Summoning was a great addition to the game. It's fun, It's new and it opened up a whole different play style to explore. I took to Summoning immediately and have been having so much fun that I have more or less switched who I have considered my "main" for all these years, to my new sub level 275 summoner. It seems to have gone over very well with the general player base as well, so kudos to the design team. :)
Summoning also has a lot of potential for new design/content. Please add your ideas and thoughts for Summoning as well, it would be nice to discuss some of the many directions that this skill could evolve into.
QUESTS
Summons Advancement - This quest would provide a means to advance your favorite minions/pets beyond their base stats. It could go something like...
Quest Name - <name>
Quest Type - Solo
Start Location - <town>
Timer - 6 Days
Level Restriction - 180+
Players would need to speak with an npc in <town> that would represent a faction (asheron, mana forge, lord rytheran, etc) to flag.
<faction npc> tells you, "Greetings, Adventurer!" "It has come to our attention that a rebel clan of <creature type> have been experimenting using Alchemy and Summoned Creatures in an attempt to create a secret army." "We are especially concerned as there are also rumors of <boss> leading this project." "<boss's> reputation as an Alchemist is preceded only by his love of power and the lengths he will go to attain it." "We need a capable adventurer like you to investigate their
compound at <coords> and gather as much information as possible." "If <boss> is involved, he will have in depth experimentation logs in his lab or on his person, kill him and return these logs to me to be rewarded."
The dungeon/lab whatever, should be similar to Count Phainor's dungeon, sort of small and not packed with monsters, possible for one person to complete. At the end of the dungeon there could be laboratory where there would be the obvious boss fight, maybe the boss could even have a few lab assistants for adds or something. The boss would drop a key to a side room in the lab, along with the Lab Notes, (or <quest item>). In the side room there could be tables with numerous gems on them. These gems would add +1 to their respective stat category when used on a minion/pet. Along with gems for damage, damage resist, crit and all the other stats, there could also be a gem that adds +1 to the usage. Players would be able to pick up 1 attuned/bonded gem from this table per quest timer.
The Logs or <quest item> could then be returned to <faction npc> for XP and Lumi, with an optional Legendary Key or Title.
Quest Rewards - Some summoners view our minions/pets as our "weapons". Just as there are readily available special weapons to be had through questing, it would be nice in the future if we could also see special Summon types through questing, such as Hollow, or Rended, or various Slayer type minions/pets.
Now, on to some of the fun stuff, here is where Summoning could open up a lot of new options, via new types of minions/pets to take on new rolls in combat. :D
SUMMON TYPES
First off, the basics - It would be nice if they could finish off the damage suites with minions/pets that are capable of doing Blunt, Pierce and Slash damage. Some other interesting ideas could be,...
Healing Summons - When summoned, this type of minion/pet will cast Heal Other 6 on it's master/owner every 7 seconds.
Combat Support Summons - When summoned, this type of minion/pet will attempt to cast Gossamer Flesh on any creature that enters its perimeter.
Ranged Combat Summons - When summoned, this type of minion/pet will equip a bow/xbow/TW and start attacking any creature that enters its perimeter.
Casting Combat Summons - When summoned, this type of minion/pet will cast random level 6 arc spells at anything that enters its perimeter.
Casual Summons - When summoned, this type of (humanoid) minion will spawn in a randomly colored Dapper Suit and perform random emotes or dance every 7 seconds.
What other uses can you think of for summoning?
Summoning also has a lot of potential for new design/content. Please add your ideas and thoughts for Summoning as well, it would be nice to discuss some of the many directions that this skill could evolve into.
QUESTS
Summons Advancement - This quest would provide a means to advance your favorite minions/pets beyond their base stats. It could go something like...
Quest Name - <name>
Quest Type - Solo
Start Location - <town>
Timer - 6 Days
Level Restriction - 180+
Players would need to speak with an npc in <town> that would represent a faction (asheron, mana forge, lord rytheran, etc) to flag.
<faction npc> tells you, "Greetings, Adventurer!" "It has come to our attention that a rebel clan of <creature type> have been experimenting using Alchemy and Summoned Creatures in an attempt to create a secret army." "We are especially concerned as there are also rumors of <boss> leading this project." "<boss's> reputation as an Alchemist is preceded only by his love of power and the lengths he will go to attain it." "We need a capable adventurer like you to investigate their
compound at <coords> and gather as much information as possible." "If <boss> is involved, he will have in depth experimentation logs in his lab or on his person, kill him and return these logs to me to be rewarded."
The dungeon/lab whatever, should be similar to Count Phainor's dungeon, sort of small and not packed with monsters, possible for one person to complete. At the end of the dungeon there could be laboratory where there would be the obvious boss fight, maybe the boss could even have a few lab assistants for adds or something. The boss would drop a key to a side room in the lab, along with the Lab Notes, (or <quest item>). In the side room there could be tables with numerous gems on them. These gems would add +1 to their respective stat category when used on a minion/pet. Along with gems for damage, damage resist, crit and all the other stats, there could also be a gem that adds +1 to the usage. Players would be able to pick up 1 attuned/bonded gem from this table per quest timer.
The Logs or <quest item> could then be returned to <faction npc> for XP and Lumi, with an optional Legendary Key or Title.
Quest Rewards - Some summoners view our minions/pets as our "weapons". Just as there are readily available special weapons to be had through questing, it would be nice in the future if we could also see special Summon types through questing, such as Hollow, or Rended, or various Slayer type minions/pets.
Now, on to some of the fun stuff, here is where Summoning could open up a lot of new options, via new types of minions/pets to take on new rolls in combat. :D
SUMMON TYPES
First off, the basics - It would be nice if they could finish off the damage suites with minions/pets that are capable of doing Blunt, Pierce and Slash damage. Some other interesting ideas could be,...
Healing Summons - When summoned, this type of minion/pet will cast Heal Other 6 on it's master/owner every 7 seconds.
Combat Support Summons - When summoned, this type of minion/pet will attempt to cast Gossamer Flesh on any creature that enters its perimeter.
Ranged Combat Summons - When summoned, this type of minion/pet will equip a bow/xbow/TW and start attacking any creature that enters its perimeter.
Casting Combat Summons - When summoned, this type of minion/pet will cast random level 6 arc spells at anything that enters its perimeter.
Casual Summons - When summoned, this type of (humanoid) minion will spawn in a randomly colored Dapper Suit and perform random emotes or dance every 7 seconds.
What other uses can you think of for summoning?