So I Have been running a campaign (25pt epic, slow progress), and my player are level six now. The group was composed of 4 (lion druid, undead scourge pally, anger inquisitor, blade-bound Magus)and the pally in my group will be moving soon, much to my dismay. An old player who hasn't played in about 8 months asked if they could join back with the group(they're a good player). They came too me with a request about the summoner: a dragon tamer/bonded. This idea that would work in this particular world so i didn't have and issue with it fluff wise, until he asked if we could tweak the class. I have been know to do this with other classes, though I try to have them as balanced as possible(even a little under if the idea is a bit much, more for fluff).
His idea in thought: create a summoner that wasn't a summoner to fill void created by poor dragon shaman/ non-flying/dragon riding cavalier and less summoning oriented summoner.
The idea mechanically: make a summoner with an eidolon that has full hit dice/ Bab progression with summoner and uses the base type of dragon instead of outsider.
summoner loses : all summon monster(sp), Life link, Maker's call, Transposition, Aspect, Life bond, Greater aspect, Gate , Twin eidolon
-keeps:Bond senses, shield ally, Greater shield ally and merge forms still function respectively
Eidolon becomes an actual dragon(not summoned), can be killed normally, can be healed normally, must be resurrected if killed. cannot be banished, still gains evolutions, must be spend evo points to augment eidolon in a Draconian like fashion.
Please let me know what you think. Is it too over powered/underpowered? Should I add some ability to summoner? Should I keep normal evolution point progression/ increase it/ decrease it? My biggest concerns are: first it weakens the summoner in respect that if his eidolon/ dragon dies he doesn't have use of summon eidolon spell or any summon monster(sp), and can retrieve his eidolon until it is resurrected. Secondly, a fully leveled full HD eidolon would be a monster.
Thank you for your time.
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The Book of Drakes has the Alternate Summoner Class called the Drake Tamer. It's a neat little class that either lets you have a Drake of a certain CR(the CR goes up as you level) as an Eidolon replacement, or you can use the Drake creations rules in the back of the book and create your own Drake as you level.
WAYYYY too overpowered.
Not summoned is an advantage. Able to be healed normally is an advantage... and what is the fluff justification for dragon evolutions?
I understand that it not being a summoned creature has many advantages over being summoned, such as no banishment,always having a guard and so on. I also understand that having a disposable eidolon, one that can essentially be killed and brought back a few times with in one combat/ dungeon craw is equal if not more powerful. combine that with feats such as augmented summoning can create a viable nightmare in a battle. If the eidolon is a real creature he has to be more careful with it.
With regards to the evolutions, I was not clear before... he would be selecting from the quadruped eidolon base form, same states and starting evolutions. He would have to pay for claws, wings, immunity and such just as other summoners do, his list would be much more restricted, like no tentacles and such. His type would be dragon instead of outsider : 1d12 Hd, sleep and paralysis immunity the like. Not spell resistance, blindsence and other true dragon ability's.
It's not all that crazy, and it's cool fluff, but...
Why alter so much? The PC's going to have the Summoner spell list, right? So why alter the critter with the BAB/HD boost? The biggest loss to this PC (summoning/gate) can't be used while an Eidolon's in play anyway, so it's little different than a Summoner that can keep his Eidolon alive would be.
But his is stronger.
His "eggs" might all be in one basket with having no backup strong ability, but that's a non-issue because that dragon is as tough as a PC (and since it's not summoned/an outsider) it probably gets its own set of equipment. Eidolon's are notorious already for making the Summoner strong, so giving up other abilities and making the Eidolon stronger isn't going to balance things. That dragon would function as a warrior with a full-time healer/buffer at his beck and call. That's a lot for one position on the team.
There's probably an archetype (need help with unowned books) that focuses on having a stronger eidolon. Maybe?
If not, I'd advise keeping the same Summoner/Eidolon mechanics as usual, just signifying a really strong link to this dragon. Since the dragon won't be leaving play, the mechanics of death/resummoning get messy, but you could have the PC able to "raise" the dragon at half h.p. (like resummoned Eidolons) if it falls. Also have the PC able to summon dragon-themed aid in the interim. (Swap Monster Summoning list for same CR dragon/reptilians/elementals tied to dragon energy types/outsiders tied to dragon gods)
Or swap those spell-like summons for spells that resuscitate the dragon (not buff), such as: CLW/CMW/CSW/CCW/Br. of Life/Heal/Restoration(no $), 8th?, 9th?, True Resurrection (no $) (dragon only). The cures could be the 1d10 Eidolon version.
Or swap those spell-like summons for the ability for the dragon to wear its own equipment/armor.
He'll soon be able to get large, and the Str. bonus will make up for the lower BAB, plus most of his attacks are primary, making him pretty rough already.
I think to strengthen the Eidolon further you'd have to gimp the Summoner in non-Eidolon ways (fewer spells/lower CL/takes actions to control beast/etc.).
Or: Just have him play the dragon.
"You're a Summoner, but you've traded out the "humanoid" weaker half."
Use the Eidolon as a baseline, perhaps giving him a 1-evol pt. discount on Dragon-themed buys. (This'll let him get the body parts needed.)
Give him some Cure Eidolon spells (as per MS replacement chain above) for himself. The HD=PC level=BAB is still a little strong so maybe (Effective) HD= PC level =3/4 BAB would be more balanced with effective HD being vs. spells/WBL/etc.
Just my thoughts.
Be wary, it's harder to take abilities back (after the player's done some development around having something) than to give them later.
JMK
I'd advise keeping the same Summoner/Eidolon mechanics as usual, just signifying a really strong link to this dragon. Since the dragon won't be leaving play, the mechanics of death/resummoning get messy, but you could have the PC able to "raise" the dragon at half h.p. (like resummoned Eidolons) if it falls. Also have the PC able to summon dragon-themed aid in the interim. (Swap Monster Summoning list for same CR dragon/reptilians/elementals tied to dragon energy types/outsiders tied to dragon gods)
Or swap those spell-like summons for spells that resuscitate the dragon (not buff), such as: CLW/CMW/CSW/CCW/Br. of Life/Heal/Restoration(no $), 8th?, 9th?, True Resurrection (no $) (dragon only). The cures could be the 1d10 Eidolon version.
Or swap those spell-like summons for the ability for the dragon to wear its own equipment/armor.
I like this concept, change type to dragon, keep most of other stuff the same, change summoning list to focus on dragon/reptilians/elementals. swap out summon ability for dragon boon. Thank you very much.
Dragonborn3 and ShadowcatX,thank you for imforming me about The Book of Drakes, I shall have to look into it.