its probably way too late in the process to be suggesting new abilities for classes but i tried out a couple new evolutions to address the apparent power gap (or at least damage gap) between large/huge eidolons and medium ones. it seems unlikely that they could or would get work into official release at this point but i'd love to get some feedback (maybe even have someone else offer them for a playtest) and maybe i'll hang on to them as house rules....
hmmm... this post started getting super long so i'm going to put them up in two seperate posts.
the first one i offered was:
Transformation (4 points)- A small or medium eidolon gains the ability to grow to Large size as a standard action which does not provoke AoO. While in this form the eidolon gains [exact bonuses and penalties of 'large' evolution, not reprinted for space]. This ability can be used 3/day and lasts for a number of rounds equal to the eidolon's improved constitution modifier, when this duration ends the eidolon loses all hit points gained from the constitution bonus (as per barbarian rage). The summoner must be at least 6th level before choosing this evolution.
Beginning at 11th level, a summoner may select this evolution for a Large eidolon, causing it to grow to Huge size and gain the bonuses and penalties listed above (those bonuses/penalties, when stacked with already being large are identical to standard 'huge' evol. bonuses except nat. armor is +4 instead of +5) and reach 10' if it did not already possess it. Alternatively, a summoner may spend an additional 4 evolution points to grant a Medium eidolon the option of growing to Huge size when it transforms. It must decide when it transforms if it will grow to Large or Huge, if it chooses Huge it gains [large bonus/penalty x2]. All of these effects are polymorph effects and donot stack with other polymorph effects.
in keeping with how polymorph effects work i intentionally didn't give small eidolons an extra +2str/-2dex when taking large form (a gnome doesn't get it if he uses Giant Form 1). i offered this to a 7th level summoner who opted to just take "Large" because he thought the inconvenience of a large eidolon was better than "wasting an action to transform" and risking losing HP in the middle of combat; and also to a 13th level summoner who chose to keep his eidolon medium and take the 8 point version- with 8 points tied up in this evolution (and his build favoring combat while huge) the eidolon wasn't hugely effective in the combat he fought medium but in the others (when huge) he was very effective (even when he had to use an action to transform, even more so if he could transform round before combat/surprise round). overall, for us at least, it seemed helpful and not at all unbalanced.
I would rather see an evolution that allows it to change its size down as a a standard action, probably for unlimmitted durration. Maybey 2 points and allowing it to go go down 2 size categories. I wouldn't limit it to large or huge E either. Tiny E would be perfectly viable.
the second one was:
Dual Form (4 points)- An eidolon with this evolution has two different manifestations. The summoner may choose two different sets of evolutions, with different base forms if desired, but both must have this evolution and both have the same skills, feats, ability score bonuses from levels, and hp (except as affected by changes in constituion).
Whenever the summoner summons (via the summoning ritual, not by calling, etc.) the eidolon he must choose which form to summon. If 2 additional evolution points are spent the eidolon may use a full round action to transform to his other form; unless both forms spend these extra 2 points, however, he will be unable to transform back.
i've offered this at a few levels, its generally not taken at lower levels because of the cost- though i had one summoner try it at 6 (without the extra 2 points) for a small, very stealthy, serpent scout and a medium melee fighter but he ended up mostly using the scout because having his fighter in combat was not as beneficial as haveing his scout alert the party todanger so they could buff/prepare/etc.
that same player, at level 17 (seperate playtest, didn't play char all the way up) took this evolution (6 point version) to make a similar small serpent scout that could change into a huge 'dragon' (winged quadraped with tail slap etc.)- it was a cool effect to surprise npcs, was useful in allowing the summoner to do more with his eidolon than just dpr and though an eidolon without this can dish out more dpr he was still fairly effective in combat.
thoughts?
the second one was:
Dual Form (4 points)- An eidolon with this evolution has two different manifestations. The summoner may choose two different sets of evolutions, with different base forms if desired, but both must have this evolution and both have the same skills, feats, ability score bonuses from levels, and hp (except as affected by changes in constituion).
Whenever the summoner summons (via the summoning ritual, not by calling, etc.) the eidolon he must choose which form to summon. If 2 additional evolution points are spent the eidolon may use a full round action to transform to his other form; unless both forms spend these extra 2 points, however, he will be unable to transform back.i've offered this at a few levels, its generally not taken at lower levels because of the cost- though i had one summoner try it at 6 (without the extra 2 points) for a small, very stealthy, serpent scout and a medium melee fighter but he ended up mostly using the scout because having his fighter in combat was not as beneficial as haveing his scout alert the party todanger so they could buff/prepare/etc.
that same player, at level 17 (seperate playtest, didn't play char all the way up) took this evolution (6 point version) to make a similar small serpent scout that could change into a huge 'dragon' (winged quadraped with tail slap etc.)- it was a cool effect to surprise npcs, was useful in allowing the summoner to do more with his eidolon than just dpr and though an eidolon without this can dish out more dpr he was still fairly effective in combat.thoughts?
I really like the idea of a shape shifting E
yeah, it seemed like a positive addition.
one (potential) issue that did come up was an 11th level summoner who took this (6 point) and made one form a flying taxi (quad, large, winged, bonus fly speed, etc) and the other a melee fighter. it wasn't a big deal in our game because the party already had overland flight, teleport, etc; and spending 6/15 points to shapechange was a significant cost to his combat ability. it might be more of a concern at lower levels if a player made a small summoner (so they could ride a medium eidolon) and could fly everywhere without completely giving up their eidolon in combat... though i suppose at that point they'd probly be better off not taking this evolution and spending the points to make their flying mount better in combat (like on bonus str and natural attacks)...
i mean really this evolution is about utility and enjoyment, not about dpr, so a lot of people might not want it, but for some it might be the reason they decide to try a summoner?