I am building a character for a friend's campaign, I thought a summoner would be fun but I need help with the build and the eidolon. The campaign is a standard 15 point adventure. Where do I go from here? Can anyone help? All suggestions are greatly appreciated. (This is my first thread too. So I hope this goes well)
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I suggest you not play a Summoner when you are just learning the game. It is quite a complicated class, with many pitfalls.
The Ranger makes a terrific first character. This is because the Ranger starts out simple, but gradually gains abilities that introduce you to new parts of the game. For example, a 1st level ranger has no spell casting ability, but can eventually cast some very useful spells. At start you need not learn all about spell casting, but you eventually will.
Sure, if you really want to play a Summoner, go ahead. Be warned, though, that there are several ways it can go wrong. For example, Summoning can slow down the game drastically if it's not done with grace and skill. Some archetypes of Summoner are banned in some play environments. Avoid those various traps, and your Summoner can work out great.
If you do create a Summoner, please be aware that it will be a very powerful character. Two character, really. Make sure to let the other players have a chance to shine. For example, if another new player thinks it might be fun to play a Rogue, you could easily get a situation where just the Summoner's Eidolon, not even counting the Summoner, overshadow's the other character.
I appreciate the suggestion, but this isn't the first tabletop rpg I've played, forgive me I should have clarified. I am just new to pathfinder. :) I do want to make a summoner, and I'm familiar with the eidolon. I just need advice on builds and what to do to make a successful summoner.
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Great thing is, the eidolon can be built to be what ever you want. I have a cheesy green dragon (in pfs play) while another guy has a four legged four armed thing that wields a greatsword and two claw attacks.
Since I am assuming that it will be either a home game or adventure path, ask the gm if you can use feats from the beastieries for the feats of the eidolon. If you are making the summoner an aasimar, take celestial servant so the eidolon attacks will be magical. If not, take eldritch claws so they will be magical and silver. Bad thing is that eldritch claws will have to wait until 9th lvl due to prerequisites. If you are allowed to take feats from any of the beastiery books, you might want to think about using feats to increase the damage of your attacks. This can free up evolution points.
Also, think about what you want the summoner to do once the eidolon is summoned. I am developing mine to be a diplomatic umd check. Once he gets to 8th level, he'll have a +19/+20 umd. Basically lvl 10, he can pick any wand or scroll and use it, regardless if arcane or divine (still have to roll the 26 dc for wands if I do not know the "magic word")
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If you change your mind on stuff for the eidolon, the summoner can change its appearance (to a degree) every time he summons it and how the evolution points are spent each level but the eidolon's feats are set in stone once picked. Some feats that are neutral and always helpful are feats like iron will and combat reflexes (they help no matter what the little rascal looks like).
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At ninth level you might want to give the eidolon "spell resistance" as it's evolution purchase. Since the eidolon's saves are pretty much built for you and the only real help is the saving throw feats, the evolution purchase will help in providing a small hurdle and chance at the caster failing it (DC 11 + summoner level).
I will be quiet now before I basically hand you the entire build for my summoner (although he is 20 point buy for pfs).
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There is a wonderful guide posted under the guide to the guides section.
My 2 cents, You only need a Cha of 16, and you only need that at higher levels, if you plan on mainly buffing, which the Summoner is great at.
Pounce is amazing, as is natural armor since your eidolon cannot ever wear any form of manufactured armor.
If you focus on pounce, you will want to take some abilities to bypass the DR most prevalent in your world.
That is about all. You really cannot go wrong, or very far wrong, with a summoner.
There is a wonderful guide posted under the guide to the guides section.
My 2 cents, You only need a Cha of 16, and you only need that at higher levels, if you plan on mainly buffing, which the Summoner is great at.
Pounce is amazing, as is natural armor since your eidolon cannot ever wear any form of manufactured armor.
If you focus on pounce, you will want to take some abilities to bypass the DR most prevalent in your world.
That is about all. You really cannot go wrong, or very far wrong, with a summoner.
Thank you so much, but I'm having trouble finding the guidelines section you mentioned. Can you help me?
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The guide you're looking for can be found here:
I would advise against the summoner as a first character though. Even if you've played other RPGs before.
* PF is a fairly crunchy game system, with a lot of tricky rules. The summoner uses a lot of those tricky rules.
* Use of summoned monsters can really slow down combat, especially if the boss of the summoned monsters (you) isn't really familiar with the monsters available, how the powers of a summoned monster differ from those of a regular speciment of the monster, and other things like that.
* Eidolons are tricky; there are quite a few subtle limits and subtle power-ups that you need to watch out with.
I'm not trying to say you're stupid, just that the summoner is a class that works a lot better if you already have experience with Pathfinder specifically.
If the idea of having a Pet and summoned monsters appeals to you, you should take a look at the druid. It's a decently powerful and flexible class, with pets and summons. But its abilities don't become available all at the same time; you get a few every level, making it easier to learn. Maybe a druid is a nicer fit for a first game?
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I am building a character for a friend's campaign, I thought a summoner would be fun but I need help with the build and the eidolon....
A summoner wrecked the last adventure-path I was in -- he *destroyed* every encounter.
My advice for new players is to stick to the Core classes, and use a 15,14,12,12,12,12 20pt pre-racial stat array for their first character regardless of class (except for maybe wizard).
Avoid any class which is banned by PFS.
(I second the suggestion for Ranger.)