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An issue came up recently over on the advice forum when discussing an attempt at a Psychic Samsaran. Check here for full context.
The Mystic Past Life's text is as follows
Mystic Past Life (Su) You can add spells from another spellcasting class to the spell list of your current spellcasting class. You add a number of spells equal to 1 + your spellcasting class's key ability score bonus (Wisdom for clerics, and so on). The spells must be the same type (arcane or divine) as the spellcasting class you're adding them to. For example, you could add divine power to your druid class spell list, but not to your wizard class spell list because divine power is a divine spell. These spells do not have to be spells you can cast as a 1st-level character. The number of spells granted by this ability is set at 1st level. Changes to your ability score do not change the number of spells gained. This racial trait replaces shards of the past.
The questions that emerged and birthed this new post are the following, as worded by Mike Seifer.
1) "The spells must be the same type (arcane or divine) as the spellcasting class you're adding them to."
Since this mentions the spells having a type, rather than the spell list, how does one determine what type the spell is? What if it's on multiple lists? What about archetypes, domains, patrons, and the like that might grant spells differently than normal to a particular character? (Such as domains granting spells not normally on a list, or something like the Mindblade Magus switching the parent class from one caster type, Arcane, to another, Psychic)
2) "You can add spells...to the spell list of your current spellcasting class."
Can you add spells to a class list that are already on that list, thus accessing them sooner than normally available for a non-Samsaran of the same class?
I lean towards the base forms of each class and their respective spell lists.
So, as immediate examples:
Arcane casters are Bard, Bloodrager, Sorcerer/wizard, Magus, Witch, etc
Divine casters are Cleric, Paladin, Shaman, Druid, etc
Psychic casters are Psychic, Occultist, Mesmerist, etc.
If it appears on the Paladin list only, it is a divine spell. If it appears on paladin, cleric, or shaman lists, you it is a divine spell, but you can pick the lowest level among those lists.
If it appears on the Bard and Cleric lists, it can be both an arcane or a divine spell. If it appears on both the Psychic and Magus spell lists, it can be a psychic or an arcane spell.
And, in my opinion, any class feature or archetype that changes the spellcasting paradigm does not count towards what you can take. So Mindblade magus should not turn the entire magus spell list into psychic spells just because the mindblade can cast magus spells as psychic spells. If that worked there would be argument for the psychic bloodline meaning that a psychic samsaran has access to the entire sorcerer/wizard spell list.
Basically, I believe that every spell list has a label of "Arcane", "Divine", or "psychic" based upon the class it comes from, and those are the choices you get.
EDIT: And this does absolutely mean that a samsaran can gain access to a spell sooner than his base class. So, for example, you had a samsaran wizard and you wanted, for whatever reason, blade tutor's spirit. Because of the ability, he can add "blade tutor's spirit", a magus arcane level 1 spell, to the wizard spell list as a level 1 arcane spell.
And, in my opinion, any class feature or archetype that changes the spellcasting paradigm does not count towards what you can take. So Mindblade magus should not turn the entire magus spell list into psychic spells just because the mindblade can cast magus spells as psychic spells. If that worked there would be argument for the psychic bloodline meaning that a psychic samsaran has access to the entire sorcerer/wizard spell list.
I certainly agree that it should not be allowable for a Samsaran Psychic to pull from the Mindblade Magus list. That potentially allows for all sorts of shenanigans. The official answer for this question likely also applies to things like Cleric Domains, Oracle Mysteries, and Witch Patrons.
I think there's an argument to be made for the reverse, though. I don't see a real issue with a Samsaran Mindblade Magus pulling psychic spells from the Psychic list. After all, the Mindblade is a psychic caster, so it seems a little wonky to end up pulling from an arcane list to have those spells converted to psychic spells.
What about Occulists? They don't even have a true spell list like other casters do, they instead have Implements that grant access to spells.
And, in my opinion, any class feature or archetype that changes the spellcasting paradigm does not count towards what you can take. So Mindblade magus should not turn the entire magus spell list into psychic spells just because the mindblade can cast magus spells as psychic spells. If that worked there would be argument for the psychic bloodline meaning that a psychic samsaran has access to the entire sorcerer/wizard spell list.I certainly agree that it should not be allowable for a Samsaran Psychic to pull from the Mindblade Magus list. That potentially allows for all sorts of shenanigans. The official answer for this question likely also applies to things like Cleric Domains, Oracle Mysteries, and Witch Patrons.
