Writing From A Summoners POV

[Gray_Mann]

So, imagine the main character is a Summoner. His summons are capable of speech and personalities of their own, and they also are the MC's main capacity for combat. Meaning, the MC is essentially powerless himself. Even if he could learn some combat skills, he's still just an amateur at best. His summons are his actual fighting power.

So how to write this? How would you describe combat scenes?

On top of that, what if the summons are also just as capable of speech and awareness as MC? Let's just assume they are humanoid for the sake of an easy example. They are semi-autonomous in that while yes they have to obey the MC and fight his battles, they are independent-minded and can carry on conversations and have opinions and beliefs outside of the MC's own personal stance. Does this change anything in the battle scenes?

How to write the battle scene of a summoner who doesn't fight personally, and whose summons are essentially as intelligent as himself, but loyal? Also, it wouldn't be an army of them. Say 3 to 6 at most. A squad basically.

 

[Eldoria]

You can imitate Mira chan's fighting techniques as a legendary summoner witch:

Kenja no Deshi wo Nanoru Kenja

With a dignified veteran's body and a long white beard, summoner mage Dunbalf was one of the strongest player characters in the virtual reality online multiplayer roleplaying game Ark Earth Online, even heralded as a one-man army. Together with the "Nine Wise Mages" and King Solomon, they formed...

myanimelist.net

Or you could also imitate Allen's fighting techniques as a summoner:

Hell Mode: Yarikomizuki no Gamer wa Hai Settei no Isekai de Musou suru

Kenichi Yamada has spent most of his adult life chasing the next punishing challenge in online gaming, only to find the modern landscape dominated by forgiving mechanics. As if fate were listening to his desire, Kenichi receives a sudden, mysterious invitation to an untitled game promising an...

myanimelist.net

Note:
These fictions have both WN and LN. You can learn how their fighting techniques are written.

 

[E.Z.KAI]

I think the most important question is the narrative perspective. First-person or omniscient?

 

[Arkus86]

For one example, look at Pokemon or similar.
More broadly, for combat, think of the MC as the tactician, the commander controlling the fight. If his summons are intelligent, independent and loyal, they will not need micromanaging for everything, able to adjust to the situation on their own, and will follow his plan and commands, unless there is a reason they can't, or see a good reason to not obey.

 

[JordanIda]

So basically, characters that are summoned instead of pushed out by mothers. Right?

Sounds exactly like Harry's stag patronus. Except maybe on two feet with bigger teeth or whatever. But completely different somehow.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

So basically Ash Ketchem of Pokemon? Has to find his subjects and "capture" or negotiate with them first, or does he just have the ability to summon ... well, something, maybe exactly what he needs or maybe just what happens to be available?

 

[JordanIda]

So basically Ash Ketchem of Pokemon? Has to find his subjects and "capture" or negotiate with them first, or does he just have the ability to summon ... well, something, maybe exactly what he needs or maybe just what happens to be available?

Like the Hogwarts Room of Requirement, he summons what he requires. Except he summons something like a patronus. But with two feet, not four, and maybe he can talk and stuff.

 

[Gray_Mann]

I think the most important question is the narrative perspective. First-person or omniscient?

3rd person.

So basically Ash Ketchem of Pokemon? Has to find his subjects and "capture" or negotiate with them first, or does he just have the ability to summon ... well, something, maybe exactly what he needs or maybe just what happens to be available?

I had the idea that they would be permanently summoned. Essentially, the idea was the MC is a devourer. He consumes fallen foes, recreates their essence into another form. The more essence mashed together, the stronger the form of the summoned he creates. He can't unsummon them however. They can be killed and their form dissipates, but they'll reform in a day or so. Technically immortal summons.

 

[tomotomo]

I once wrote a similar story. The main character was a mage, and the other character was her companion. The two of them shared a portion of their senses, so the mage could directly feel her companion's battle through her own senses.