In the APG the Summoner is given very vague language as to how the Eidolon looks. Aside from having the physical characteristics to match the various evolutions it takes- the rules say:
The eidolon’s physical appearance is up to the summoner, but it always appears as some sort of fantastical creature. This control is not fine enough to make the eidolon appear like a specific creature. The eidolon also bears a glowing rune that is identical to a rune that appears on the summoner’s forehead as long as the eidolon is summoned. While this rune can be hidden through mundane means, it cannot be concealed through magic that changes appearance, such as alter self or polymorph (although invisibility does conceal it as long as the spell lasts).
My question is: for you gamers and DM's both out there, how do you treat those statements?
If I make a quad Big E, with Bite and Reach:
Can I give it short greyish white fur and say it looks like an English bulldog?
I ask because "it always appears as some sort of fantastical creature" seems to dictate that the Eidolon /can not resemble/ a creature that actually exists. I've also always assumed that the "specific creature" bit means that you can't make it look like Jim Bob's English Bulldog, Spike- but if that is true then it doesn't make sense. You can't make it look like a specific creature anyway if the Eidolon /must/ be a fantastical creature.
So:
Do you force the Eidolon to not resemble a living creature? Do they have to only passingly resemble something real but always have features that clearly and irredeemably force it to look unnatural?
Another way to phrase it:
If a summoner PC chose a form, feats, and evolutions that matched a real world creature and then wanted the Eidolon to look like a generic real creature (rather than a specific, identified creature- such as someone's pet)- would you allow it?
Such as the bulldog example, or a tiger, or a viper or (if biped) a generic Human, elf, dwarf, or halfling?
-S
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I'd allow it, but don't forget about the rune. Some NPCs may recognize an Eidolon by it's rune.
An Eidolon is an Outsider though, and will generally look like one. A celestial or fiendish riding dog should look different form a regular one. My question to you is, why shouldn´t an Eidolon look fantastic.
I'm not trying to skew the results one way or another. I'm just curious how different players and DM's interpret it and why.
-S
I take it as it can't look completely normal. So, for example, a black riding dog is out. A black riding dog with a glowing rune on it's forehead, glowing red eyes, long slavering fangs, and huge talon like claws on it's feet is fine.
It doesn't have to be something that couldn't pass for a large brutish dog on a dark night (with a cloth tied over the rune), but basically anyone with the appropriate knowledge skill in broad daylight should be able to tell it's not normal at 20 paces. That's basically the rule of thumb I use (DC 10 knowledge check at 30 feet in bright light is good).