I think there's an argument to be made for the reverse, though. I don't see a real issue with a Samsaran Mindblade Magus pulling psychic spells from the Psychic list. After all, the Mindblade is a psychic caster, so it seems a little wonky to end up pulling from an arcane list to have those spells converted to psychic spells.
Actually, I would argue that this is not the case.
"The spells must be the same type (arcane or divine) as the spellcasting class you're adding them to."
The samsaran ability is modifying the list that you're drawing from, and the mindblade magus draws from an arcane list, so I would think that a samsaran mindblade would gain access to arcane lists instead of psychic lists.
What about Occulists? They don't even have a true spell list like other casters do, they instead have Implements that grant access to spells.
I think this is the relevant entry:
A spell is not considered
to be on the occultist’s spell list until the occultist selects
its implement school though the implements class feature.
By my reading, and this is very complicated to think about and I could easily be wrong, I think that a samsaran can add spells to the occultist spell list from any other psychic list, but it won't be considered to be on the list as it says until you select the appropriate school.
So if you take several abjuration spells from the psychic list via the samsaran's ability, they still won't be considered on the spell list until you take an abjuration implement. However, this interpretation could be wrong, and it could possibly give the occultist access to spells not in one of his implement schools.
In addition, because of the same quote, a samsaran can never add occultist spells to other psychic casters, since there are no spells on the occultist's spell list until they take an implement as per the class feature, and other psychics don't have that class feature. This is less likely to prove untrue, in my opinion.
Actually, I would argue that this is not the case.
"The spells must be the same type (arcane or divine) as the spellcasting class you're adding them to."
The samsaran ability is modifying the list that you're drawing from, and the mindblade magus draws from an arcane list, so I would think that a samsaran mindblade would gain access to arcane lists instead of psychic lists.
Note that the text you've quoted references the spellcasting class you're adding to, rather than the spell list you're adding them to.
The Mindblade archetype has modified the Spell Casting feature of the class such that casts psychic spells, but happens to use the Magus spell list. It is no longer an arcane caster, but a psychic caster instead. The fact that it still uses a spell list traditionally associated with an arcane spellcaster is irrelevant -- the ability is adding to a psychic spellcaster.
I tend to want to not interpret it that way because then it would open it up for going the other way. My view on it is that "mindblade" is not a spellcasting class, any more than "psychic bloodline" is a spellcasting class. Magus is definitely an arcane spellcasting class, and the magus's list is what you're messing with.
At least that's how I see it. You could be right, but it just feels weird to me.
And these questions are all why I bring it here.
I've yet to have someone tell me that a Psychic class doesn't qualify, arguing that arcane and divine are examples and the only allowed, but I suppose it *could* be argued.
There is also the argument that the feature does nothing at all for psychic classes.
"The spells must be the same type (arcane or divine) as the spellcasting class you're adding them to."
It should extend to psychic spells, but it could be said it doesn't by strict RAW.
That qualifies as reminder text, to me. When it was written, psychic spellcasting did not exist. So as written, it reads "the spells must be the same type as the spellcasting class you're adding them to."
I think they just wrote "arcane or divine" to remind people what they meant by "type", not to remove the possibility of any future spellcasting paradigm.
EDIT: As an amusing aside that I thought of while on the subject, A samsaran can add cure light wounds to the magus spell list, since it exists as a bard arcane spell. The magus can then deliver it via his spellstrike class feature.
I tend to want to not interpret it that way because then it would open it up for going the other way. ... At least that's how I see it. You could be right, but it just feels weird to me.
That's fair to worry about it opening up the other direction.
Personally, I don't think it does, though. The ability doesn't give any indication that it allows you to consider archetypes when choosing the spellcasting class to pull from. Given the FAQ on Eldritch Heritage, an ability like this would need to explicitly state that you can take archetypes into consideration.
You could potentially argue that since you select your race before selecting a class, technically Mystic Past Life takes effect before you can actually have an archetype or class feature modify the spellcasting of the destination class. The ability states that you're adding the spells to your "current spellcasting class", though, which implies that it applies to whatever spellcasting class you take at first level, which would include the effects of any archetypes you apply at that point.
