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According to the summoner's eidolon text, the summoner requires a ritual of 1 minute to summon the eidolon. I have two questions regarding this.
1. Does the ritual require Verbal and/or Somatic components or not?
2. Does the summon appear next to you or can you summon him at a distance?
Any ideas?
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I have seen nothing about it in the rules. I think the precise nature of the summoning ritual is meant to be unique to each summoner. One might meditate, while another lights a candle and chants. The time, in my opinion, is the important thing.
In my (limited) experience, the summoning is "hand-waved" anyway, along with wizards' studying and clerics' prayers. The exact nature of the ritual is "fluff".
*EDIT 1*
Ninja'd...zut!
*EDIT 2*
The nature of the ritual and the location of the eidolon's appearance are unlikely to matter, except in combat. I would not recommend trying to summon your eidolon during combat.
Normally I would consider it a minor point; however, the thought occurred in my last game, when my summoner cohort was tied up, that depending on how the ritual is required, he could summon the eidolon to help him escape.
There's also a point in the text that says the ritual summons the eidolon to your "side." That begs the question of distance or not.
*edit*
Distance would matter for situations such as stuck in a jail, a sneak attack, or numerous other situations.
*edit2*
In reply to Rocky, I thought about the distance from the spell as well, then it occurred to me that there are things about the spell that are different relative to the normal summoning - retains weakness to certain protection and doesn't stick around. It also requires a silver coin for the spell which is - assumingly - not required for the ritual (maybe?)
I'm sorry for reopening this thread after so much time, but I wish to elaborate a question regarding summoning the eidolon.
The text says that the ritual takes 1 minute. Period. It doens't says that requires a full round action during the minute, nor that you can do other actions while performing the ritual.
What is the consensus regarding this period of time? Can the summoner take other actions?
Thanks.
A full round action is ~6 seconds. A minute action is essentially 10 full round actions.
Most definitely not.
A full round action is ~6 seconds. A minute action is essentially 10 full round actions.
Most definitely not.
I see.
Regarding Full round actions
A full-round action requires an entire round to complete. Thus, it can't be coupled with a standard or a move action, though if it does not involve moving any distance, you can take a 5-foot step.
I'm forced to believe that even if it is a full round action (for 1 minute), the characer is still able to move 5 ft. each round.
Anyone disagrees?
Another intersting questin that will probably come up in my game:
Is Line of sight (through a closed window for example) enough to summon the eidolon to a place or is line of effect needed?
My players will come up on a cave where the back part is collapsed but they can look through tiny spaces in the rubble to the other side. Could the summoner dismiss her eidolon and re-summon it on the other side for scouting purposes?
I realize I'm reopening this thread after 7 years. Still, the question of verbal/somatic components hangs in the air.
There are clearly no official rulings on this, and ultimately it comes to DM fiat (as everything does) at the table. I am facing the very real problem of a summoner being bound and gaged. Could they still summon their eidolon? Is the ritual so purely mental as they could summon while under the effects of Hold Person/Monster or otherwise paralyzed. Where does the power balance lie in your opinion?
Some feedback I've gotten in asking friends:
There should be some basic verbal or somatic component decided before hand. The specific verbal or somatic component is individual to each summoner and related to the nature of their eidolon.
Whether or not verbal and/or somatic components are needed, there should be some visual effect during the ritual (e.g., a portal begins to form and grow, a burning sigil appears on the ground where the eidolon will appear, or the glowing rune that appears on the summoner when their eidolon is summoned appears as soon as the ritual begins). This at least can signal to onlookers that something is happening and allow them to try interrupting, or prevent interruption of the ritual.
Is there any other option you think works best overall for balance?
It's the kind of question that doesn't have a real answer, just suggestions and opinions. The ritual is open to interpretation, but I don't think it's the sort of thing you should be able to do while pinned and bound.
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I agree with Melkiador, there is no RAW reply.
At my table, I would require verbal, somatic, and material components. Noting costly, but things like a diagram drawn with chalk on the floor, or with stones if outdoors. Every eidolon would require a different ritual.
Like the shape of an eidolon is linked to the summoner's desires, the ritual will be something that symbolizes the link the summoner feels he has with the eidolon.
Checking other classes capable to summon a bound creature, specifically the druid and the paladin, we see that the druid will have to spend 24 hours in prayer to gain a new animal companion. Prayer is not necessarily externally visible, but it is not difficult to realize that someone is doing something strange when he is in deep thought for 24 hours. The paladin instead actually uses a spell-like ability, with a spell level of 1/3 his level, so there are magical manifestations for sure.
The main argument against my interpretation is that summoning the eidolon is a kind of supernatural ability (even if it hasn't the SU descriptor) and those don't have components.
Balance-wise, the other form of calling your bound creature can be stopped. Make the druid unconscious and the 24 hours of prayer requirement can't be fulfilled. The paladin is casting a spell for a full round, so he can be stopped with all systems that stop spellcasting.
Taking the above points into consideration, I think that it is a good idea to make the eidolon summoning somewhat noticeable and stoppable.