Eidleon question

[Arnim Thayer]

Can a summoner change the base form of his Eideleon everytime he summons it or is it set the first time you summon it an d remain unchanged (except through evolutions)?

If so, then the Eideleon is unfairly versatile compared to the Familiar or Animal Companion.

[KaeYoss]

Arnim Thayer wrote:

Can a summoner change the base form of his Eideleon everytime he summons it or is it set the first time you summon it an d remain unchanged (except through evolutions)?

I'd say you can change the base form whenever you get to change evolutions.

Arnim Thayer wrote:

If so, then the Eideleon is unfairly versatile compared to the Familiar or Animal Companion.

That's alright: The wizard spell list is unfairly versatile and powerful compared to the summoner's, and the druid himself is unfairly powerful and versatile compared to the summoner...

In other words: Familiars are a minor ability for arcanists, and even animal companions are not the sole or even main class feature for druids (and other classes with companions based off animal companion rules).

Eidolons, on the other hand, are a major feature for summoners. In fact, the summoner is really nothing but a cohort, supporting and buffing the eidolon.

[Maezer]

Arnim Thayer wrote:

Can a summoner change the base form of his Eideleon everytime he summons it or is it set the first time you summon it an d remain unchanged (except through evolutions)?

If so, then the Eideleon is unfairly versatile compared to the Familiar or Animal Companion.

First. It was clarified that the base form on the forums that the Base form doesn't change. I am sure someone can search out the link.

But how can it be more versitile (in terms of base form) than the Animal Companion. You can change your animal companion every 24 hours. Whenever you get a new companion get to select all of its feats and skills from scratch.

I personally think this is inconsistent with being able to change all the evolutions out every level, but its the current ruling. I'd rather see the summoned creature grow every level adding new evolutions. And then to summon an eidolon from scratch you dismiss your current eidolon much like you can with a familiar and an 8 hour ritual, a week later, and a small gp expenditure, you can summon a new Eidolon built from scratch.

Following the Animal companion path, and just taking 24 hours would be considerably more powerful. But I think a week without an Eidolon is a reasonable cost to make a change.

[Arnim Thayer]

Maezer wrote:

I'd rather see the summoned creature grow every level adding new evolutions. And then to summon an eidolon from scratch you dismiss your current eidolon much like you can with a familiar and an 8 hour ritual, a week later, and a small gp expenditure, you can summon a new Eidolon built from scratch.

As a GM, this is what I would expect as "bookkeeping" for the Eidolon. It provides a consistent companion until you desire a change. With this idea, I could see a form change making sense. And it is also consistent with existing mechanics, making it easy for player's to remember, much like the changes to the Cavalier's mount.