Summon Forest

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Summon forest.png Summon Forest
Level 5
School1 Summoning
School2 Translocation
Source(s) Fen Folio
Book of the Wilderness
Casting noise 4
Spell noise 10
Power Cap 200
Forcefully intersects a forested plane with this world. It requires open space to succeed. While the spell holds, a spirit of the forest will be called forth, and the trees of the forest will be awakened to deal damage to nearby enemies. Spell power increases the duration, size, and thickness of the intersected plane; as well as the strength of the spirit.

Summon Forest is a level 5 Summoning/Translocation spell that summons a section of forest with a friendly dryad.

Effect

Some nearby rock walls are converted to trees. Additionally, some unoccupied floor tiles will have trees placed on them (in a way that doesn't break connectivity). Sometimes, a pond is created as well. Finally a dryad is summoned, who instantly casts Awaken Forest, berserking all trees summoned by this spell in addition to any trees part of natural dungeon features. The dryad may later summon additional Snaplasher vines, with a constriction melee attack that pulls enemies towards awoken trees.

Higher spell power may increase the duration and density of the forest, and will make the dryad stronger.

The spell may only be cast in an open area. At least one square adjacent to the caster must not have any adjacent solid features.

Dryad's hit dice is 5 + <power> / 18, randomly rounded.[1]

The duration of the spell ranges from 12 + <power> / 10 turns to 200 + <power> * 1.5 / 10 turns.[2] The dryad has the same duration. Awoken trees and snaplasher vines will be instantly neutralized the moment the dryad dies, but the spell’s status effect must still run its course before it can be recast.

Strategy

The dryad itself isn't very impressive, but the forest and the snaplasher vines will deal good damage to any monster in the area while the dryad is alive. Note that she has no resistances and is vulnerable to fire. This spell works well with other summons which delay the enemy, while the forest deals damage.

The trees spawned by this spell block line of sight, which can be an interesting option in wide open, dangerous spaces with ranged threats.

Be careful that the occasional pond spawned by this spell does not block your retreat, or grant increased speed to fast swimmers like hydras.

This spell has an impressive effect in Swamp, where most wall tiles are trees. Spriggan druids cannot hijack berserk trees in their favour if Summon Forest was cast before they could use Awaken Forest.

History

  • Prior to 0.25, fires could spread to temporary forest, and Tornado could break summoned trees.
  • Prior to 0.19, this spell could be used for digging walls: the player could turn a wall into a tree and then burn it.
  • Summon Forest was added in 0.14.

References