I was thinking about further specializing the Master Summoner and then it occurred to me that it would be pretty sweet if you could add evolutions to your summons.
The Master Summoner has a few abilities that it could trade out: The Eidolon itself, Lifelink, Maker's Call, Transposition, Greater Shield Ally, Lifebond, Merge Forms and Twin Eidolon. Maybe even Aspect and Greater Aspect, but those would probably work fine as is.
Here are a couple takes on it:
1. Apply an evolution to all creatures you summon. For example; creatures you summon all have fire resistance. Or have Skilled (Stealth). Any number of combinations would be awesome. The hard part of this would be how many evolutions you should be able to apply to all your summons and how powerful they should be. (When do you get to apply 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, and how much?)
I think a simpler solution could be...
2. Spend your pool of evolution points somewhat like a ki pool. For example; a fourth level summoner would have 7 evolution points to spend each day.
Then...
At first level, you can spend 1 evolution point to apply a 1 point evolution to the creature(s) you summon from a summon spell as a free action. (See evolved familiar; wing buffet only applies to creatures with wings, small creatures can't be mounts, etc.)
At 4th level, you can spend 2 evolution points to apply a 2 point evolution to creatures you summon from a summon spell as a free action.
At 8th , ...3 point evolution.
At 12th, ...4 point evolution.
Then maybe an ability which lets you apply more than one evolution at a time. Think of it as a kind of summoning metamagic.
So what do y'all think? How would you do "Summoning Evolution Metamagic," if at all?
Ooh, another random thought, for I am greedy, is to add Summon Nature's Ally to the spell list and perhaps to the Summon Monster Ability. The main goal is to let the Summoner qualify for Starlight, Sunlight, and Moonlight Summons without multiclassing. The extra versatility isn't so bad either.
Alright, here's an attempt at the first option.
Evolutionary Master Summoner (Sub-archetype to Master Summoner)
Evolutionary Summoning (Su): At 1st level, select an evolution from the list of 1-point evolutions available to a summoner’s eidolon. You apply this evolution to all creatures you summon, unless it fails to meet the prerequisites of the evolution. You may change your chosen evolution(s) once a day if you spend an hour in meditation. This replaces Lesser Eidolon, lifelink, Transposition, Greater Shield Ally, Merge Forms and Twin Eidolon.
At 4th level, instead select a 2-point evolutions, or 2 1-point evolutions.
You can have 2 different configurations of evolutions at one time; select one of them to be applied whenever you summon a creature(s).
At 8th level, instead select a 3-point evolution, a 2-point evolution and a 1-point evolution, or 3 1-point evolutions.
At 12th level, instead select a 4-point evolution, etc. (adds up to 4 points)
You can have 3 different configurations of evolutions; select one of them to be applied whenever you summon a creature(s).
At 16th level, instead select a 4-point evolution and a 1-point evolution, etc. (adds up to 5 points)
Capstone: At 20th level, you can apply any combination of 8 points worth of evolutions whenever you summon a creature(s). This supersedes the previous abilities.
Surge Summoning (Su): At 6th level, creatures you summon are treated as eidolons for the purposes of evolution surge spells. This replaces Maker's Call.
Aspect (Su): Rather than diverting evolution points, you gain 2 evolution points to spend. Otherwise functions as the normal ability.
Celestial Summoning (Su): At 14th level, whenever you summon a creature(s), you may choose Sunlight Summoning, Moonlight Summoning, or Starlight Summoning. Apply the effects of the feat to the creature(s) summoned. This replaces Lifebond.
Greater Aspect (Su):Rather than diverting evolution points, you gain 12 evolution points to spend. Otherwise functions as the normal ability.
(At least I believe that's how this normally works; 6 points can be taken the pool, but you get 2 points per 1 point spent)
I suppose the idea is uninteresting, poorly designed, overpowered, or some combination of the 3? ^^;
I think I'll flesh out my second idea later; too busy working on something else, atm.
I meant to comment on this earlier...
I think it's a bit over powered. I think it gives a little *too* much flexibility. Plus the bookkeeping nightmare!
Instead, I think giving the summoner the choice of which attributes to buff would be a good start. A caster summon isn't going to get much use out of that +4 strength, so perhaps let them put it in their spellcasting stat to increase the DCs.
Or let them add one monster to the Summon Monster list every so often, with the DM given heavy authority over what can go in.
I meant to comment on this earlier...
I think it's a bit over powered. I think it gives a little *too* much flexibility. Plus the bookkeeping nightmare!
Instead, I think giving the summoner the choice of which attributes to buff would be a good start. A caster summon isn't going to get much use out of that +4 strength, so perhaps let them put it in their spellcasting stat to increase the DCs.
Or let them add one monster to the Summon Monster list every so often, with the DM given heavy authority over what can go in.
Yeah, definitely could use some simplification. >.<
My main thrust is replacing the eidolon with evolutions for creatures you summon. However, giving the Master Summoner a few other things, like increased versatility of monsters you can summon is a very good idea. An ability like that wouldn't make the archetype broken or anything, but it would definitely evoke the sense of a very specialized summoner.
...other abilities like that would enable me to weaken or restrict the options of the "evolutions for summoned creatures" idea without making the archetype underwhelming.
Looks like I still have some work to do if I hope to design a functional archetype!
Another idea: Perhaps, similar to how they made Summon Monster a class feature, I could make Evolution Surge a class feature. (Except applicable to summons) ...as opposed to the bookkeeping nightmare it currently is. I have a few problems with this idea, but it's something to keep in mind.
Yet another idea: With the previous idea in mind, perhaps you could have the option of summoning as a 1 round action to apply Evolution Surge while casting.
OR
Be able to use Evolution Surge as a move action or swift action.
(Or, instead of Evolution Surge, come up with some other way to apply an amalgamation of evolutions)
Anyway; many angles to go at this. I just need to decide on something. :/
Yet another idea: With the previous idea in mind, perhaps you could have the option of summoning as a 1 round action to apply Evolution Surge while casting.
OR
Be able to use Evolution Surge as a move action or swift action.
(Or, instead of Evolution Surge, come up with some other way to apply an amalgamation of evolutions)
Anyway; many angles to go at this. I just need to decide on something. :/
Maybe every X levels, the summoner chooses one 1-point evolution to apply to every summoned creature he creates?