Tome of Geomancy's "Summon Elemental Spell" feels weirdly redundant.

[odd barn]

Whilst I don't think its "UNBEARABLY BROKEN" spell. I feel like it gives significantly more options then another spell in the same tier for the same cost. If you don't know what I'm talking about I'm mentioning the Tome of Cold Dark's "Summon Snow Spirit" Spell which is both in the same tier and the same cost. The function of both spells are essentially the same except that in order to create a snow spirit from Summon Elemental, you require an ice tile. Otherwise you will create a different elemental of the same strength of a different element. The only real situation in which "summon snow spirit" is better then Summon elemental is if you SPECIFICALLY want a Snow spirit and there isn't a single snow tile on the map. Otherwise if two players at essentially the same point in the game were to pick one of these two spells. The geomancy player would have a significant advantage as they have essentially acquired a very reliable summon spell that includes 3 elementals INCLUDING the one learned from Cold dark's book. It feels weirdly redundant to give so many options, including the option from another vanilla book in the same tier, to a single spell. The outcome isnt even random, but is infinitely repeatable as long as you have a required terrain spot.

Essentially, I feel like cold dark's summon snow spirit spell would need a slight buff or at least cost less then the summon elementals spell, considering how focused it is on summoning a single type of elemental rather then giving you the diverse options of a multitude of already useful ones.

Basically, if you had your three random spells to research be one of these two. You would almost always want to pick the one that gives you way more options unless there's the odd situation where there's not a single snow tile in a safe location for you. Even more of a easy decision if you have artic adaptation and can summon snow spirits anyway with geomancy, but with the added benefit of creating anything else.

[chrome mist]

I think all is good with those spells.

Basically, you take "Summon Elemental" if you want to play around elementals, and thus kinda any elemental is suitable. On the other hand, you take summon ice spirit if you want to play with Ice, and thus reliably summoning Ice Spirit is preferable. So, that's kinda it.

[echo hornet]

Yeah, I agree with Alplod's remark + remember that you never take a tome for a single spell, but for a collection of spells.

If all you want is in the Cold dark's book, you are not going to pick Geomancy instead because "one spell is better".

It's normal to not have full balance between all tome spells.

[dim quest]

Finding a way to spice up summon snow spirit like how they combined two spells for the elemental summon in the tome of Terramancy would be nice though.

[odd barn]

Its not about experimentation, its about adding more to your roster. If the spell was about experimentation it wouldve gave you a random elemental like how summon animal does it. You simply get alot more out of Summon elemental since its extremely reliable to get whichever elemental you want. The only other summon elemental spell is "Summon ice spirit" which is effectively replaced by summon elemental as long as you have atleast one ice tile

[odd barn]

That's true you never take a tome for a single spell. I don't see what the point of that comment is considering I'm commenting about two spells, rather then books. Sure they may be in separate books, but its entirely possible for a shadow/materium player to be at this crossroad considering you only get 3 research selections anyway. So judging a spell compared to another spell is entirely justified since you may be . However my point is that it's a redundant spell with little separating it from summon elemental of the same tier which is almost better in every way for the exact same cost. Its three different summon elemental skills in one.

[spring silo]

The main thing is that summon X spirits spell will always get you what you want if you are using it to reinforce armies.

[odd barn]

Indeed but Summon elemental is reliable enough to give you what you want and then some. Combined with Artic adaptation (which allows you to place snow anywhere), its barely a change from summon ice spirit.