I really like the summoner, and it works similar to the summon monster/natures ally rules ive had for a long time. Here is my idea for the summoner though.
Give the summoner one bonus summon at each level. Each time you learn summon Monster spell as a class ability, you choose one specific creature from the summon monster list, and you always summon that creature when using this class ability. (You can still summon other creatures with the spells )Usually its named, has a specific appearance, and remembers you from summon to summon. Maybe you could even let the player spend VERY FEW evolution points on it, from the same pool as the eidolon? Idk.
My idea isnt entirely fleshed out, but basically, an ability that gives him a unique summon at each summon monster level, and the ability to summon that creature. Maybe only one summon can be out at a time, but i think that this would add a great deal of flavor to the class, even if it isnt all that useful.
Just so you know, in my own campaign, each time you learn/record in your spell book summon mosnter or summon natures ally you choose one specific creature. Often, a player will have SEVERAL copies of the spell, but each one has a specific creature. This cuts back on some of the summoning twinkage, and also lets the players feel more attached to each specific summon, which is what i hope this idea could accomplish for the summoner.
Additionally, if they select a creature that was summoned with summon monster/natures ally as a cohort, familiar or animal companion, then when the creature dies, i dont have them suffer the penalties for having a cohort/companion/familiar die, because they can just cast the spell to summon the creature again in 24 hours.
Just a thought.
Thats a really good idea(one of the best until now). this would balance better the summon SLA without losing the flavor. I would make these few favored summons have a greater duration, so the ability would be useful out of combat. (or just to talk for a while with your summoned buddies)
I feel sorry for the poor sorcerer class in your campaign.......
in my campaign, sorcerers are more akin to Mutants, ala Xmen, and so they tend to choose spells that reflect that, but in my campaign, all wizards have to specialize by level five, so the only universalists we have are sorcerers.
Summoning is really the domain of a conjurer anyway, imo.