Hiyas, I was wondering- If an summoner begins play with an eidolon of the aquatic base form, if the summoner could also select the improved natural armor evolution for it.
Aquatic Base Form:
Starting Statistics
Size Medium; Speed 20 ft., swim 40 ft.; AC +4 natural armor; Saves Fort (good), Ref (good), Will (bad); Attack bite (1d6); Ability Scores Str 16, Dex 12, Con 13, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 11
Free Evolutions
bite, improved natural armor, gills, swim (2), and can select the mount evolution. Source: Ultimate Magic
Improved Natural Armor evolution:
An eidolon’s hide grows thick fur, rigid scales, or bony plates, giving it a +2 bonus to its natural armor. This evolution can be taken once for every five levels the summoner possesses. Source: Advanced Player's Guide
an errata/faq note on the SRD says: "A summoner can select this evolution once for levels 1—4, again for levels 5–9, a third time at levels 10–14, a fourth time at levels 15–19, and a fifth time at level 20."
If an eidolon has an evolution for free, has the summoner really selected it? If not, can a summoner grab that evolution for their aquatic eidolon, giving it 2 stacks of the evolution from the get-go?
