Here's my issue: we've been campaigning since 4th level, and are now 6th. One of my players is rocking the summoner class, and it's quite tasty. However, it is very frustrating to her that she cannot summon monsters with her Spell-Like Ability (SLA) while her Eidolon is present. I'm aware of all the typical ways to get around this (Summon Eidolon, Summon Spells, dismiss as a Standard). Her gripe is that the summoner's abilities are redundant, and as GM I can't seem to disagree.
I presented the option of Master Summoner, which I felt would be ok since this player intends for her Eidolon to be on hand as often as possible, thus circumventing the standard cheese. We both agreed that the sudden reduction in power to the Eidolon would be jarring in game (it would lose its ability to fly and about 50% of its combat damage).
I considered simply reducing the SLA to the next-lowest-level spell, and allowing it to be used 5 + CHA times per day, and used alongside the Eidolon.
What are your opinions on allowing a feat that reduced the Eidolon's dismissal time from a Standard action to a Move, or even a Swift?
TL;DR I want a way for my player's summoner to be able to use her SLA and Eidolon concurrently without using the Master Summoner archetype.
I know that in many games with a good player that combination(Eidolon+summons) owns combat. Now if your player is not as good, or is willing to hold back it won't be an issue.
I would try it on a trial basis and inform the player that it is just a playtest for the next 3 levels. If it is still not an issue by level 7 or 8 then it probably won't be an issue.
I'm working on a summoner character myself, so I've researching how they work and what the designers' intentions were. As I understand it, the idea was that the SLA would be used as a backup whenever the eidolon happened to fall in combat. I understand what they were going for, but I don't like it too much, since it seems like it penalizes a character for doing well, i.e. if you keep your eidolon protected and alive, then it's a redundant ability that you never get to use.
My idea would be to allow a summoner to spontaneously convert her SLA summon monster usages into rejuvenate eidolon, much like clerics and cure spells. This would allow the ability to be much more useful, and is in keeping with the original intent (making sure the summoner isn't left defenseless).
The summoner can still summon extra creatures to fight alongside the eidolon using her spells, rather than her SLA. In fact, she'd be more free to do so, since she's less likely to use one of her spells slots for rejuvenate eidolon.
If you use this option, please let me know how it works out. I'd like to try and convince my GM to let me do the same thing!
The SLA is not meant as backup, but meant as another option.
Originally, the summoner could have both the Eidolon and the Summon Monster SLA up at once. This was changed after the first playtest, due to being too much.
Personally, I'm wary of any buffs to the summoner, so would not allow this. But you're the GM, so if you're fine with it, try it out for a while.