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I know the Summoner Spell List is a major point of contention for the class. While some complain that it gives the summoner spells like haste one level before a wizard gets it, the bigger issue is that spells like baleful polymorph or teleport can be made into wands.
So, I redid the summoner spell list, placing the various spells at the appropriate spell level. I also moved restore eidolon to 4th Level, and created a greater restore eidolon spell and placed it in the 6th Level list (essentially, the rejuvinate spells are odd-levels and the restore spells are even-levels).
Anyone see any issues with the adjusted lists? Any spells that you can think of that could be added?
School conjuration (healing); Level summoner 6
Casting Time 1 minute
Components V, S, M (diamond dust worth 5,000 gp)
Range touch
Target eidolon touched
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw Will negates (harmless); Spell Resistance yes (harmless)
This spell functions as greater restoration, except it only affects an eidolon.
EDIT: Spells marked with * are found in the APG. Spells marked with ** are found in UM.
There are some specific effects summoners should get at the same level as wizards: planar binding and its derivatives. This is because they directly go to the summoner's specialty - planar minion creatures, not something as broad as 'conjuration'. Contrast teleport or plane shift, which are merely conjuration and in the case of plane shift they get at a lower spell level than wizards anyway.
I think the right way to handle that, though, is the same way Summon Monster was handled: a class feature. Possibly an archetype class feature.
Like the summon monster spells, they should remain on the class list, even though no one will take them as a spell known, to make sure that scrolls/staves remain usable.
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So, you recommend leaving lesser planar binding, planar binding, and greater planar binding at 4th, 5th, and 6th levels respectively?
I get what you're saying about making it a class feature, but even with an archetype, you're still stuck with dealing with the irregularities of the spell list. There are a number of spells on the list that I think certainly fit the flavor of what a summoner should be able to deal with: dimensional lock and maze, for example. But if you make an exception for those, you could certainly justify most of the others, and then at that point you're back at square one.
So, with that in mind, do you think it's best to allow exceptions for conjuration (calling) and conjuration (summoning) spells, while not granting exceptions for spell levels for the remaining spells?
I think those spells belong where you have put them.
I also think there should be some way for a summoner to get access to them sooner. Perhaps taking a 'Binder' archetype that looses the summon monster SLA.
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Hmmm...ok, just to make sure I'm clear what you're saying, the spell list I posted in the first post is generally ok to go.
I like the idea of an archetype. Though, there are only 3 binding spells compared to the 9 SM plus gate to trade out. So the question would be what else to give it to balance things out.
I need to head to bed for an early morning. I'll give it more thought and post tomorrow afternoon.
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Ok, what about something along the lines of Summon Monster SLA being replaced with "Binding Surges". When a living creature dies within 30 feet of the summoner, he can use one Binding Surge as an immediate action to bind a portion of that soul's energy to the summoner giving that summoner a +1 bonus to attack and damage on any subsequent attack of the summoner's choosing (melee, ranged, ray, touch, natural weapon, etc). The summoner may instead expend two surges to allow the bonus to be applied to all attacks made in any one round of the player's choosing. Once the attack is made, the soul's energy is released. At the end of one hour, if the soul's energy hasn't been used, it is released and a new surge will have to be used. At 4th level (and every four levels thereafter) the bonus increases by +1 to a maximum of +5 at 16th level.
The summoner could use a surge to cast the respective planar binding spell as a SLA (5, 10, and 15th levels, perhaps?).
At some point in the progression, I imagine the summoner would be able to share this bonus with his eidolon (either whole, or in part).
I also imagine that at some level, if the creature slain had an energy or alignment subtype, the summoner could expend another surge to either gain an extra 1d6 damage of that subtype or perhaps allows the summoner to overcome any DR that a creature with that subtype might have. Perhaps both but granted at different levels.
Might be worth looking at reducing the effectiveness of the eidolon for this, too: summoner level halved (min 1) or something like that.
Well, that's my first stab at it, anyways.
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I agree that it's okay for a summoner to be as good as a wizard (not worse, maybe even 1 level better if that rounds nicely) at summoning and calling monsters.
Also, they should get the required abjurations (dimensional anchor and magic circle against X) at a level no later than lesser planar binding.
But they have no business being better at stuff like Haste. Just because it'd be useful to them is no reason to give it too cheaply.
I like the idea of an archetype. Though, there are only 3 binding spells compared to the 9 SM plus gate to trade out. So the question would be what else to give it to balance things out.
It's not the quantity, its the effect. A bigger question is what do they get to do at low levels while they wait for planar binding?
And in what substantial ways would having access to planar binding be better or worse than extending the duration of their existing summon monster SLA?
Impressive work HangarFlying - thank you. With a few Eidolon restrictions, I could see actually allowing this summoner.
It's not about wands. It's about 'X level spell' being a consistent concept.
Differences in spell level are allowed when the idea is that a class is just better at something than another. That is, clerics are better as raising the dead than necromancers. Bards are better charmers than wizards. Clerics are better at healing than druids. Some of this is necessary to make the different spellcasting classes, well, different.
But why is a summoner so much better at controlling the flow of time that he gets haste as a second level spell? The summoner list is full of purely mechanical adjustments that seem to exist to make them more viable as a primary arcane caster. That is, to let them keep up with a wizard, while still having an Eidolon, more hit points, and a better BAB. That's wrong.
Would you give a magus fireball and lightning bolt as second level spells? Or do you compare those spells next to acid arrow and scorching ray and keep them at 3rd?
Sooooooo...does my archetype idea seem viable?
Perhaps. In discussing it, though, I've convinced myself that a summoner has limited need to be hooked into the planar binding minigame.
I miss the aging effects on occasion. Those paired with ghosts and botched youth potions could end your adventuring career really quick.