That said, I would rule that if you use Mystic Past Life to add psychic spells to your Mindblade Magus list and later retrained out of the Mindblade archetype, you'd lose those extra spells as you're no longer adding those psychic spells to a psychic spellcaster.
EDIT:
EDIT: As an amusing aside that I thought of while on the subject, A samsaran can add cure light wounds to the magus spell list, since it exists as a bard arcane spell. The magus can then deliver it via his spellstrike class feature.
That's actually a pretty interesting thought, especially if combined with a merciful rapier to crit-fish the heal with nonlethal damage that'll get healed up alongside the lethal damage you actually want to heal.
It's too bad that Heal is a 7th level spell for Witches -- having a 15-20/x2 Heal would be amazing (though almost certainly overkill).
In that same vein you could also pick up Harm. Still a 7th level spell for Witches, but it means you can crit-fish with Harm.
Edit: Actually, if you Harm-Strike something, which order does the damage apply in? Does it do weapon then spell, because if so you can't actually kill someone with that unless your weapon alone does it. If its the opposite then Harm can reduce them to 1 and the weapon can push it over.
Both are actually really interesting possibilities. It would be the ultimate embarrassment to have a Magus strike you once and leave you at a single HP then leave while claiming victory. Sounds like a good BBEG tactic.
The problem with both heal and harm is that to the witch they're level 7, but the magus only gets up to level 6 spells.
Oooooh...good point, good point. Haven't played a Magus before, so I kind of forgot that about them.
The problem with both heal and harm is that to the witch they're level 7, but the magus only gets up to level 6 spells.
Oooooh...good point, good point. Haven't played a Magus before, so I kind of forgot that about them.
Yeah, thus why I said it's too bad.
On a related note, can you spellstrike with a wand? If so, it might be worth keeping around a merciful rapier and invest in UMD just to get a slightly better return on investment on out of combat healing with CLW wands.
(Fudging the numbers slightly by not accounting for confirmation rolls, but assuming a 30% crit rate, you'd go from an average of 5.5 HP/cast to 8.8 HP/cast. That takes you from an average of 2.73gp to 1.70gp per HP healed. That's nearly as good as a Wand of Infernal Healing, but without the evil descriptor and significantly faster.)
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Just as a FYI, 'Mike Seifer' is actually Mark Seifter. He's a super chill guy and may be too polite to correct, though. Or maybe he's an Eidolon gone too far Rogue to correct. One of the two.
FAQ'd.
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I misspelled his name didn't I. Let me go check. Baaaah, dropped a t in his last name and somehow misspelled his first name. That's what I get for trying to post on an empty stomach! Sorry M-a-r-k S-e-i-f-t-e-r! I'd fix it if I could still edit posts that old.
And yes, I've only had pleasant interactions with Mark. He saw a friend and I reading Occult Adventures at GenCon and actually sat with us for a while discussing the development of our favorite Occult classes and talking about his vision for them. I have also seen him pretty much everywhere on the forums. I'm not sure how he stays so active here and also gets so much work done. He must surely have some arcane powers, perhaps powered by some other plane full of energy.
I misspelled his name didn't I. Let me go check. Baaaah, dropped a t in his last name and somehow misspelled his first name. That's what I get for trying to post on an empty stomach! Sorry M-a-r-k S-e-i-f-t-e-r! I'd fix it if I could still edit posts that old.
And yes, I've only had pleasant interactions with Mark. He saw a friend and I reading Occult Adventures at GenCon and actually sat with us for a while discussing the development of our favorite Occult classes and talking about his vision for them. I have also seen him pretty much everywhere on the forums. I'm not sure how he stays so active here and also gets so much work done. He must surely have some arcane powers, perhaps powered by some other plane full of energy.
My secret is that I bounce around while I'm thinking about things that might be tough and mentally multitask. For instance:
"Wow, an alchemist archetype that gets really powerful stuff but loses all alchemy. Gotta decide what I'm going to do there. Why not check the forums for a few minutes!"
It usually winds up helping me think as long as I don't run into too much grar.
Lily, I think I remember our conversation. Was that in the Sagamore sort of after a slot was over at one of the unoccupied tables and then it was your copy of Occult we were all checking out (and that I signed)?
Indeed it was! My friend told you of her great love for Medium, and I explained how pleased I was with base Kineticist. We talked for a while, and then you signed my book before you realized you were very late for something.
