Suggestions for a Summoner Race

[Koth]

I'm a fairly new PF player, and currently have a half-orc ranger. I was looking at making a Summoner for my second character, but am unsure of what race to choose. I assume I will need Intelligence for this class, but I also want to be a race that is on the smaller side.

My problem comes in that there aren't any smaller sized races that have a +Intelligence racial boost (i.e. gnomes, halflings, dwarves). I'd love to make a gnome or halfling Summoner but feel I am doing a disservice to my character by not choosing a race with +Int.

Maybe it doesn't matter all that much, I'm not sure.

I know elves have +Int, but I really don't like playing elves. I know half-elves, humans, and half-orcs have a +2 they can add to any ability score, but I'm not partial to half-elves or humans, and my current character is a half-orc.

Should I just make a gnome or halfing and not worry about the +int boost? Or are there other, small-type races that have a +int boost?

[InVinoVeritas]

Summoners are CHA-based casters, so gnome or halfling will work just fine for you.

[thepuregamer]

A summoner's casting ability is based off of their charisma. Also their summon monster x spell like ability is granted to them a number of times per day equal to 3+their charisma mod. Thus either gnome or halfling will be fine for your summoner.

Summoners would only really need intelligence for getting more skills.

[Set]

According to this guide Humans and Half-Elves compete for top notch, thanks to their floating +2 (in Cha) and either a bonus feat (for a Human; Spell Focus (conj) and Augment Summoning, at 1st level) or the 1/2 Elf Favored Class bonus that grants 1 extra evolution point / 4 levels.

[InVinoVeritas]

If you go the Stealth Summoner route, Go Unnoticed is a good feat for small Summoners. Alternately, a small Summoner can have an eidolon mount and the two can ride into combat together.

I have a Halfling Stealth-style Summoner who is taking Augment Summoning, Go Unnoticed, and Lucky Halfling to be a master unseen buffer/protector for his Biped Ripper-style eidolon.

[Koth]

InVinoVeritas wrote:

Summoners are CHA-based casters, so gnome or halfling will work just fine for you.

Ahh, that changes things then. I thought it was based on their intelligence.

Thanks for the replies.

[ursinethemadbear]

When I saw this thread I immediately pictured a bunch of gnomes in robes mounted on a wild assortment of creatures lining up like the indy 500, HA!

I would go either half-elf for a synthesist, or human for master summoner. If I was going straight summoner, I would use a gnome and go for the pouncing mount set-up.

[ItoSaithWebb]

You know I keep looking for a non standard race that might have a +4 to Charisma but I have yet to find one.

I am with Set and saying that Half-elves are a good bet because of their floating stat but also their favored class bonus for getting extra evolution points.