Eidolon Skill Loophole?

[ZappoHisbane]

Probably more of an oversight, but it should be addressed nonetheless. First off, we know that Eidolons gain 6+INT ranks per HD for their skills. Once these ranks are assigned, they cannot be changed, even if the form of the Eidolon changes. Ranks in Fly are wasted if you don't have wings anymore, ranks in Disable Device are probably useless without fingers, etc. No problem.

However, what happens if I spend evolution points to increase my Eidolon's INT by +2 for one or more levels? Presumably this would grant additional skill ranks, as per usual. What happens when I decide that those evolution points are better spent elsewhere though? INT drops, but according to the skill section, skill ranks cannot be changed once spent. Even if they could be, how do we determine which skill ranks should be removed? I see two potential solutions.

A) Eidolons do not get additional skill ranks from Intelligence gained through Evolution points (increases due to HD would work normally).

B) The Ability Increase (INT) Evolution should come with HD ranks in one or more predetermined skills, just like INT-boost magic items. The skill(s) would be specified at each level-up, just like any other Evolution.

Thoughts? I think A) is unnecessarily punitive, and B) makes much more sense since it uses an existing mechanic. Or am I seeing a problem that really isn't there?

[Selgard]

I would just say..

keep track of which points are spent using the adjusted Int, and that they are lost if you choose to drop those evolution points.

-S

[Count Duck]

There are much of this kind of gray things concerning the Eidolon.

Players also loose spend skill points when dropping int. This skill ranks can't be changed after assigning them just like the Eidolon. So i should say: If you dismiss your int bonus from the evolution points. Treat it like a player. So it looses its skill points.

[JimmyNids]

Count Duck wrote:

There are much of this kind of gray things concerning the Eidolon.

Players also loose spend skill points when dropping int. This skill ranks can't be changed after assigning them just like the Eidolon. So i should say: If you dismiss your int bonus from the evolution points. Treat it like a player. So it looses its skill points.

Not entirely true. You only lose skills gained from INT items as they have associated skills. Int measures how well you learn something, not how well you remember it(thats knowledge skills purpose). If you had 16 int from 1-3, +1 @ 4 & 8(making your Int an 18) you had 7 levels of +3 skill points per level, you do not immediately gain a free 7 skill points, however henceforth you gain +4 skill points per level. To balance the negative of you not gaining retroactive skill points, you do not lose skill points gained should your Int drop lower.

Int items are different in Pathfinder than in 3.5. In 3.5 you would gain the skill points from leveling with the item and keep them upon its removal, however in Pathfinder Int items are crafted with 1 associated skill for every +2 bonus to Int. Thus a +2 gives you max ranks per level in 1 skill, a +4 gives you max ranks in 2 skills, and a +6 gives you max ranks in 3 skills. These skills are selected upon crafting or determined at random(or behind the DM screen by choice) if found off a random treasure drop.

Hope that helps you understand it better :)