OK, so my summoner is about to reach level 7 in about 6k worth of xp. Suddenly I am having trouble deciding what to take next for a feat, something that has really never happened with me before. I would like some help weighing the choices I am considering plus stuff I may not have considered.
Current Feats: Additional Traits, WP: Repeating Crossbow (Ancestral Arms, Spell Focus ( Conjuration ), Augment Summoning +4 to STR & CON for duration
Feats I am considering:
Craft Wondrous Item: At first I thought of taking this because I could create custom stat items but then I thought because of the small spell list this might be wasteful at this point in time due to funds.
Resilient Eidolon: I thought this would be good since it might help my party better in case my summoner get's knocked unconscious or worse.
Scribe Scroll: I am finding the casting power of my character to be somewhat lacking so I thought this would be good to augment my spell casting ability. I could create affordable summoner scrolls for my buff spells leaving my slots open for combat.
extra evolution: I know the obvious advantage of this but I feel that it could wait until I can start getting 3 point evolutions.
Who else is in your party? What kind of eidolon are you going for? Is your character doing any combat or are you letting the eidolon do that part? These questions will help us figure out what you need.
Some others to consider
-Skill Focus: Perception. Always nice to have a boost there.
-Expanded Arcana. Get a free spell.
-Toughness. NEVER a bad idea.
-Point Blank Shot & Friends. You've got the crossbow, now get better at using it.
Who else is in your party? What kind of eidolon are you going for? Is your character doing any combat or are you letting the eidolon do that part? These questions will help us figure out what you need.
Some others to consider
-Skill Focus: Perception. Always nice to have a boost there.
-Expanded Arcana. Get a free spell.
-Toughness. NEVER a bad idea.
-Point Blank Shot & Friends. You've got the crossbow, now get better at using it.
There is a cleric and a Pally/Oracle/???. The eidolon I am going for is a biped brawler who hits hard, main she is DPS and secondary tank. My eidolon and summoned creatures are doing most of the combat while my caster uses control spells on the mobs (like create pit and aqueous orb) but when I don't want to waste a spell for an encounter I use my repeating crossbow to get in some extra damage.
The expanded Arcana is a good idea but I think that can wait till later.
@ItoSaithWebb: Alright, so you're more of a caster then. In that case, I would recommend Spell Penetration (you're gonna need it soon). If you have ranks in Use Magic Device, possibly Skill Focus: UMD for the boost there (if you don't have ranks in UMD get some asap!). Improved Initiative is good for casters, especially if you like battlefield control.
@ItoSaithWebb: Alright, so you're more of a caster then. In that case, I would recommend Spell Penetration (you're gonna need it soon). If you have ranks in Use Magic Device, possibly Skill Focus: UMD for the boost there (if you don't have ranks in UMD get some asap!). Improved Initiative is good for casters, especially if you like battlefield control.Spell penetration: depends on spells known... many offensive summoner spells are SR: no. Likely when faced with SR you are going to go with these options over a +2 to your roll with a spell that could fizzle.
Skill Focus: UMD: No, just no. At 7th level Summoner, with a 22CHA (or so) and a circlet of persuasion you're already looking at a +19UMD and you don't need the +3 (later +6) from a feat to activate items (scrolls do need higher here that's true, but for a feat?).
Improved Init: This can be reasonable as you are a control caster and you will want to shape things.
You may wish superior summons (get an extra when summoning multiple creatures) if you summon a decent amount.
Item creation is nice if your spellcraft is decent to avoid requirements, and if it will help the party. Talk with your DM about it.
Leadership is also a nice option. See what the party needs.
-James
Thanks you two. I am probably going to be leveling today so thanks for the feedback.
I am not so sure about Spell penetration because most of the arsenal of spells that I am aware of for summoners don't need to by pass SR, at least not at my level.
Skill Focus always seemed kind of a waste of a feat for me.
Improved Init would make my Summoner a god of going first as he has a +9 to init already due to multiple traits that all give init bonuses, so adding improved init might be fun but not right now. I almost always go first already except when I really roll poorly.
Superior Summons does look promising and if I don't get it at 7th I will get it later.
Item creation, ya my spellcraft is decent enough but I am still worried that it will be wasted because of his limited spell selection. Although, crafting daily items to supplement my spell casting might be a good alternative to scrolls. Not sure what is cheaper in the long run.
I don't think that I am going to touch Leadership, although while I do have a kick butt Charisma, I am already handling a eidolon and summoned creatures and sometimes I forget for them to move but I am getting better at it.
