Summoner and prestige classes


Round 2: Summoner and Witch


The question is: how would a summoner progress in a prestige class?

a - He would raise the evolution points an progression of his eidolon when gaining a caster level?

b - He'll just gain spells?

c - His summon SLA would raise too?

(IMO the eidolon should keep growing)


I would say NO to all of the above.


He would gain spells if the prestige class granted improved spellcasting, but that's it.


Got to agree with Zurai here... not exactly a prestige class friendly base class...not a bad thing though.

Scarab Sages

If it was a prestige class that granted "+1 to existing spellcasting class" or the like, then it would definitely be (b). Otherwise, none of the above. And that's how it's supposed to be; you gain a fair amount from a prestige class (at least in theory), so you have to give something up. In this case, eidolon advancement and SLAs. For a summoner focusing on those, probably not worth the cost. I'd be interested in seeing how a Summoner going into one of those PRCs fared...

Edit: Ninja'd. 8^)


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber
Heladriell wrote:

The question is: how would a summoner progress in a prestige class?

a - He would raise the evolution points an progression of his eidolon when gaining a caster level?

b - He'll just gain spells?

c - His summon SLA would raise too?

Every prestige class tell you what it gives. But unless the prestige class is designed to go on top of the summoner class it is very unlikely to progress the eidolon or increase the SLA. If it has caster level progression, then he would progress at that rate specified for spell casting.

Heladriell wrote:
(IMO the eidolon should keep growing)

Generally a bad idea. If you let the eidolon, an animal companion, or similar class feature progress for free you are going to wind up with character investing only the minimum amount in the base class and then leaving, but still maintaining the majority of that classes power.

This is what wizards/sorcerer/cleric did in 3.5. As the class features they gained (other than spell casting) were realitvely inconsequential, nearly every prestige class that offered full caster progression was a pure power gain (and those classes were fairly potent on their own.)

Paizo Employee Creative Director

An eidolon only grows if its master gains summoner levels. As of right now, there are no prestige classes for summoners that allow its eidolon to keep growing, since the summoner's still in playtest and not "locked in" rules-wise. Once the summoner's rules ARE locked in, I suspect there'll be some summoner-friendly prestige classes showing up here and there.


Ack!

I couldn't imagine wanting to prestige out of this class. If you did the Eidolon does not advance. The 'add spell levels' bit specifically says it only advances spell casting.

Dark Archive

Pretty much agree with the masses on this, Your Eidolon doesn't, and shouldn't move a budge.

As a house rule I 'might' allow prestige classes that build off your familiar or animal companion to work for your Eidolon. However, having said this; the only one think of that does (Arcane Heirophant) wouldn't be a proper fit since it's based on having both a familiar and a companion.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Prestige classes are usually specialisations or refinements of a more broader based class. The Summonner among base classes is so specialised it's hard to imagine a PrC that could take it on a refinement road without balance issues.

Dark Archive

LazarX wrote:
Prestige classes are usually specialisations or refinements of a more broader based class. The Summonner among base classes is so specialised it's hard to imagine a PrC that could take it on a refinement road without balance issues.

The Alienist from Complete Arcane would be a good start, I think. A summoning-focused PrC that advances familiars - just substitute the eidolon for the familiar.

Alternatively, Fleshwarpers from Lords of Madness are obsessed with grafts from various creatures, and also advance familiars - another potential PrC you could homebrew for summoners to work with.

Another good idea is a feat similar to Natural Bond for druids - +3 to your levels for determining the strength of your eidolon, up to the maximum of your character level (so useless for a single class summoner).

Silver Crusade

Prestige classes that focus even more on the eidolon and less on spellcasting, or even more on summoning and less on the eidolon, I could see

Community / Forums / Archive / Pathfinder / Playtests & Prerelease Discussions / Advanced Player's Guide Playtest / Round 2: Summoner and Witch / Summoner and prestige classes All Messageboards
Recent threads in Round 2: Summoner and Witch