Heya all! I have a pet project and I wanted to pick the brains of all the system masters on these boards for help. I want to play a sentient non-humanoid creature for a character, something different. I was thinking of modifying the eidolon creation rules to make it happen. In other words, the Eidolon without the Summoner. Here are my criteria:
1. Should be balanced with other classes, I like my GM and don't wanna make him cry.
2. Spellcasting and speech in beast form if possible.
3. Keep the eidolon evolution progression and mechanic.
4. Dump all the Summoner class features.
5. Normal healing.
6. No set stat array by form, this is a PC and should roll/buy stats like other PCs.
7. Otherwise, feel free to remove/modify the eidolon mechanics to create a playable character.
Challenge accepted??
There's always the Unfettered Eidolon as a start.
Well, first- restrict it to biped. That REALLY helps to balance things. No pouncing.
Maybe restrict it from going total sheva too (you can hit the natural attack cap fairly easily if you just add a tail for a sting; with bite/clawx2 hands/claw x2 feet/and sting as options, you will be fine until level 19). If you prefer weapon builds...well, sorry, you can't use a dozen kukri. Still, you can do
Also, no large evo or ability score increases (banning this will make it easier to ask for regular point buy, instead of the crappy preset stats). If you are really set on size, have it as an evo without the stat changes (being large is still a major advantage with your reach)
Ok, so lets look at this mechanically- why not use an unfettered eidolon? It has the same evo rules, but since you will be using it as a character rather than a class mechanic, then you will use your HD as class levels.
Since you are an outsider, that means you will get full BAB, more health, and slightly better saves. It may seem like a lot, but remember- you are not part of a team with the best buffer in the game any more. With the normal scaling str buffs from level (keep the summoner chart for this), you will be on par with other melee classes (20 BAB+4 from str).
That also segues into the bits you keep- you keep the stat and natural armor boosts from level, as well as evos. Just use your hd as summoner level for those. Without the more game breaking evos like pounce, size increase, and stat boosts, that will not be too bad. Obviously, keep the bit where you can't use armor (the natural armor boosts are comparable defensively, and you can split it between natural armor and regular armor AC- basically, you could just say your eidolon comes with armor, or it is even a living suit of armor)
Also, make change your type to native outsider. Mechanically, that will make you easier to fit into a party- you can be raised if you die, and you can't be banished (which is the same as dying in early game). It is a minor enough change to write off as 'magic wibbly wobbly stuff' with whatever made you unfettered, and it keeps you from losing your character due to something that would be only a small set back for other characters.
Thanks, I had no idea there was an Unfettered Eidolon in existence. Also, now that I think about it, spellcasting with this character would be really overpowered.
Another thought- you could think of the eidolon not as an eidolon, but as a custom race builder for monster people that use their race as their class. That is the original intention of the eidolon rules anyway.
From there, you can make a full preset progession with your GM. That might help him relax, since he knows what to expect, and he doesn't have to deal with you getting a +8 to a skill out of nowhere when you level up in the middle of a dungeon (completely ruining his planned skill checks)
It is also easier to convince him to allow a quadruped/centaur when he knows that you will either not get pounce or get it at a sane level, and that he knows you won't grow a dozen arms with claws. It is also easier to argue for complete changes to a base form (such as making serpentine into something...actually useful, instead of that silly tail slap that just nerfs the bite. For example, making a lamia/medusa type character)
I wouldn't switch out from being an outsider statwise, since that is d10, full BAB, with 6+ skill points (so a fairly good base overall-similar to slayer or ranger in utility). But switching your ostensible type for effects and flavor is fine.
Side note: since you are not a class feature that comes back after being killed, you of course should get full HP at level 1.