Pale Master summons - are they ADHD?

[Cauthey]

I'm a newish player, and I'm just now beginning to explore the Pale Master prestige class with my warforged Metalbone of Orien.

I was thrilled the first time I summoned the Skeletal Knight to fight with me in a quest. The archer was cool too. And then, of course, the Skeletal Mage. But after running several quests with the PM summons, I began to notice a trend...

The AI for the PM summons is really ****y. Sometimes they stand 5 yards away from mobs and swing at them to no affect. Sometimes they just stand around picking their bones. Occassionally they will become fascinated with some other part of the dungeon, leaving me by myself.

Does anyone else experience this? Is this a known game issue? Will the AI get better as Metalbone becomes a better Pale Master? Would I be better off with a summoned monster instead?

Thank you for your feedback!
Cauthey

[frznvimes]

imo hirelings and summons aren't any better. I think this game is just too complicated for them and they pause in confusion any time they have to roll a die.
Also, you may not have realized it but you have have a skeletal minion and a summoned monster out at the same time as they count as two different categories of summons.

[Cauthey]

imo hirelings and summons aren't any better. I think this game is just too complicated for them and they pause in confusion any time they have to roll a die.
Also, you may not have realized it but you have have a skeletal minion and a summoned monster out at the same time as they count as two different categories of summons.

REALLY? I didn't think you could do both. Well, I guess I'll be memorizing summon monster X, or carrying along my Hell Hound Quarterstaff.

For some reason, I thought that you couldn't have a PM summon and a monster summon at the same time. I'll have to give it a shot again.

[hityawithastick]

I usually use the Umbral Worg (level 5) and a skeletal knight because I can rely on them sticking around--my death aura heals them both.

[sigtrent]

Yep, you can have the PM guys and one of any other summon thing, its one of the goodies they get. Also you can have as many dominated critters as you can manage and the slimes from sundering ooze guard (something you can get later in the game if you seek it out). Of course you can have hirelings too.

None of them kick much ass, but they are fun and can be useful when they decide not to go navel gazing. Think of them as chaff or flack you throw out, though occasionally they will do something cool.

I find the casters are the best most of the time and the archers are the worst most of the time. The knight is the most durable and can tank some creatures decently so long as it isn't spazzing out.

The best summon these days is the level 8 summon air elemental. Its very adept at tripping monsters and does a bit of damage.

If you are bored its kind of fun to go into a lower level adventure area, buff up your summons and let them do all the fighting for you.

[Admiral_Otto]

You can have your Pale Master buddy, a Summon Monster XX and a Create Undead minion(s) all at the same time. Since you're a Pale Master, healing the Created Undead is easy enough too....but you might want to carry Control Undead since the Mummy and his friends make their Create Undead save often within seconds.

[hityawithastick]

I've also seen the blackbone knight use Trip and Stunning Blow.

[Cauthey]

Thanks for all of the info, guys! I will take your recommendations to...err...well...whatever operates the core of my warforged wizard.

Yeah, I didn't ever dream that a summons would be as effective as say another human player. However, I was disappointed to see the Skeletal Mage swinging his stick at a wall a few steps away from the action.

And then, of course, he would surprise me with a barage of force missiles and follow up with a Hold Person. I just wish they had a "WAKE UP" button sort of like the hirelings...you can call them too you, and that usually gets them going again if they have a bout of acrophobia or hydrophobia.

[frznvimes]

"Water may be terrifying, but look at me! I'm standing on lav-" *foosh!*
*resummon*

[Eckenwiler]

Yeah, I didn't ever dream that a summons would be as effective as say another human player. However, I was disappointed to see the Skeletal Mage swinging his stick at a wall a few steps away from the action.

What, you've never seen PUG player swinging at a wall a few steps away from the action?

[hityawithastick]

I hear it's a relatively common occurrence. But hey, if you get the blackbone, he won't die in lava anymore.

[Bogenbroom]

"Water may be terrifying, but look at me! I'm standing on lav-" *foosh!*
*resummon*

Hehe... yeah, that is when the Orthon and such comes out. Pulled him out in S.o.S. last night. He was a hoot... he'd dive in the lava and you'd just see the top of his halberd sticking out of the lava. Then he'd port out in a while.

Re the OP. Not that it helps the AI, but with a PM having more oomph in the summons department, I tend to find augment summoning (feat) worth while. With just one summons, it is iffy, but when you roll with two, it is better, and toss create undead in there and you've just added a lot of heft.

As far as preference, generally I prefer the knight, but I use the archer occasionally, when terrain calls for it.