---
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-29
type: mechanic
id: roguelike--family-29
lang: en
title: 'Companions, summoning and squad'
summary: >-
  The player adds allies and assigns their positions or roles. The party’s
  survival depends on its composition and combined abilities.
updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-29/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-29.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-29.md
aliases:
  - Summons and party in a run
tags:
  - Roguelikes and roguelites
  - Mechanics catalog
sourceIds:
  - source-ea407a6c37045737
sources:
  - id: source-ea407a6c37045737
    title: Monster Train
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: roguelike
    id: family-29
    title: Roguelikes and roguelites
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/roguelike/#family-29'
    categoryIds:
      - section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
    title: Summons and party in a run
    description: >-
      The player adds allies and assigns their positions or roles. The party’s
      survival depends on its composition and combined abilities.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/monster-train-battle.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Monster Train
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1102190/ss_edce778e9006c559cc347542ba2a61ed1461c945.1920x1080.jpg?t=1779381275
      credit: Shiny Shoe / Good Shepherd Entertainment
      rights: © 2020 Shiny Shoe LLC. All rights reserved.
      caption: Creatures positioned on different floors
      alt: >-
        Monster Train: summoned creatures occupy different train floors, above a
        hand of unit and spell cards.
      markers:
        - x: 40
          'y': 41
          label: Allied units on a floor
        - x: 34
          'y': 13
          label: An ally on another floor
    tips:
      - Show whom an ally protects and which target it attacks.
      - Make unit and placement limits clear.
    examples:
      - title: Monster Train
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on
  2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are
  preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire
  classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and
  editorial review.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/roguelike
---
# Companions, summoning and squad

id: roguelike--family-29
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-29
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-29/

The player adds allies and assigns their positions or roles. The party’s survival depends on its composition and combined abilities.

## At a glance

![Monster Train: summoned creatures occupy different train floors, above a hand of unit and spell cards.](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/monster-train-battle.webp)

[Monster Train](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/) · © 2020 Shiny Shoe LLC. All rights reserved.

1. Allied units on a floor
2. An ally on another floor

- Show whom an ally protects and which target it attacks.
- Make unit and placement limits clear.

- [Monster Train](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/)

## How it works

Allies and summoned creatures add managed or stand-alone roles with their own resources.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-29-variants"></a>

- Constant companion <a id="variant-roguelike-29-01"></a>
- Temporary Summoned Creatures <a id="variant-roguelike-29-02"></a>
- Taming enemies <a id="variant-roguelike-29-03"></a>
- Recruiting Squad Members <a id="variant-roguelike-29-04"></a>
- Different roles and specializations of allies <a id="variant-roguelike-29-05"></a>
- Equipment and development of each participant <a id="variant-roguelike-29-06"></a>
- Formation and order of arrangement <a id="variant-roguelike-29-07"></a>
- Direct commands or customization of behavior <a id="variant-roguelike-29-08"></a>
- Switch controllable character <a id="variant-roguelike-29-09"></a>
- General and individual resources <a id="variant-roguelike-29-10"></a>
- Bonuses for squad composition <a id="variant-roguelike-29-11"></a>
- Relationships, conflicts and compatibility of participants <a id="variant-roguelike-29-12"></a>
- Morale and likelihood of fleeing <a id="variant-roguelike-29-13"></a>
- Injuries, fatigue and the need for rotation <a id="variant-roguelike-29-14"></a>
- Replacing the dead with new heroes <a id="variant-roguelike-29-15"></a>
- Limit on the number of active calls <a id="variant-roguelike-29-16"></a>
- Strengthening summoned creatures through a character build <a id="variant-roguelike-29-17"></a>

## Context and limits

A wide author's map of classic turn-based roguelikes, modern roguelites and hybrids. Families describe options for organizing a run, and not mandatory features of the genre. Constant metaprogression is not found in all roguelikes. Related systems can be combined; the list is not a closed standard.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.

- [Monster Train](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/) (id: source-ea407a6c37045737)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors