I had a friend of mine invite me to be the third member in a Rise of the Runelords campaign. He had recently been playing 2nd addition and I had just convinced him to switch to Pathfinder. He's been hosting some games for some younger kids who have some experience in tabletop, but don't have the game mechanics down to a T, which is perfectly ok as long as you're having fun playing it. The other two players in the campaign are playing as a halfling alchemist and a gnome magus. I asked what I should play, to balance out the party and the DM asked me if I could try out a summoner. Now no one else in the campaign is near optimized, which is how I'm use to playing, and the other players are all over the board in what they are focusing in. I decided to be a Master Summoner, and simply play it my character in a casual fashion and be a backup say they end up in real trouble. I'm going to try to focus more on roleplaying this character and I'm having some issues with background story for the setting, character personality, ect. This is my statblock. Let me explain that everyone in the group has an extra upbringing feat. Any changes I should make? More importantly, can anyone help me fill out this character.
Half-Elf Master Summoner
Half-Elf Summoner (Master Summoner) 1
CG Medium Humanoid (elf, human)
Init +3; Senses low-light vision; Perception +2
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Defense
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AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+4 armor, +3 Dex)
hp 10 (1d8+2)
Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +2; +2 vs. enchantments
Immune magic sleep; Resist elven immunities
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee Spear +0 (1d8/x3)
Spell-Like Abilities
9/day—Summoning Mastery I (9/day)
Summoner (Master Summoner) Spells Known (CL 1):
1 (2/day) Protection from Evil, Grease (DC 15)
0 (at will) Mage Hand, Mending, Read Magic, Light
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Statistics
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Str 10, Dex 16, Con 15, Int 13, Wis 11, Cha 19
Base Atk +0; CMB +0; CMD 13
Feats City Born - Magnimar, Extra Evolution, Skill Focus (Knowledge [planes])
Skills Acrobatics +1, Climb -2, Diplomacy +7, Escape Artist +1, Fly +1, Handle Animal +8, Knowledge (planes) +8, Perception +2, Ride +1, Stealth +1, Swim -2; Racial Modifiers +2 Perception
Languages Common, Elven, Thassilonian, Varisian
SQ arcane training, eidolon link, elf blood, lesser eidolon, life link, share spells with eidolon
Other Gear Lamellar (leather) armor, Spear, Backpack (empty), Bedroll, Trail rations (7), 8 GP
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Special Abilities
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Arcane Training +1 CL for spell trigger/completion items for favored class, or use them as if 1st level.
Eidolon Link (Ex) Mental link allows communication over any distance, but share magic item slots.
Elf Blood You are counted as both elven and human for any effect relating to race.
Elven Immunities +2 save bonus vs Enchantments.
Elven Immunities - Sleep You are immune to magic sleep effects.
Lesser Eidolon A master summoner's class level is halved (minimum 1) for the purposes of determining his eidolon's abilities, Hit Dice, evolution pool, and so on.
The eidolon otherwise functions as normal. This ability replaces the summoner's normal eidolon
Life Link (Su) Damage that dismisses Eidolon can be taken by you. It weakens if not in 100 ft.
Low-Light Vision See twice as far as a human in low light, distinguishing color and detail.
Share Spells with Eidolon (Ex) Your spells ignore type restrictions for Eidolon and it can receive your personal spells.
Summoning Mastery I (9/day) (Sp) You can summon monsters as a spell like ability, maintaining 1 even when Eidolon is summoned.
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Eidolon
Serpentine
CG Small Outsider
Init +4; Senses darkvision 120 ft.; Perception +12
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Defense
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AC 17, touch 15, flat-footed 13 (+4 Dex, +1 size, +2 natural)
hp 10 ()
Fort +0, Ref +6, Will +2
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Offense
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Speed 20 ft., climbing (20 feet)
Melee Bite (Bite) +1 (1d4-1/x2) and
Tail slap (Tail Slap) -4 (1d4-1/x2)
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Statistics
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Str 8, Dex 18, Con 11, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 11
Base Atk +1; CMB -1; CMD 13 (can't be Tripped)
Feats Deep Sight
Skills Acrobatics +5 (+7 to balance, +1 jump), Climb +7, Disable Device +3, Fly +6, Perception +12, Stealth +20; Racial Modifiers tail
Languages Common
Other Gear None
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TRACKED RESOURCES
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-none-
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Special Abilities
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Climbing (20 feet) You have a Climb speed.
Darkvision (120 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white vision only).
Tail (Ex) Tail grants +2 Acrobatics checks for balance.
I don't know Alchemists very well, but it seems like you're missing healing of some sort. Unless even at low levels the alchemist can make enough healing potions for you.
I'm running RoRL right now and at low levels everyone is a glass cannon; you can give it out but you *can't* take it. As long as you have an answer for how you are going to recover quickly, an Alchemist/Magus/Summoner can probably handle it fine.
As an aside, when I was in your position as a player I picked a straight up cleric that I built for melee combat, so I was tank and heals all in one and it worked fabulously.
Ok, thanks. I was considering the reach cleric build, but my DM wanted to see me play a Summoner as that was a class he would be interested in playing possibly in another campaign and I wanted the challenge of not choosing my character and making it fit the situation. The alchemist should be able to craft potions of CLW and I can't image us absolutely plowing through it at first level. I'm more concerned about roleplaying this character I'm creating and curious if anyone can fill out this character's backstory and personality based on what I have built so far? I could probably do it myself, but I would enjoy the communities input and ideas to creative characters and motives that would fit into the Rise of the Runelords campaign.
Do you have the Rise of the Runelords Player's Guide yet? It should help you out a bit.
Yes, I read through it. So far the play style I have come up with so far is to have my eidolon constantly hidden away and probably separated from the party. Not sure if I'm going to let the party know I'm a summoner or not. I'm of Varisian origin and looks like I'm from Magnamar. I'm thinking my character went through some horrific incident that involved a dealing with outsiders that started my character's obsession with the planes. Anything can change, but that's just something that pop's to the top of my head. I'm thinking of maybe having some background in the planes. Still need to come up with a story to connect the eidolon in, why I'm in Sandpoint and my character's personality. Thinking of giving him some mental illness, to use as an excuse for roleplaying/giving me an excuse to spend rounds in combat getting distracted with the architecture or something else to give the other players a chance to do things. I was thinking the possibility of having multiple personalities and possibly having something trigger the two. My character is suppose to be extremely charismatic so I am investing in diplomacy. Thinking about maybe giving my character a loose grip of reality. Idk, just a few idea's I've thrown around.
With his(her?) skill focus o the planes, i see someone focused on those things from without. A CG alignment tells me this person helps others when needed, but may not step right up.
High diplomacy say they are a smooth talker, possible able to work with words as easily as spells. Talk some one out of a fight or gain the prize with words over blades.
Ma hap,this is a person that shouts advice from the back, keeps an eye out for trouble and works to make the rest of the party look good, but steps up and brings power to bear when it looks like its about to get bad.
Maybe your summoned monsters are a little "off" and you only bring them out to play as a last resort. They could be a secret shame, a drain or parasite on your "real" monster.
Also, nice dex, ranged weapon perhaps? Light crossbows are nice.
Thanks Scott, I'm not sure if I'll be keeping the alignment of CG. I'm thinking of that my character likes to help people in need, but can be oblivious to it when he's not paying attention. I was leaning towards the high diplomacy for not necessarily a smooth talker, but someone who is like-able and people open up to. I like the character personality and the idea of summoned monsters being a little off. I do plan on getting a light crossbow when I can afford it. Thanks for the ideas though. All ideas are welcome and any help for filling in the backstory or even creating a new backstory would be nice.
You are welcome.
As to the eidolon, your summon ability may provide for that. Maybe you were attacked, you used your ability but one of those things stayed around and out of some of the bystanders. On your trip to Sand point you learned to control and bring forth this creature through your disturbing link.
As to sand point, you speak Thassilionian, many ruins about, lots of fun stuff to check out, what with a dead empire and all.
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I can't think of anything worse that a Master Summoner as my first PC in a new group, esp with players who aren't much into optimizing. It's a HUGE spotlight hog and not a team player at all. Having secrets is also not a good way to engender trust and chumship.
I'd go with your other idea of a reach cleric.
These guys are going to be new friends, right? Run something way more team player-ish first time. You never have a second chance to make a first impression.
I don't plan on playing the Master Summoner as a spotlight hog. I am aware of how the class can absolutely break games and I do not intend to play it to it's full potential. This is very much going to be a character that will be used to get the other player's out of serious trouble if things get out of hands. I see where you are coming from and but I have already foreseen how to uproot the other players. I am very much going to try to play the support role and let the other players make decisions. Thanks for the advice though. Master Summoner can definitely ruin games.