Summon Duration

[Caddies]

I'd be for some increase in durations, definitely.

[WaterMonster]

I think you guys are taking this off topic.

I wasn't saying "OMG CONJURATION SUCKS" I was saying that summon durations need to be beefed. It's as simple as that, and no other conjuration spells should have anything whatsoever to do with this discussion.

Conjuration duration is too short, it needs to be longer.

That was the suggestion, please stop going off topic

[Caddies]

I was just thinking how much more of a chance this suggestion stood being implemented if you didn't suggest it in such a douchey manner.

[Sandstorm]

It might also be worth noting that summons are not invulnerable to damage. They are much weaker than PCs of the same level. Even though they may last longer according to durations, they're much more likely to be killed during that duration.

[Thomas_Not_very_wise]

Keep the duration as is.

We have certain feat called Extend Spell, which increases the duration by 100%.

A level 6 summon lasts the same time as a level 12 summon.

If you wish longer summons, use this feat.

With the New Summoning themes such as SHADOW (yes, there is one, the 50% concealment summons and they have str drain) they can potentially rock the enemies frontline allowing for PC's to storm behind them. I don't believe that these summons should stand idle, the concept of use or loose comes to mind, and the short duration forces casters who use their summons wisely.

[Wern8]

I believe an increase for the summoning duration would be good, more variety is always good.

[Johannes]

In other news, perhaps we need to revisit the Shadow theme if it is as powerful as you say! Maybe we need to revoke it.

Fortunately we've been keeping lists of every summoning theme everyone has taken.

[Johannes]

Anyhow. The reason we have been mentioning the other conjuration spells is to combat the argument that Conjurers require summons to be formiddable on quests and for similar purposes - no less so than, say, an evoker. Or an abjurer. Or any other spell class you care to name. Why should conjurers be special? The fact is that a Conjurer's repertoire of spells is already more extensive and potent than many other schools' spells, and a strategy consisting solely of summons is a sad abortion of the rich diversity of the spell school.

For purposes other than smashing through quests single-handedly? Why do immediate needs care about whether your summons linger in the long term? If you take longer to kill something than it takes for your summoning spell to expire, as a wizard you are probably already dead.

I'm sorry, but I fail to see any strong argument in favor of this suggestion.

[Staring Death]

Having played a summoner a long time ago, before multiple summons but with the same duration, I find it lasts long enough. I've never had a problem with it. Even with my sucky default summoning theme. And I love summoners.

[Amourae]

I would like to see this suggestion implemented not just for quest effectiveness but to encourage other practices with summoned creatures.
 
For instance, it'd be really cool to see a necromancer summon a couple of spirits to guard or watch a door while he's having a private conversation inside.
 
One can say that the character could use a familiar for this example, but familiars don't have the flavour and the cool factor that EfU's customized summons have.

[dragonfire9000]

Stop beating this poor horse! *calls the police, as well as the undertakers... for horses...*

[Johannes]

Necromancers have Animate Dead, which lasts indefinitely for all practical purposes. I don't see the problem here.

If you really must have a summon which sticks around for a long time, lesser planar binding also fits the bill.

[N/A]

Animate dead is one of the most useless summoning spells. A fifth circle spell for wizards/sorcerers which more often than not is a waste of a spell slot.

Lesser planar binding is also fifth circle spell.

[Johannes]

And if you want to be a badass who summons creatures to guard doors for him, then you'll need to make an effort to level up your wizard/sorcerer. <_<

[N/A]

Animate Dead lasts until the undead is destroyed, but for a summon of that level, the creatures conjured are useless because of the lack of useful corpses.

But anyways, I thought this thread was about the duration of summons, and not about their badassedness.