Is the Eidolon just an extension of the Summoner's will, doing whatever he commands (barring failed saves)?
Or, do you play it as a creature who has a deep link with the summoner, but retains a personality of its own, possibly to the point of arguing with its master, or refusing to do certain things?
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I do not ask this because I want to screw the Summoner's player, I'd just like to know whether the Eidolon should meriily follow through
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- suicidal commands (we had the discussion about the Summoner saving an action by commanding his Eidolon to suicide rather than dismissing it
- obvious stupidity (Sure, most Eidolons aren't the brightest bulbs; but sometimes players take just plain bad decisions - should I throw a lifeline here?
- commands that are in massive to the Eidolon's Alignment
- commands a dominated Summoner gives (e.g. turning on the group)
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Options? Ideas? Comments?
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Well, per the APG, the Eidolon isn't even really a creature by itself: it is part of some big omni-outsider that fissioned off and merged with the Summoner's power/personality to make the finished product other people see. In essence, while an Animal Companion is a separate entity and a Familiar is a modified creature (usually) the Eidolon either is serving the Summoner, or isn't in existance.
I think you are right with your first thought. An Eidolon is separate from the Summoner, but is like 80+% their psyche.
- So obviously suicidal commands are no problem (because a dead Eidolon still exists but if the Summoner dies the Eidolon ceases to be entirely).
- If the Eidolon is smart enough to poke holes in their INT 8/CHA 20 master's plan, and the fallout from not doing so would be major, absolutely they should.
- Shouldn't the Eidolon and the Summoner share an Alignment? If not, the Summoner's will absolutely overrides any of the Eidolon's moral or ethical quandaries. (L/G 'cleric' of Sarenrae with L/E 'Erinyes' 'bound devil', anyone?)
- I would think that anytime somebody with a follower of any sort gets Dominated the follower should get a Sense Motive or similar to go "your not my buddy, friend."
I always let players control the class feature. It knows it can't really die, but at the same time if it was often used a sacrifice I could understand a GM stepping in. I would not do it though unless I was in a heavy RP group.
suicidal commands-just addressed
obvious stupidity--let em learn the hard way. You can do the old "are you
sure", but that is about as far as I would take it.
The eidolon should have the same alignment as the caster. I don't think that is a rule, but it makes sense that if something is that much a part of you that it would be. If you and the player have a disagreement about how alignment _____ is supposed to behave then I would discuss it out of character.
By the rules the eidolon follow the summoner, but if the other group members are nice to it and/or they have been together for a while I can see it not obeying. I would ask the player how he wanted it to work. Neither decision is wrong, but both can cause a conflict.
Well, per the APG, the Eidolon isn't even really a creature by itself: it is part of some big omni-outsider that fissioned off and merged with the Summoner's power/personality to make the finished product other people see. In essence, while an Animal Companion is a separate entity and a Familiar is a modified creature (usually) the Eidolon either is serving the Summoner, or isn't in existance.
This. It's a figment of his/her imagination... albeit one with a bit more physical presence than usual. ;)
I disagree, the description of the unfettered eidolon makes it fairly clear that eidolons existed before the summoner ever came along.
Well, per the APG, the Eidolon isn't even really a creature by itself: it is part of some big omni-outsider that fissioned off and merged with the Summoner's power/personality to make the finished product other people see. In essence, while an Animal Companion is a separate entity and a Familiar is a modified creature (usually) the Eidolon either is serving the Summoner, or isn't in existance.This. It's a figment of his/her imagination... albeit one with a bit more physical presence than usual. ;)
There is a difference between creating and summoning.
A summoner begins play with the ability to summon to his side a powerful outsider called an eidolon. The eidolon forms a link with the summoner, who, forever after, summons an aspect of the same creature.
Eidolons are treated as summoned creatures, except that they are not sent back to their home plane until reduced to a number of negative hit points equal to or greater than their Constitution score.
The rules don't make it clear on purpose. You're supposed to use whatever works best for your character and/or game.
It depends on the contract with the Eidolon itself.