I was just wondering if anyone else had this problem - or knew more about it than me. When casting 5th level conjuration spells edwin has this thing called mental combat - where he is practically stunned for a while, and during this the lesser elemental summoned remains neutral until Edwin comes back to normal, in which case the elemental either turns under my control, or turns into an enemy and goes only after edwin. This is my first time playing with Edwin in my party so I was just wondering if this is normal, or if not, what exactly is going on?

Its part of the spell. Edwin (or any mage) has to enter mental combat in order to control the elemental. He is stunned because he's concentrating fully on controlling the elemtental. Priests or druids, on the other hand, don't have to struggle with the elemental for control, AFAIK.

Please read the spell descriptions carfully, it is not an Edwin speciality, when summoning elementals (lesser or greater) mages have to be in a mental combat, so these summonings are absolutely terrible to use in combat. If you fancy elementals, get Jaheira and have her cast it, it summons better elementals with a chance, lasts longer and does not require a mental race and does not turn hostile.

Why? Druids are so in tune with nature and elementals, and thus they ask elementals kindly to assist them. Mages on the other hand, force elementals to be drifted to the prime to do their bidding and thus succes is not granted always. There is a %15 chance that elemental will be hostile, and the 3 rounds-contest sucks hard, NEVER cast this spell with Edwin in a battle, nnot only it will disable him completely for 3 rounds, and you can end up getting a new hostile monster! :roll:

This is one of the reasons why elemental summoning with a mage is a big no-no. Why bother when druids (as well as clerics, if memory serves) can do exactly the same thing without any drawback or delay?

And why bother using lesser elementals when you can get animate dead at the same spell level? (Assuming the caster is high enough level for skeleton warriors)

Umm clerics do not get elemental summon spells unless you have some sort of mod or SK to do so! They do get Animate Dead however, which is better, especially against mages of all kind! :evil: