserve feat at 9th, since anything that affects Summon Monster affects it (so your bog-standard Augment Summons, which you are taking, your arguments against it are invalid also boosts your free Elementals as well.)

Cloudy Conjuration is nice for a little free BC, iirc.

Other than that, we can't give you many specifics without you telling us a bit more about the character idea; there are a lot of ways you can go when it comes to summoning as an Archivist (you can draw on all the best summoning spells in the game, and most of those fall into different categories that need different tweaks.)

Of course, if you can convince the DM that summoning creates creatures, you might be able to swing Corpsecrafter et al for the Summon Undead line of spells; but that is major houserules right there, so it ain't likely.

One final way: see if you can have a divine Shadowcraft Mage OK'd by the DM. Play a Gnome Archivist 5/Shadowcraft Mage (I think you can get in at that level; haven't checked in a while...) and then just use Silent Image to cast whatever summoning spell you need; you have the spell-list for it  .

[sirpercival]

I think you need 4th-level spells to qualify for ScM, though you can pull shenanigans with Sanctum or something to get in at that point.

Malconvoker is a great summoning PrC, I would check out the handbook.  Tons of fun, and Archivist is one of the best entries (though you don't get Abrupt Jaunt or Rapid Summons, so Conjurer is probably slightly better).

[jywu98]

I'll probably focus on casting Summon Nature's Ally and Summon Monster spells. What other summoning spells are useful?

[snakeman830]

The Conjure Ice Beast line is probably good.  They aren't (Summoning) spells, which means that they won't get the bonuses for that, but at the same time, they ignore all anti-summon effects because they are (creation) effects.

[Garryl]

There's a feat (Imbued Summoning, I think) that lets you summon prebuffed creatures (that is, they appear with another spell already cast upon them). I think it's a +1 or a +2 metamagic feat, though, but check if you can to be sure.

Of course, if you can convince the DM that summoning creates creatures, you might be able to swing Corpsecrafter et al for the Summon Undead line of spells; but that is major houserules right there, so it ain't likely.

Doubly so since the Summon Undead spells are Conjuration and Corpsecrafter specifically requires Necromancy spells.

[Amechra]

 

Hey, who knows how good he is at persuasion?

But yeah, that was an ill-conceived joke. I wished it worked, though.

[SorO_Lost]

Quick tips

Summoning - Items
Special Holy Symbol[Elhonna's Brooch] (CC): Gives your summons +1 hp/HD for 100gp, only works if you worship Elhonna.
Ring of Mighty Summons (CM): 3/day max hp but 1/2 duration.
Ring of the Beast (CC): summon nature's ally spell improves by an entire level (ie SNA-IV to SNA-V).
Summoner's Totem (MiC, 187): pretty much imbued summoning for 3k, summon nature's ally only.
Worldmeet Glade (CM): magical location, +2 hp per HD and +2 to saves/skills/checks/attack/damage for 18k.

Summoning - Feats
Ashbound (ECS): double duration and +3 luck to attack rolls, summon nature's ally only.
Augment Elemental (EB:MoE): elemental summons gain a +2 enhancement bonus to attack and damage as well as temp hp.
Augment Summoning (Core): summons gain a +4 enhancement bonus to strength and constitution.
Ashbound (EB:ECS): doubles the duration of summons and gives them a +3 luck bonus to attack.
Beckon the Frozen (FB): summons gain the cold subtype and deal +1d6 cold damage.
Icy Calling (FB): requires cold weather but can give max hp & +4 enhance to strength and dexterity.
Imbued Summoning (PHBII): can cast up to a 3rd level spell as a swift action to buff your summon.
Rashemi Elemental Summoning (UE): lets you summon Orglash or Thomils instead of an air or earth elemental.
Greenbound Summoning (LEoF): adds greenbound template, summon nature's ally only.

The real summoning handbooks go over a lot more stuff than a couple items & feats.

Lists of monsters
SM
SNA