What the title asks basically. Say level 3. You can either summon one level 2 or multiple level 1s. Thing is, from what I'm seeing beyond being meat shields or distractions, level 1 and even level 2 summons aren't all that great even with augment summoning.
I realize that mid levels and up they can be pretty amazing, it's just it's very rare that I get to the middle and upper levels and I was wondering if they can be good at the early levels where I would probably end up playing them.
So, how about it? At early levels is the master summoner good enough? Or would it be best to stick with a two-handed fighter, a synth summoner or maybe a cavalier thing (or etc..)?
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Remember that an eagle or a dog may seem poor in a vacuum, when you're fighting goblins they still come in pretty handy. And summoning 2-4 ponies with a level 2 spell? That's some primo battlefield control for as long as the ponies take more than 1 hit to kill. And since your summons last for minutes/level instead of rounds, you never have to worry about duration - hell, at higher levels you could practically use pony as a mount spell.
Summoners are plenty handy at low levels, don't worry about that. It's their summons that get antiquated. But hey, that's why you learn a new one ever two levels.
Keep in mind that there is another name for the spell- Summon Flanking Partner(s). You get to choose where they appear so you can distribute flanking bonuses among the party; rogues will adore you.
Plus low-level creatures have some interesting bonuses. Small Lightning Elementals get +10 to disarm if attacking certain creatures.
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Once you get superior summoning it gets kind of ridiculous.
"Turn 1: Summon (roll) 3 eagles around the lizardfolk. 3 full attacks."
"He kills one"
"Turn 2: Summon (roll) 4 more eagles around the lizardfolk. 6 full attacks."
Who doesn't want to roll 18 attack rolls a turn? :P
...hey, I think I figured out why PFS banned master summoners
What the title asks basically. Say level 3. You can either summon one level 2 or multiple level 1s. Thing is, from what I'm seeing beyond being meat shields or distractions, level 1 and even level 2 summons aren't all that great even with augment summoning.
I realize that mid levels and up they can be pretty amazing, it's just it's very rare that I get to the middle and upper levels and I was wondering if they can be good at the early levels where I would probably end up playing them.
So, how about it? At early levels is the master summoner good enough? Or would it be best to stick with a two-handed fighter, a synth summoner or maybe a cavalier thing (or etc..)?
They are far and away the most potent casters at lower levels with far greater resources at their disposal. Think about how many hit points in damage their summoned creatures can absorb in a given day over what a Fighter of the same level could. Think about how many attacks per round they can make over what a Fighter of the same level can make. Remember that with just a few rounds of preparation they can send a literal army at their foes if needed - and that's not counting their actual spells. They get Haste as a 2nd level spell for instance.
Their eidolon, if built as a small scout-type, has higher stealth and perception than any rogue of similar level, can see in darkness and can communicate telepathically. Having the scout alone has saved low level parties I've been in from TPK's more than a few times.
Finally they actually get some armor and weapon profeciencies - a low level Summoner can wear a light chain shirt and carry a longspear or crossbow and actually participate in combat if they wish.
Best character in the game in my opinion even if they aren't one-shotting foes at first level. I've played entire sessions without ever taking a single hit and with an answer for everything we faced. My Master Summoners always focus on summoning elementals only (for role-play reasons) and they alone are more than enough - air elementals for flying and ranged foes, water elementals for underwater threats, earth elementals capable opf walking through walls or coming up out of the floor, fire elementals to spread chaos and destruction, mud elementals to hamper foes, lightning elementals for armor wearing or weapon-wielding enemies and so on...
Heck, at level 3 you get augment summoning for free, and that does buff up even the gimpy summons.
I had a master summoner in PFS before they were banned. He was only level 5, but damn he was a holy terror. Dropping swarms of critters on things with superior summoning is devastating. Even as far back as level 3 (I started at level 3 with GM credit), he tore through things just by force of bodies.
Short answer, yes.
Long answer, given the duration of their summons. Yes as long as you dont have a very high stat generation method and your dm adjusts for it. And even then they can work well.
1st level summons dont seem all that impressive when compared to a 20str power attacking barbarian, but they arent really a replacement for that. They are a far more flexible tool. Eagles can bypass terain, vipers can poison, dire rats can disease. And all of them start off in pretty much perfect position for the situation. Its pretty much the ultimate battlefield control, because i havent just created a couple squares of difficult terrain that you have to make a save to get around, i've created a couple squares of creatures snarlying biting and clawing you.
Keep in mind that you still have the summoner casting spells, or attacking himself, AND the eidolon, which while not as powerful as the usual eidolon, is far from useless.
The only situation that can be problematic is if your primary fighters have very high stats and your dm adjusts ACs to compensate, since your summons are static even with augment summoning, if every martial character in your group starts with a 20 in their attack stat, you might feel underwhelmed with your summons. But for my money they are still a good value. Summoner save hit points(take hits for pcs), control the battlefield(get in the way and can be used for actually combat maneuvers) and do some if not a huge amount of damage. Like I said not a replacement for the power attacking barbarian, but definately useful.
Some very good points. Many of which I was not thinking about. Well, I guess I can add master summoner to my back up build list. Thanks everyone.