Weapons & Equip Summoner weapon idea, a minion magnet that also buffs them

[sleepDJ]

So the idea is to give off an effect similar to the spore sac, where a radius around the player does damage. When using it, an area between the player and cursor will be highlighted, and summons will start to mingle around that area instead of around the player. Enemies within this area gets attacked like normal, but also take additional summon damage. I'm gonna call it the minion magnet. The intention is also for it not to be free for other classes, so it can be available at all stages of progression including pre-boss, where summons act as free damage in addition to other weapons.

Progression stuff:

• This area isn't too big, but gets longer and wider as your progress and access more resources.
• It also provides more benefits the further you go, such as movespeed, attack range, I-frame reduction, and possibly even giving grounded minions flight within the area
• It can also eventually deal damage within the range, either passively like the spore sac by creating particles, or the chlorophyte leaf with an aimed attack within the radius

Questions:
I'm wondering if this can be whip alternative, or has to be turned into an accessory to be useful. I also want to know how practical it actually will be, I do not mind there being a point in time where whips outshine minion magnets and vice versa (such as pre-boss where whips can only be accessed through the jungle and bestiary).
Feedback and reccomendations on numbers, ranges for different stages of progression, and potential minion buffs are appreciated.

 

[Stellar Mastodon 267]

So in exchange for reducing the attack distance of summons, they deal more damage (and other boost at higher level)? That what your saying?

 

[J Bame]

This is a much worse and much jankier version of whips no matter how you look at it

All minion should aim to be reliable on their own, any minion that would benefit from locking their AI with something like this is a minion not worth using in the first place.

It will also be hell to implement because it doesnt work with grounded minions at all, needs specific support for every minion AI in the game...