Summoner advice

[Dukeh555]

I'm totally hooked on a summoner, mainly because 1) I like the thought of an eidolon, and I think it and the monster summons more then make up for the few spells the summoner has access to. And 2) I could see a lot of uses behind getting lesser planar binding so early. But it's not as well fluffed a class as say a wizard or a sorcerer so I'm not 100% on some information. First off, I want to know if a summoner can be a diabolist, or if that's specialized towards sorcerers and wizards. The first 5 levels or so of it would provide a tonne of useful stuff for planar binding, and I think a imp companion would be very useful till I can get my eidolon up to scratch. Second, and I know this sounds stupid, but is there any way for a summoner to go about acquiring a familiar? I have this thought of having a imp, a quasit, and a cacodaemon as permanent companions, squabbling and fighting over who's underworld gets my souls when I die.

[Iterman]

1)Requirements:
Alignment: Lawful neutral, lawful evil, or neutral evil.

Language: Infernal

Skills: Knowledge (planes) 5 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 3 ranks, Spellcraft 5 ranks

Special: Must have conjured a devil using lesser planar ally or lesser planar binding (or a similar spell) and successfully coaxed the fiend into performing a task longer than 1 day.
(This will take 10 levels of summoner to accomplish since you don't gain access to lesser planar binding/4th level spells in general until then, and unless you have a candle of invocation or some such it'll be a while until you can prestige into this class on your own.
A wizard gains access to this spell at level 9 so don't feel too bad, it takes a while either way.)

2) Eldritch Heritage
Prerequisites: Cha 13, Skill Focus with the class skill of bloodline selected for this feat (see below), character level 3rd.

Benefit: Select one sorcerer bloodline. You must have Skill focus in the class skill that bloodline grants to a sorcerer at 1st level (for example, Heal for the celestial bloodline). This bloodline cannot be a bloodline you already have. You gain the first-level bloodline power for the selected bloodline. For purposes of using that power, treat your sorcerer level as equal to your character level – 2, even if you have levels in sorcerer. You do not gain any of the other bloodline abilities.

Arcane Bloodline
Class Skill: Knowledge (any one).
Arcane Bond (Su): At 1st level, you gain an arcane bond, as a wizard equal to your sorcerer level. Your sorcerer levels stack with any wizard levels you possess when determining the powers of your familiar or bonded object. Once per day, your bonded item allows you to cast any one of your spells known (unlike a wizard’s bonded item, which allows him to cast any one spell in his spellbook). This ability does not allow you to have both a familiar and a bonded item.

(You'd need to take Improved Familiar in order to make that familiar a quasit or cocodaemon though.)

Since the imp acts as an animal companion, you can have both it, the eidolon, and a familar (provided by eldritch heritage). You could have the last as well but it would have to be of it's own free will (subject to the GM's will), which you could acquire by making a trade with it during lesser planar binding (would probably be a LOT since you'd want to have it around for a while) to act as your familiar.

[Dukeh555]

This is me shamelessly bumping myself back up to the top of the advice board.

[Dukeh555]

Thanks for the tips Iterman.

[Renegadeshepherd]

you can take diabolist but its nearly pointless. master summoner gets augmented summons for free and a summoner that wants to make the most of his eidilon will gain little as his eidilon is missing out on his evolutions.

BTW, you can be a diabolist as early as 5 or more likely 6th level with a scroll. right now there is a guide on being a diabolist that details that process. its a good guide id check it out.

[Dukeh555]

I only want 4-5 levels of it, as most of its uses die out by then. I mainly want it for the boosts its adds to lesser binding and dealing with the evil outsiders. Plus the imp would be adorable( Until it turns into a deinoschus( Dunno how that's spelt)) Plus some of the imps bonus trick spells might be of some genuine use, I mean grease is a great spell for taking an enemy out of the fight, plus it can relay info between party members and scout. I'm playing a half-elf to negate the evolution point losses I get.

[Dukeh555]

I plan on acquiring the cacodaemon and quasit through lesser planar binding. For the cacodaemon I will acquire a pair of people, and offer then as play things for the cacodaemon in exchange for its services as a pseudo-animal companion. It will be effectively the same as the imp, with spell-like abilities and forms as bonus tricks. Same goes for the quasit, but instead of people I will offer the quasit a couple of soul gems acquired from the cacodaemon. Quasits require souls to trade with greater demons for a higher form, so the gems are perfect. They will also keep the little fellow from attempting to take my soul. A plus for both of them will be the work experience. After all, they will both gain a number of useful spells and forms that they can put to use in the service a demon it daemon master when I die. This will make them far more useful to their future masters then any other quasit or cacodaemon.

[Dukeh555]

If you guys see a fault in my plan do not hesitate to inform me.

[Renegadeshepherd]

Perhaps take eldritch heritage for arcane bond for your imp or similar friend? I know its feat burning but it would be better in terms of spell like summoning and eidilon evolution.

[Dukeh555]

Thanks for the suggestion renegade.

[KestrelZ]

Another way to do this and avoid multiclassing is the Broodmaster archetype. The only downside is the shared alignment means the Eidolons are from similar planes.

Having a cohort with a different evil aligned allegiance is possible, with GM consent. Granted, leadership feat would be needed.