To clear up any confusion you might have had at the table (or now), I'm transgendered, so when my friend kept saying, "it her book," she meant me.
Thanks for sitting and talking with us! Makes it all the more embarrassing that I'd get your name wrong.
Indeed it was! My friend told you of her great love for Medium, and I explained how pleased I was with base Kineticist. We talked for a while, and then you signed my book before you realized you were very late for something.
To clear up any confusion you might have had at the table (or now), I'm transgendered, so when my friend kept saying, "it her book," she meant me.
Thanks for sitting and talking with us! Makes it all the more embarrassing that I'd get your name wrong.
Yup, just as I remembered. I was late for my booth shift, but honestly it was worth it; I think talking with all the players and GMs in the PFS room is also very important. I didn't mention the part where I slipped up because d'oh, totally failed my Perception/Sense Motive check there! I deserve to have my name wrong after that one >_<
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1) how does one determine what type the spell is?
2) What about archetypes, domains, patrons, and the like that might grant spells differently than normal to a particular character?
3) Can you add spells to a class list that are already on that list, thus accessing them sooner than normally available for a non-Samsaran of the same class?
1) If you are divine, find it on another divine spell casting list. If you are arcane, another arcane list. If you are psychic, another psychic list.
2) It isn't on the class spell list unless it is always on there, domains (etc) add spells to the class spell list of a class and it is cast as divine, but it doesn't make it a divine cleric spell. Well, not in general. Only for that character and not for any other character.
3) Ask your GM. Expect table variance.
Part of the reason I bring it here is as a PFS player I don't really have a GM to ask and Table Variance can mean I'm suddenly playing a pre-gen instead of my own character.
And no worries Mark, in the middle of a con I think everyone is taking a few penalties for fatigue after running things for so long.
Table Variance can mean I'm suddenly playing a pre-gen instead of my own character.For that very reason, I generally avoid contentious rules.
Usually I do too, but Samsaran has been around for at least a year in PFS, and will be even more common now that it has been dropped from a Tier 1 GenCon boon to a Tier 3 GenCon boon. If I'm curious, then other players will be curious, so why not petition the officials and get a clear answer so someone doesn't accidentally fall on the wrong side of the rules and be forced to bench their character.
My original list of spells (findable in the context post) was actually spells that are fairly clearly available without falling into any of the above categories. It was only when a discussion around other options happened, including a helpful post by Mark Seifter, that I decided to try and get an official response here.
As an aside, thanks to the 12 others that have already marked my opening post for FAQ consideration.
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so why not petition the officials and get a clear answer
I'm sorry. I wasn't saying "don't hope for this." I was more saying, don't play if you don't get an official without being prepared to play a pregen as you say.
There are a very small percentage of issues that get FAQ treatment. We are still waiting for promised errata/faq on Overrun from 2009. Currently from experience, I'd strongly recommend not playing any character that focuses on Overrun. You won't have a good time.
so why not petition the officials and get a clear answerI'm sorry. I wasn't saying "don't hope for this." I was more saying, don't play if you don't get an official without being prepared to play a pregen as you say.
There are a very small percentage of issues that get FAQ treatment. We are still waiting for promised errata/faq on Overrun from 2009. Currently from experience, I'd strongly recommend not playing any character that focuses on Overrun. You won't have a good time.
Oh absolutely. My final spell selection will likely be a few cure spells and other helpful Spiritualist spells that aren't on the Psychic list. While an official answer is the best case, a discussion among posters isn't too bad of a worst case.
My own personal opinion is that early access feels wrong, archetypes probably aren't intended to give access but seem like they do, and that caster type determines spell type for all spells on their lists, but only when viewed through the lens of it being that class.
Also I feel like Occultist should grant access to Psychic spells for Samsaran, but that one is almost as contentious as Mindblade due to the way they gain access to spells themselves.
EDIT: And this does absolutely mean that a samsaran can gain access to a spell sooner than his base class. So, for example, you had a samsaran wizard and you wanted, for whatever reason, blade tutor's spirit. Because of the ability, he can add "blade tutor's spirit", a magus arcane level 1 spell, to the wizard spell list as a level 1 arcane spell.
