PFS Summoner Advice

[Alwaysafk]

Hello, I'll be joining my first game of PFS this coming Saturday and could use an extra set of eyes to look over my character. While I've been using the system for several years now I've never really tried getting into the Galorion world until now.

Rhyner Thatch
Male CG Angel-kin Aasimar Summoner
Level 1, Init +8, HP 10/10, DR 0, Speed 30
AC 16, Touch 12, Flat-footed 14, CMD 15
Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +1
CMB +3, Base Attack Bonus 0
Longspear 3 (1d8+4, x3)
Cestus 3 (1d4+3, 19-20x2)
Chainshirt (+4 Armor, +2 Dex)
Abilities Str 16(racial), Dex 14, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 18(racial)

Faction is Andoran,traits are reactionary and focused mind and feat is improved initiative.
I've not rolled out the Eidolon yet and I also have about 40(?) gold left to spend.

Anything obviously illegal?
What kind of Eidolon should it be?
What items should I buy?

Thanks in advance

Edit 1: removed illegal archetype. Thank you!

[Duiker]

Master Summoner is not legal in PFS.

[Jeff Morse]

You might want to go to the PFS page and than use the link for additional resource. This will show you what is legal. Cause as Duiker said your archtype aint legal.

[Black Feather]

While Improved Initiative is a decent feat, and going first is fun, there are a few feats I'd use instead...

The only character type that NEEDS to go first is either a AoE specialist (so you don't hit your allies) or a skirmisher-type (easier to hit and sneak attack). Squishies WANT to go first so they aren't quite so squishy but it's more of "I'll fit this in when I can" and less "this is an integral part of what I do".
______

In PFS, you're limited basically to the standard eidolon-type. My favorite is quadruped, for pounce, and you can ride it if you're a small race or if you use the link ability to cast enlarge person on it (you can cast spells with a target of "you" on your pet instead, so it works).

Nice trick for a summoner is to use the Summon Monster ability and then (when you can; I think it's at level 4 you access the spell) the next round use Summon Eidolon. The summons last for the whole fight usually and the Eidolon stays out as well. That means that if you took SF: Conj, Augment Summoning, and Superior Summoning as your first 3 feats, you're tossing out generally 1d3 + 1 buffed critters the first round and then a buffed eidolon the third.

This type of thing requires a bit of planning for your feats. Likewise if you're going to ride the eidolon, etc.

[Secane]

As Black Feather has written above, while you can't play the Master Summoner archetype in PFS, this does not means you cannot play a standard summoner in the a master summoner style.

Going with Black Feather's suggestion of Spell focus: Conjuration, Augment Summoning, and Superior Summoning, you can summon 1-4 animals by lv 3 and upgrade them to elementals at lv 5.
Having played with a PFS summoner that focuses on getting summons out and uses his Eidolon as rogue like character (diplo, fly, stealth scout.). I can say he has one of the most useful characters around. The summons he has out have help saved missions, put out fires, and help keep the enemies off the party.

And yes, a smaller race may have some uses here, as you can get off with having a medium Eidolon, preferably one with fly.

For your ability scores, I would suggest:
STR: 12 DEX: 12 CON: 14 INT: 12 WIS: 12 CHA: 15 (BEFORE racials)

Why such an even distribution? Here is a break down:

STR: 12 - You want some str to wear light armor, BUT you DON'T need it high at 16(!). You should not be front-lining, having a high str is pointless.

DEX: 12 - Some Dex is good. You can go up to 14, but its not a priority.

CON: 14 - Have a good CON stat. I have seen way too many characters dying off permanently cos they made characters that "will just stay safely at the back." In PFS, you would never know what your party make up is. And its not a MMO, Monsters will target spellcasters and will attack from the back. That Fireball is not going to care you are "at the back".

INT: 12 - This is upped as there are 2 points left over. More skill points never hurt.

WIS: 12 - Never dump your Wisdom! Ever hear of a spell called dominate? Or faced sirens? Low Will saves = the Party facing ANOTHER enemy (aka you). AND since you have pets, suddenly the party is facing a whole lot more enemies... :( . There are also certain scenarios that love to throw mind affecting spell against the party all the time.

CHA: 15 - You would want a good cha if you are focusing on getting the most out of your summon monster spell like ability. with a total of 17 after racials, you can up that to a 18 at lv 4 and with a headband have it at 20. That is 6 summon monsters a day. You can up this higher... but not at the expense of your other ability scores.

As a "master-summoner-like" summoner, you want to 1) Survive 2) help the party survive 3) Buff and support the party.
Hence have a good hp and good saves. Don't drop Con Or Wis.
Ability scores should be Cha>Con>Wis>Str&Dex>Int, for reason as stated above.

Hope all this helps!