Difference between revisions of "Scroll of summoning"

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{{flavour|A scroll that calls forth several creatures woven from shadow into the shapes of those beings found within the reader's immediate vicinity.}}
 
{{flavour|A scroll that calls forth several creatures woven from shadow into the shapes of those beings found within the reader's immediate vicinity.}}
  
Reading a '''scroll of summoning''' will instantly summon a collection of allied monsters appropriate to the floor you are currently on, similar to the effects of casting long-duration [[Shadow Creatures]] 2d2 times. These reinforcements can significantly vary in quality, but the scroll is capable of bringing a large amount of support to bear instantly at no cost beyond the scroll itself.
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A '''scroll of summoning''' instantly [[summon]]s <code>2d2</code> allied monsters. These monsters will "belong" to the floor you're currently on, similar to the [[Shadow Creatures]] spell. They have a long duration, but stronger monsters will last for a shorter time. Note that "bands" (like a pack of [[yak]]s) count as 1 monster for this scroll's purposes. It never summons creatures that your [[god]] hates.
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This scroll is [[alternate items|mutually exclusive]] with the [[scroll of butterflies]]; only one of the two scrolls may spawn in any given game.
  
 
==Sample Results==
 
==Sample Results==
*In the [[Dungeon]], results can be extremely varied due to the very broad range of possible monsters you can encounter. For example, on D:12 it might produce a band of [[ogre (monster)|ogre]]s, including an [[ogre mage]]... or it might produce a [[howler monkey]].
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*In the [[Dungeon]], there's a very broad range of possible monsters. On D:12, it might produce a pack of ogres including an [[ogre mage]]... or it might produce a [[howler monkey]].
 
*In [[The Lair]], this can produce anything from a [[water moccasin]] to a herd of [[death yak]]s.   
 
*In [[The Lair]], this can produce anything from a [[water moccasin]] to a herd of [[death yak]]s.   
 
*In the [[Orcish Mines]], it usually produces a group of orcs, possibly including warriors, priests, and sorcerers. [[Troll (monster)|trolls]] and ogres are possible, though.
 
*In the [[Orcish Mines]], it usually produces a group of orcs, possibly including warriors, priests, and sorcerers. [[Troll (monster)|trolls]] and ogres are possible, though.
*In the [[Swamp]], it usually spawns fast, melee, watery creatures like a hydra or bunyip.
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*In the Lair branches, it summons monsters you'd expect - arachnids for [[Spider's Nest|Spider]], snakes and nagas in [[Snake]], jellies in [[Slime Pits|Slime]]...
*In the [[Snake Pit]], it often summons a pack of [[list of nagas|nagas]], which can include magi and warriors, or a [[water moccasin]], [[black mamba]], or [[anaconda]].
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*In [[the Realm of Zot]], it tends to summon [[dragon]]s, [[electric golem]]s, "friendly" [[moth of wrath|moths of wrath]], entire bands of [[draconian]]s, and even the occasional [[orb of fire]].
*In the [[Vault]]s, it produces various vault personnel, as well as packs of [[very ugly thing]]s, [[deep troll]]s, etc.
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**Be aware that moths of wrath will often berserk the hostile natives, which can lead to a nasty death for the unwary.
*In [[the Realm of Zot]], it tends to summon [[dragon]]s, [[electric golem]]s, "friendly" [[moth of wrath|moths of wrath]], entire bands of [[draconian]]s, and even the occasional [[orb of fire]]. It is absurdly powerful there, even they last for only a few turns
 
**Be aware that moths of wrath will often berserk the hostile natives, which can lead to a nasty death for the unwary. They may also "helpfully" send ''you'' berserk, potentially leaving you with very few options in the middle of a very nasty group of monsters.
 
 
*It is much less useful in places that have weak "random encounters" but very strong special encounters, such as [[the Tomb]] and the last level of [[the Vaults]].
 
*It is much less useful in places that have weak "random encounters" but very strong special encounters, such as [[the Tomb]] and the last level of [[the Vaults]].
  
