My highest summoning level is 4 on my main.

 

 

 

I get along quite fine, there's been no familiar that's made me feel I absolutely must waste my time with summoning (I still collect all my charms just in case).

 

I have to ask, how many charms do you have?

 

 

 

About 5k green, 3k crimson, 10k gold and 600 blues.

Good review,

 

 

 

You forgot to mention the log in screen looked awesome by the way :lol:

 

 

 

SB2 pretty much saved Summoning but I do miss things like the timer

 

and abusing the Macaw(if you had a POH you could get almost limitless herbs by using the scroll, then renewing the timer till your summoning energy was nearly gone then dying to recharge your energy :P )

 

 

 

Overall Summoning has been a huge success and batch 2 really helped fix the problems with batch 1 :

I got to level 54 purely from Tears of Guthix, genie lamps, exam etc. It only took me a few weeks to get this level. It would take far too much of my time to work it out from level 4 summoning so i will post figures from level 52.

 

 

 

Starting from level 52 you could make 10,000 Terrorbirds with your gold charms. there is no point making anyhitng else as this gives you good exp per coin as you can get bird meats from ooglog for 20gp each. This would get you 684,000 exp and take you to level 70 (807,660 exp)

 

 

 

Greens cost more per exp point so I will calculate crimsons next. You would make 1,025 stranger plants (another 288,640 exp) which would take you to level 74. From there on you could use the rest of your crimsons, 1,975, on Granite lobsters (643,060 exp). In total you would have 1,739,360 exp by this point and a level of 78.

 

 

 

If you made the best green charm familiar time 5k for your level which is Giant Ent then you would get to level 82 Summoning (2,423,360 exp).

 

 

 

Making 500 moss titans at that level would get your another 347,600 exp taking you up another level to 83.

 

 

 

Why you haven't used those charms yet amazes me.

My highest summoning level is 4 on my main.

 

 

 

I get along quite fine, there's been no familiar that's made me feel I absolutely must waste my time with summoning (I still collect all my charms just in case).

 

I have to ask, how many charms do you have?

 

 

 

About 5k green, 3k crimson, 10k gold and 600 blues.

You sir, have alot of charms.

 

lol I see someone else did the math also. I can only imagin the coin you would have to spend to get there.

 

lol I see someone else did the math also. I can only imagin the coin you would have to spend to get there.

 

A terrorbird costs 110 gp per pouch when you factor in the return by swapping the shards with bogrog. That equals to 1,100,000 gp

 

 

 

Stranger plants are unfortunatly expensive due to the tertiary ingredient costing 1k coins. This equals 1,960 gp per pouch after swap. 1,025 stranger plants would cost 2,009,000

 

 

 

Granite lobster pouch costs 1,355 times 1,975 equals 2,676,125.

 

 

 

Giant ents cost 1,700 each times 5000 would be 8,500,000

 

 

 

Moss Titans would cost 1,799 times 500 is 899,500.

 

 

 

Overall cost 15,203,125 (including the money needed for the empty pouches themselves)

I don't know how Runescape was before Summoning. It's just helped so much this year, I don't know how it was possible to play without it.

Really, people exaggerate when they say Summoning 1 was useless. The fighting familiars was almost as good(if not better), and the unlimited run, unicorn stallion etc. worked just like they do now, just with the renewal timer. They just removed the small annoying things about summoning, spiced up *some* abilities and added the rest of the familiars (I wonder if they changed their abilities between Summoning 1 and 2 btw...).

 

 

 

I loved the skill when it came, showing off my new relatively high lvl familiars to everyone outside falador :D For example, everyone was intrigued by my compost mound :

 

It was, and still is, my favorite skill, despite the cost :thumbsup:

Favourite skill. :

 

 

 

I was 90 summoning when batch 2 came out. The only familiar that was worth it was the unicorn stallion... but damn I love that unicorn :thumbsup: (Unicorn had the same ability before batch 2 came out.)

 

 

 

But yes, it is my favourite skill by far... I was the 110th or so person to reach 99, and at one point I was ranked 14th.

I'm not really sure: I have a decentish (68) summoning level, and enough charms to up my lv to 75-80.. However the questions rises: why spent the money?

 

 

 

Rcing doesn't get better, nor does hunting/woodcutting (gathering skills I train): heck for rcing I figured out the most effective way is even without a summon! - Emptying a summon takes too much time, and the random teleport that causes your "right click screen" to be removed annoys the hell out of me!

