Re: Q 260
Rapid Spell actually changes Summon Nature's Ally spells from 1 round casting time to 1 full round casting time, not 1 standard action.Originally Posted by Rapid SpellAs spells with casting times measured in rounds (that measure = 1), Rapid Spell's effect on Summon Nature's Ally spells is to change it from <some measure> rounds to 1 full round casting time. A 1 round casting time (ending just before the spellcaster's next turn) is longer than 1 full round casting time (ending at the end of the spellcaster's current turn), so it is a speedup, just not as much of a speedup as you want.Originally Posted by Summon Nature’s Ally <x>
The Shifter Druid's Rapid Summons ability also doesn't provide any benefit unless you already have Rapid Spell (or some similar ability).Because the default for Summon Nature's Ally spells is 1 round action to cast, and not 1 full round action, Rapid Summons is a useless ability unless that casting time is already sped up to 1 full round.Originally Posted by Rapid Summons
Only the combination of Rapid Spell and Shifter Druid Rapid Summons results in 1 standard action casting time for SNA spells. As posited in the question, the "or" combination does not suffice.