Quick Question Regarding the Augment Summoning Feat

[Neal Litherland]

Anyone playing a conjurer, or who is going to be summoning large numbers of creatures, knows that Augment Summoning is a great feat to have. This is especially true at lower levels. Question for Summoners though... is the ritual that brings one's Eidolon into the material plane considered a summoning, and is the Eidolon a summoned creature?

Secondary question; if the Eidolon is not considered a summoned creature when the full ritual is performed, then what about when it is summoned using the spell Summon Eidolon, where it is treated like a regular summoned monster? Would that spell cause Augment Summoning to apply?

If it applies, why isn't that the first feat a Summoner builds toward?

[mplindustries]

It definitely does not apply to the minute ritual to summon the Eidolon normally.

It definitely does apply to the Summon Eidolon spell.

It is unclear whether it applies to the Summoner's Summon Monster spell like ability.

So,

1) It is the first feat many summoners build towards if their GM allows it to apply to their SLAs

2) It is probably not worth a feat just for Summon Eidolon, because it is an enhancement bonus, and you'll be giving your Eidolon a physical stat belt by the time you can get a wand of Summon Eidolon (because you're using your 2nd level slots on Haste, aren't you?).

[Neal Litherland]

Thanks, wanted to get a ruling on that. I prefer to poll the community before I take an argument to my DM.

[Cheapy]

Oh right, I meant to comment on this one.

1) The summon ritual is absolutely not affected.

2) The summon eidolon spell is though, because it's a summon.

3) The feat does apply to the spell-like ability, after a change in the interpretation of SLAs last month. Well, also before that, due to this post. But the confusion mpl referred to was that based on the rules, that seemed like the exception to the general rule.