[RPG] Can summon spells be used to summon the same specific creatures repeatedly

dnd-3.5esummoning

Can one use a summon monster spell to summon each time Bob the Celestial Monkey specifically, or must the summoned celestial monkey be a different celestial monkey each time?

Best Answer

The summoned creatures are always different specific creatures unless the DM is using a variant that alters the standard summon spells

The Dungeon Master's Guide on Variant: Summoning Individual Monsters says that

When a character casts a summon monster or summon nature’s ally spell, she gets a typical, random creature of the kind she chooses. As a variant in your campaign, you can rule that each spellcaster gets specific, individual creatures rather than just some random one. This variant lets players feel more ownership over the creatures that their characters summon, but it entails some special problems, so don’t allow it without considering it carefully. (37)

The text then devotes another 500 words to this variant, the reproduction of all of which probably breaks some laws. Suffice it to say, it's complicated, but it has the advantage of being officially optional if that's a meaningful bar for your group.