 

The beaver doesn't really produce a good amount of logs and isn't worth the time to buy: bobs are too expensive and the time to bank is near 0 (if you do it correctly)... And for hunting there isn't even any summon!

 

 

 

For combat I always resort to ranging from a safespot (I get the most joy from actually finding those safespots): there summons don't help anything either!

 

 

 

This leaves me with a high summon level, and a lot of money simply wasted: money I could've also spent in prayer or another skill for example! So summoning isn't really "usefull": it's for me like construction, helpfull but not vital!

Nothing but window dressing for the kiddies.

 

Can't say I call out summon for more than a mining bonus or a quick teleport.

 

Didn't really need a new skill to do that, just new items. (Ex. I'd have rather had a dragon pickaxe than a lava titan)

 

Should have been a subsection of magic.

 

Summoning points, timers, interface, action interupts, faulty AI, and not being able to walk to the GE with them make them all too annoying to bother with most times.

 

Just another firemaking skill to level...

Nothing but window dressing for the kiddies.

 

Can't say I call out summon for more than a mining bonus or a quick teleport.

 

Didn't really need a new skill to do that, just new items. (Ex. I'd have rather had a dragon pickaxe than a lava titan)

 

Should have been a subsection of magic.

 

Summoning points, timers, interface, action interupts, faulty AI, and not being able to walk to the GE with them make them all too annoying to bother with most times.

 

Just another firemaking skill to level...

 

 

 

I was waiting for your post :-). Very predictable, and pretty shortsighted IMO. You do have some points though: Ai is messy, action interruptions are annoying, and having to dismiss it when you enter GE is really annoying too. But those are only small nuisances compared to the benefits.

 

 

 

and pulli: ever heard of the arctic bear (+7 hunter). Will surely help you catch a few more chins.

I'm not really sure: I have a decentish (68) summoning level, and enough charms to up my lv to 75-80.. However the questions rises: why spent the money?

 

 

 

Rcing doesn't get better, nor does hunting/woodcutting (gathering skills I train): heck for rcing I figured out the most effective way is even without a summon! - Emptying a summon takes too much time, and the random teleport that causes your "right click screen" to be removed annoys the hell out of me!

 

The beaver doesn't really produce a good amount of logs and isn't worth the time to buy: bobs are too expensive and the time to bank is near 0 (if you do it correctly)... And for hunting there isn't even any summon!

 

 

 

For combat I always resort to ranging from a safespot (I get the most joy from actually finding those safespots): there summons don't help anything either!

 

 

 

This leaves me with a high summon level, and a lot of money simply wasted: money I could've also spent in prayer or another skill for example! So summoning isn't really "usefull": it's for me like construction, helpfull but not vital!

 

Think outside the box mate! Why not bring a macaw and have it gather herbs for you while you're safespotting?

I'm not really sure: I have a decentish (68) summoning level, and enough charms to up my lv to 75-80.. However the questions rises: why spent the money?

 

 

 

Rcing doesn't get better, nor does hunting/woodcutting (gathering skills I train): heck for rcing I figured out the most effective way is even without a summon! - Emptying a summon takes too much time, and the random teleport that causes your "right click screen" to be removed annoys the hell out of me!

 

The beaver doesn't really produce a good amount of logs and isn't worth the time to buy: bobs are too expensive and the time to bank is near 0 (if you do it correctly)... And for hunting there isn't even any summon!

 

 

 

For combat I always resort to ranging from a safespot (I get the most joy from actually finding those safespots): there summons don't help anything either!

 

 

 

This leaves me with a high summon level, and a lot of money simply wasted: money I could've also spent in prayer or another skill for example! So summoning isn't really "usefull": it's for me like construction, helpfull but not vital!

 

Think outside the box mate! Why not bring a macaw and have it gather herbs for you while you're safespotting?

 

I tried that... Worked wonders..... NOT

 

 

 

Since I'm in dungeons most of the time, the macaw doesn't really collect anything worthwhile: often like 3 tarromins which I drop anyways (I only keep ranarr and up in bank).

 

Magpie did slightly better but still isn't worth the hasle.

I'm not really sure: I have a decentish (68) summoning level, and enough charms to up my lv to 75-80.. However the questions rises: why spent the money?