 
==Strategy==
 
==Strategy==
*These scrolls are quite rare. Given the manner in which the summoned monsters scale with the player's current branch from where the scroll is read, its desirability remains fairly consistent throughout the game.
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Scrolls of summoning are quite rare. Summons scale with your current branch - if you're having difficulty with a monster, summoning 2-4 copies of that monster is bound to kill it, or at least give you time to escape. Therefore, it remains valuable for most of a 3-rune game.
*The scroll can be particularly useful when fighting [[The Royal Jelly]], especially if you are reading more than one. Surrounding it with summons generated by this scroll will force any additional jellies created by damaging [[TRJ]] to spawn on the outskirts of your army, giving you a temporary, albeit reasonable buffer to finish it off.
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*Sufficiently [[Monster intelligence|intelligent]] monsters carrying this scroll can read it and use it against you. As with all summons, killing the reader will dispatch the summons instantly.
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===Tips & Tricks===
*The combo of this scroll and a [[scroll of immolation]] is good for killing [[unique]]s and dangerous monsters, especially if you meet them in an open area. Summon allies, allow them to surround your target, and then read a scroll of immolation.
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*Combining summons with a [[scroll of immolation]] works well. Surround your target with summons, then read immolation. Once something dies, it'll create a chain reaction of explosions, which works wonders against [[unique]]s and other dangerous monsters. (As usual with immolation, watch out for any explosions that hit you.)
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*Summoning can be particularly useful when fighting [[The Royal Jelly]]. If you surround TRJ with summons, the jellies it spawns will appear on the outskirts of your army, giving you time to damage it. Works especially well in a corridor.
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*Scrolls of summoning, as of 0.30, are the only scroll that monsters can read.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==

Latest revision as of 04:25, 1 September 2024

Version 0.30: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.
Type Scroll
Name Scroll of summoning
Icon Scroll of summoning.png
A scroll that calls forth several creatures woven from shadow into the shapes of those beings found within the reader's immediate vicinity.

A scroll of summoning instantly summons 2d2 allied monsters. These monsters will "belong" to the floor you're currently on, similar to the Shadow Creatures spell. They have a long duration, but stronger monsters will last for a shorter time. Note that "bands" (like a pack of yaks) count as 1 monster for this scroll's purposes. It never summons creatures that your god hates.

This scroll is mutually exclusive with the scroll of butterflies; only one of the two scrolls may spawn in any given game.

Sample Results

  • In the Dungeon, there's a very broad range of possible monsters. On D:12, it might produce a pack of ogres including an ogre mage... or it might produce a howler monkey.
  • In The Lair, this can produce anything from a water moccasin to a herd of death yaks.
  • In the Orcish Mines, it usually produces a group of orcs, possibly including warriors, priests, and sorcerers. trolls and ogres are possible, though.
  • In the Lair branches, it summons monsters you'd expect - arachnids for Spider, snakes and nagas in Snake, jellies in Slime...
  • In the Realm of Zot, it tends to summon dragons, electric golems, "friendly" moths of wrath, entire bands of draconians, and even the occasional orb of fire.
    • Be aware that moths of wrath will often berserk the hostile natives, which can lead to a nasty death for the unwary.
  • It is much less useful in places that have weak "random encounters" but very strong special encounters, such as the Tomb and the last level of the Vaults.

Strategy

Scrolls of summoning are quite rare. Summons scale with your current branch - if you're having difficulty with a monster, summoning 2-4 copies of that monster is bound to kill it, or at least give you time to escape. Therefore, it remains valuable for most of a 3-rune game.

Tips & Tricks

  • Combining summons with a scroll of immolation works well. Surround your target with summons, then read immolation. Once something dies, it'll create a chain reaction of explosions, which works wonders against uniques and other dangerous monsters. (As usual with immolation, watch out for any explosions that hit you.)
  • Summoning can be particularly useful when fighting The Royal Jelly. If you surround TRJ with summons, the jellies it spawns will appear on the outskirts of your army, giving you time to damage it. Works especially well in a corridor.
  • Scrolls of summoning, as of 0.30, are the only scroll that monsters can read.

History

  • Scrolls of summoning were useless in the Labyrinth, which was removed in 0.23.
  • This current iteration of the scroll of summoning was added in 0.12.
  • Prior to 0.11, there was a different item called a scroll of summoning that would create a small abomination for you. It was renamed to a scroll of unholy creation in 0.11, and was removed entirely in 0.12.
Scrolls
AcquirementAmnesiaButterfliesBlinkingBrand weaponEnchant armourEnchant weaponFearFogIdentifyImmolationNoisePoisonRevelationSilenceSummoningTeleportationTormentVulnerability