Summoning and Noise

Noise can be a great way to balance and differentiate different summoning spells. Summons currently seems to lack different playing styles (?). One style would be a melee-summons hybrid - you get stabbing from distracted monsters (nice for Hill Orcs). Another new(?) style would be an actual stealth summoner - you get stabbing from distraction, but also from genuine stealthy stabs. Also a bunch of noise-free summons would help, to keep monsters from noticing you longer. (Plus some utility summons that help with steath?)

Well, that's probably slightly far-reaching (or even far-fetched) - more current concern/possibility would be the balance aspect between spells. Here are some thoughts for some of the existing spells:

• Summon Small Mammals - Could produce noise slightly beyond LOS as a drawback - you can't use this spell without being noticed unless you back away a bit. Shouldn't be so noisy as to make D:1/XL1 too dangerous. “You hear a racket of chippering and squeaking!”
• Call Imp should be somewhat noisy in contrast (as should all demon summons in my opinion) - imps already fly, and they are supposed to be a ranged summon (with the tweaks above) - silent summoning might be too much. “You hear a burst of mischievous laughter!”
• Call Canine Familiar - noisy, as dogs bark (studiomk).
• Sticks to Snakes - silent (studiomk).The three other early summoning spells being noisy, S2S might find (more) niche by being the silent summoning spell.
• Summon Scorpions - stealth fits with poison.. perhaps this could be the quiet chaff spell.
• Summon Horrible Things could be accompanied by horrible noises.

There is also the distinction between a loud, centered noise, and several noises all around the level. The first of course draws attention to the player directly, the latter wakes monsters up everywhere around the level without directing them to the player.