 

 

 

Rcing doesn't get better, nor does hunting/woodcutting (gathering skills I train): heck for rcing I figured out the most effective way is even without a summon! - Emptying a summon takes too much time, and the random teleport that causes your "right click screen" to be removed annoys the hell out of me!

 

The beaver doesn't really produce a good amount of logs and isn't worth the time to buy: bobs are too expensive and the time to bank is near 0 (if you do it correctly)... And for hunting there isn't even any summon!

 

 

 

For combat I always resort to ranging from a safespot (I get the most joy from actually finding those safespots): there summons don't help anything either!

 

 

 

This leaves me with a high summon level, and a lot of money simply wasted: money I could've also spent in prayer or another skill for example! So summoning isn't really "usefull": it's for me like construction, helpfull but not vital!

 

Think outside the box mate! Why not bring a macaw and have it gather herbs for you while you're safespotting?

 

I tried that... Worked wonders..... NOT

 

 

 

Since I'm in dungeons most of the time, the macaw doesn't really collect anything worthwhile: often like 3 tarromins which I drop anyways (I only keep ranarr and up in bank).

 

Magpie did slightly better but still isn't worth the hasle.

 

I ment using the Macaw's scrolls.... the scroll generates herbs in case you didn't know. The forage is just a bonus.

 

 

 

BTW, I've found that many familiars don't forage much if you don't walk around.

I always bring a magpie as my first familiar on slayer task then terrorbird for invent space. Even though I don't walk much, it will gather gems and rings for around 5-10k while the pouch will have cost me 1,5k. This is pure profit as fighting in non multi, most familiars are useless. Don't ask me to use a bunyip, I don't need one with 99 def and SGS.

Summoning has come a long, long way...but there are still some little things that need fixing.

 

 

 

Noncombat methods of obtaining charms MUST be updated. I don't care if Jagex retracted their original, "Skillers and combat lovers alike will be able to train this!", apologized, and threw skillers a bone anyway. There simply needs to just be more methods of training it. The chest in the Dorgeshuun caves is simply not enough.

 

 

 

Armors need summoning attack stats that increase the accuracy of which your familiar hits well! Mayhap I'm a minority, but whenever I use my Mithril Minotaur's Bull Rush scroll, I rarely hit. And if I do, it's usually a 4. Honestly, that random 4 is not worthwhile to me. There's no point in enchanting my Helm of Neitznot to hold those damn pieces of paper when I can just exchange those scrolls for more shards instead. EDIT: And to expand on this point, armors need more summoning DEFENSE as well.

 

 

 

What is the point of summoning potions?! Really. Don't get me wrong, I love summoning potions. But look at their price! They're ridiculously cheap. It's not even worth growing spirit weed to make your own. One way to increase the demand for these potions would to make it so that a Summon's static effect does not work when your summoning points hit 0. So if you have a bunyip and your summoning points are zero, it won't heal you passively. Why should unicorns not be able to heal you with scrolls when your points are zero, but your bunyip can? C'mon now. (Note: I don't expect people to like this. But think it out logically, and I think you can at least see where I'm coming from.)

 

 

 

There STILL aren't enough multicombat areas for us to use familiars in. The Chaos Tunnels actually relieved this need a good deal, but it's still not worth it to take my Mithril Minotaur to even a multi-combat area when my buyip glorps about, healing me in a far more useful way.

 

 

 

Also, why does my Bunyip seem like everyone's pal? He never, ever gets attacked. Could it be they're terrified of the horrendous stench? The mighty glorp? No! Since the Bunyip NEVER attacks an NPC, it in turn never gets attacked. I've yet to be in a situation where my Bunyip were in danger. Simply put, it's overpowered because of this fact, because you'll NEVER SEE IT DIE due to it's AI.

 

 

 

Secondary charms are STILL untradeable. Spinner charms, Talon beast charms, abyssal charms, obsidian charms...Why?! Why are these seriously untradeable? Don't keep busting my proverbial balls here, Jagex. Most of these things aren't even a 100% drop from the monster that drops them! I would LOVE to use my Abyssal Lurker, Parasite, Titan, etc...but it's just not worth the extra time to go get those god damn charms. For those naysayers about making secondary charms untradable, your major argument hinges on the fact that Talon beast charms give 1k exp. Have you ever tried to kill the Talon Beasts that oh-so silently lurk along the roads of Burg De Rott? They're terribly difficult to kill in packs, and love to kill any traveller that you happen to be leading through the gloomy marsh. Simple solution: the easy path Talon Beasts of Burg De Rott ramble drop its charms at < 50% while the hardest paths give it 100%.

