The "Furniture-mancy Manual" registers as a "Tome" conjurative focus. However, it does not allow summoning of animated furniture and instead simply makes all summoning spells (Of the caster's permanent theme?) one spell school lower than cast.
For example: My summon creature IV with a permanent theme of "default" will call a Blood Panther; Select Furniture-mancy Manual as a focus, cast Summon IV and it will instead call forth a Brood Keeper (Third circle summon of permanent theme.)
Perhaps this tome was meant to conjure animated furniture one spell circle lower but for some reason does not register the animated theme?
That explains a few things actually. About two or three months ago I was messing around with this item for a few days, and throughout that same time period my summons all got zapped one level. Myself and a few Dms looked into it, but we never did figure out what was going on. I think the Bug Report is here somewhere still...
Found it: Link (//%22http://www.escapefromundeath.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56281%22)
Not that it matters much in this context.
That explains a few things actually. About two or three months ago I was messing around with this item for a few days, and throughout that same time period my summons all got zapped one level. Myself and a few Dms looked into it, but we never did figure out what was going on. I think the Bug Report is here somewhere still...
Found it: Link (//%22http://www.escapefromundeath.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56281%22)
Not that it matters much in this context, although I am a bit curious to see if it reduces the summoning points on those weakened summons. I didn't think much of it at the time, as the tome didn't do anything to catch my attention–and all levels of air elementals look the same.