I think this is a neat idea, but I don't think every guild needs to have some kind of combat pet equivalent. If the spirit could do other things, perhaps more specific to Clerics, I think it'd be a neat system.

Combat would be only one possible facet (and a rather minor one in my opinion) of the possible varities that could be developed if this became a thing.

I could be wrong but I read that differently than you. I read it as clerics are enemies of the undead and those that summon spirits, ie necromancers that dabble in the spirit. I don't read it as clerics are the enemy of undead, and clerics also summon spirits.

>>> I could be wrong but I read that differently than you. I read it as clerics are enemies of the undead and those that summon spirits, ie necromancers that dabble in the spirit. I don't read it as clerics are the enemy of undead, and clerics also summon spirits.

Interesting. It could be taken either way, I guess:

We are (the most feared opponent of the Undead) and (the summoners of ancient spirits).

We are the most feared opponent of (the Undead) and (the summoners of ancient spirits).

>Interesting. It could be taken either way, I guess:

To be honest, I don't think I'd really ever considered it that way. Though I think it has been generally accepted that it's the Cleric who is summoning ancient spirits, or at least previous discussions have leaned that way as far as I remember. Plus, as mentioned, the spell text of SL seems to indicate that as well.

Some ideas...

Low levels, act similar to EF/BF but only allow a swap of spirit for mana.
Mid levels, Add in the spell defense of current SL
High End(very high end) A divine presense so strong as to be a walking meraud commune(make it ritual and not a OM spell with a serious cooldown timer, say something around once every 6 hours so as to allow movement of hunting but not usurp marauds)

As Liuri said though, an unsuccessful cast(or summoning if you will) has the possibility of something bad happening, a HUGE devotion hit or maybe an evil spirit that attacks you and causes a small amount of DO as it would not make the gods happy to have one loose)

I think this is a really neat idea. I agree that it should not be a pet like GS/familiars, but at the same time I would like to see more done with the summoning of spirits, or at least with Sanyu Lyba.

One thing I really like about Sanyu Lyba is that there is more than one type of spirit - I don't know exactly how many or what it's based on. I've seen four different kinds so far, so it must not be just a neutral/dark/light distinction (I think?!). When I changed from getting one god's favor to another, the spirit type didn't change. Is it based on which god you are actually aligned to, or something else entirely?

But anyway, that's a really fun aspect of the spell that I think could be expanded upon. I love how the messaging for favor orb creation using Truffenyi's commune is different for each god. Perhaps the spirit summoned by Sanyu Lyba could have a different name and appearance based on what the Cleric's patron god is. Something distinctive so that somebody could look at the person's Spirit and go "Oh, that must be a Cleric of <insert god here>."

It would be extremely nice, but most likely completely too complicated, that if beyond just a cosmetic difference the spirit could have a permanent effect on the Cleric and/or secondary room-based effect based on the patron god. For example, a Kertigen Spirit could give the cleric a passive bonus to weapon or armorsmithing and protect everyone in the room from thieves, either by passively increasing perception or just making the area a "no steal zone" like the Crossing stocks. A Berengaria Spirit could give a bonus to the Cleric's Outdoorsmanship and also change the area into a place where simple plants and herbs can be foraged. A Dergati Spirit could give a bonus to Debilitation and come with the added effect of plunging the room into darkness and potentially also giving others in the room random nightmare visions. The effects could also be tied into the Cleric's devotion, with higher devotion giving better gains. The dark god spirits should probably have some nastier side-effects, but potentially more potent buffs for the Cleric.

... That being said, I realize that 39 completely unique and balanced personal/room effects is waaaay too much to ask for. Maybe it could be just some sort of generic light/dark/neutral distinction. Or, as was suggested earlier, just have the spirit become a walking Meraud's Commune. It would be rad if it had the added ability of making the Cleric's room a "safe" room as well, but I don't want to steal more of the Paladins' thunder.

Perhaps there could be a Spirit Summoning Commune, which would be a nice application of Theurgy and something for Clerics to shoot for after learning Truffenyi's Commune. Although I have no idea what god it could be tied to, especially if it is a different spirit based on each god. Maybe a Meraud's Commune II, like with Eluned. Or make each type of spirit a different kind of fae creature and call it Faenella's Commune.