 

 

 

Newer players are simply too intimidated by this skill to train it early on. It's too much money for them and multicombat situations for them to use familiars usually mean instant death for the wandering lvl 40. A beginner zone would be nice, like a "baby" version of the Chaos Tunnels. Or there should be a nice tutorial miniquest where newbies can learn how to use their Dreadfowls, scrolls, etc effectively in combat. Yes, they DO need it spelled out for them and NO, you can't expect every level 40 to go to Tip.It.

 

 

 

OP made lots and lots of good points. But for the sake of discussion--and playing a little devil's advocate--I really think these pointed out flaws lower the significance of Summoning as a Skill. I would like to see a day when ALL familiars of all levels are used in everyday combat, when the Summoner is level 3 to level 133...but people need to see the skill's WORTH.

It's an interesting comment you make about charms only obtainable though combat. There are plenty of other places Jagex could allow charms which would only require minimum amount of coding (im sure).

 

 

 

How about everytime you get a nest fall from a tree while woodcutting there will be 25 charms of random colour. Or inside a casket while fishing. They could also be added to Treasure Trail rewards, random 1-50 gold for level 1 clues, green and crimson for level 2, and crimson or blue for level 3.

Charms from clues is something I'm surprised they didn't do, although I think it should be 1-10 of any charm from level 1, 5-15 from level 2 and 10-25 from level 3, would make a nice amount but not too much that people just hunt clues for charms.

I can't remember batch one. And I don't think I want too. When they refunded my shards, I think I got way more than I should have goten, and I still don't know to this day. :-k

 

 

 

Off Topic: Why are my smilies tiny? :|

i remember when batch one came out. i got 78 b4 batch 2 and i walked to and from pictoris to train it and it costed an arm and a leg to train before shard training. i remember when 1st day we estimated 7-8 months and 200m to get summoning to 99 lol

 

 

 

boy have we changed from then thank god! :thumbsup:

Summoning is probably one of the most useful skills in the game, even at 52! It's even relatively easy to train, if you do it right. Just 30k more exp and I can get a fruit bat- free money for NO effort!

 

 

 

And a fun fact- When summoning came out, I bought 100k empty pouches. I've used only 2,045 pouches!*,** I have about 300 Terrorbird pouches and 3000 of the scrolls, as well as 217 stranger plant pouches. So that ~8000 pouches right there! Most of the others were probably traded to Bog'rog. I can't wait till I get a godbird \

 

 

 

*hooray for penguins! Hooray for Juna! Hoory for genie!

 

**I could have used my 400K exp from WGS to skip an entire 6 levels, but NOOOOO, I was to [procreating] impatient/lazy/idiotic to wait another 2 levels; I blew it on HUNTER :wall: :wall: :wall:

It's been a year? :shock:

 

Maybe I might get around to training it soon.. Or maybe Juna can do that for me. :thumbup:

THough I do have one major problem; it is INCREDIBLY annoying to commute with familiars. You can't use magic carpets, or dwarven minecarts, or balloons, etc.

THough I do have one major problem; it is INCREDIBLY annoying to commute with familiars. You can't use magic carpets, or dwarven minecarts, or balloons, etc.

 

 

 

Aye the versatility of familiars is a HUGE inconvienence. They're essentially creatures designed to be used for on-the-spot combat and not much else. There's very little "adventuring" to do with your familiar out. This is also counter-productive with familiars like the Granite Lobster, Ibis, Fruit Bat, Rock Crab, etc who gather items.

I loved the skill since batch 2 (batch 1, i got to level 9 and stopped). Even the low leveled familiars are useful, especially to low leveld players. I doubt you need 50 combat to get 19 summoning, yet you can summon a familiar 50 combat to aid you in fights. The spirt wolf can scare away revs, the dreadfowl can boost farming until the compost mound and it aids you using magic. The spirt spider can help your herblore and can get a bit of cash for low levels. The thorny snail is a Beast of burden and any extra inventory helps. The rock crab is a free defence boost, even in single combat, that also helps you fish and can produce its own secondary ingredient (so as long as you gain 1 gold charm or its worth from it, you make a gain!). A snake that helps low level miners. And a scorpion that can add poision to your weapons. And thats only the first few levels! Summoning is amazing.