I'm looking to device a way that instead of having the summoner form an attachment with another worldly being, it instead forms an attachment with another PC. I'm looking to keep the summoner spell-list and remove the summon monster. Right now, I'm looking for 2 variations. One where the summoner has a bond with just one of the PCs and another where the summoner has a bond with all of the PCs. How would I balance this out?
To clarify, you want to get rid of both the Eidolon and the summon monster abilities?
The Eidolon forms a large (possibly even a too large) part of a Summoner's prowess - without it they're just gimped casters. Things like the Rangers' ability to bond with their team wouldn't be anywhere near potent enough to be a reasonable substitute, so you need to design something from scratch.
Or just replace the Eidolon with a Humanoid NPC; a Cohort on steroids.
Yes I want to get rid of the Eidolon and the summon monster ability, though I don't think it's balanced to give out evolutions to the party, but I'm not sure what I want to replace it with. I am open to new ideas and suggestions. If I do end up handing out evolutions to the party it would be stuff along the lines of basic magic, improved natural armor, low-light vision, resistance, ability increase, minor magic, damage reduction, major magic, fast healing, major magic, and spell resistance. But this list only applies if it is balanced to transfer over evolutions to the party and you would have to split the evolution points among the party.
The Eidolon forms a large (possibly even a too large) part of a Summoner's prowess - without it they're just gimped casters. Things like the Rangers' ability to bond with their team wouldn't be anywhere near potent enough to be a reasonable substitute, so you need to design something from scratch.
Or just replace the Eidolon with a Humanoid NPC; a Cohort on steroids.
But I would rather not. If it makes it any easier, this would be a NPC class and the NPC would be with the PC party so maybe that changes things. I'll be having control of this summoner class and his point will be to make the party shine brighter.
well if you want to give up the eidolon and the summons and the evolution points then it's really not a summoner at all.
Lets try it this way. What parts of the summoner did you like that we could expand upon?
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not sure what you are trying to go for here
are you looking for a class that enhances a group just by being there?
I would try the Vitalist or the Tactician from Dreamscars Psionics books.
Both of them set up a psychic link to their party members, the Vitalist using it to shuffle life force around and heal people while the Tactician uses it to coordinate and enhance combat skills
Similarly from regular Core books you could use a Bard or a Cloistered Cleric or a Sensei Monk.
If you chop out all the main parts of a summoner you might as well just use the Adept NPC class.
For story purposes it has to be a summoner. The summoner underwent a special ritual to bond outsiders, but got the ritual wrong and instead resurrected the PC's who are now linked to the summoner. I don't want to bother with psionics.
Sounds very cool. Nice idea Malusiocus.
A bit busy right now, but these occurred to me:
You could make the bestowed evolutions ability replace the summon monster SLA with a similar range and time limit. Will the summoner be traveling with the party?
Also, the Shield Ally are a shoe in for this concept. Just delegate one PC per round to use it on, or at higher levels more than one.
Same with Transposition...
Maybe look at the Group Leader PrC on d20PFSRD for its close group ability...
Thanks Ocean, and the summoner will be traveling with the party, but she has her own agenda so there is a possibility that she might split up with the party. I don't have anything set in stone yet.