I think this is a very bad idea, giving wizards access to dominate monster at level 11 is no good for anyone. Using the unchained summoner's list helps this somewhat, but there are still abusive combinations, giving the most powerful class an even more powerful advantage is a poor way to make rulings. I would strongly advise against allowing any early access and instead encourage players to pick options which expand their spell list instead.
so why not petition the officials and get a clear answerI'm sorry. I wasn't saying "don't hope for this." I was more saying, don't play if you don't get an official without being prepared to play a pregen as you say.
There are a very small percentage of issues that get FAQ treatment. We are still waiting for promised errata/faq on Overrun from 2009. Currently from experience, I'd strongly recommend not playing any character that focuses on Overrun. You won't have a good time.
Oh absolutely. My final spell selection will likely be a few cure spells and other helpful Spiritualist spells that aren't on the Psychic list. While an official answer is the best case, a discussion among posters isn't too bad of a worst case.
My own personal opinion is that early access feels wrong, archetypes probably aren't intended to give access but seem like they do, and that caster type determines spell type for all spells on their lists, but only when viewed through the lens of it being that class.
Also I feel like Occultist should grant access to Psychic spells for Samsaran, but that one is almost as contentious as Mindblade due to the way they gain access to spells themselves.
Early access I doubt was ever really an "issue", the Paizo crew is well aware that some spells are given earlier on some spell lists. It isn't like they all the sudden realized after it was published " OMG, we totally missed that the Summoner gets the spell earlier than the wizard..."
As for archtypes granting spells, I don't believe that to be the case. They add spells to your spell list, that doesn't make them part of the core spell list. Just like domains. They add spells to your spell list. The additional spells aren't innately part of the base class spell without extraneous choices above and beyond.
It would be like stating the "extra spells" you get from Mystic Past Life are cleric spells because you are a cleric, even though they were druid spells you cherry picked from that class' spell list. Logically, you cannot use an exception to prove the exception. Archetypes are an exception to the general class, they have a little give and take. If they alter the spell list for the person taking the archtype, that doesn't change the core class, it changes the character.
As written, obviously we are limited to divine and arcane spells, RAW. I guess we'll just have to see if they decide to update MPL to include the new classes. But as was mentioned earlier, I won't be holding my breath.
The wording isn't that obvious in excluding Psychic spells, you can assume that arcane and divine are used as examples without bending the language at all.
Even limiting it to spells that your list does not already have, there are still way too many shenanigans available, especially with summoner. Samsaran witches, for example can grab Simulacrum at level 9 or the planar binding line at levels 7, 9, and 11 respectively. That is completely and utterly overpowered, no question about it.
So again I can do nothing but express by incredulity that these exploits were not eliminated by the recent ARG errata - and, for that matter, that PFS allows the mystic past life alternate racial trait despite this lack of a limitation in power.
If you have problem with Simulacrum... You have a problem with ,our players walking all over you anyways. Getting it a few levels early isn't the problem. Same with Planar Binding spells which are even worse, as they are a double edged sword. Getting them early means increased chances of messing up, as you have to build and gear as a specialist to try and make it work in your favor. And a 1 on the CHA roll is a "things hit the fan regardless".
The wording isn't that obvious in excluding Psychic spells, you can assume that arcane and divine are used as examples without bending the language at all.
Rules as written, "Psychic spells" aren't included. I can't argue intent as I didn't write it. I can say with 100% certainty that it isn't listed. Anything beyond that is "wriggling" the rules.
You say, they aren't explicitly excluded.
I say, psychic spells didn't exist, so we can't say whether they should or should not be allowed with an ability that explictly references arcane or divine. I'd follow the written rules in such a case.
if you don't understand having level 11 characters using level 9 spell is broken... then there isn't really much else to say.
I would absolutely not say its exclusive to Arcane and Divine. The examples are not included in the core sentence, but strictly separate via the us of parentheses.
The core sentence, "The spells must be the same type as the spellcasting class you're adding them to," doesn't discriminate.
If they wanted it to be exclusionary, they would need to have used commas, thus including arcane and divine within the actual sentence. They didn't. Grammar dictates that Psychic spells are allowed.
if you don't understand having level 11 characters using level 9 spell is broken... then there isn't really much else to say.
Do keep in mind that Simulacrum requires an Ice Sculpture of the target and 500g per HD off the target. Its not really something that can be casually cast in the middle of a dungeon.
Also it has a casting time of 12 hours.
In PFS thats rarely going to even be feasible, let alone abuseable, and in home games its easily house rule'd.
Planar Binding is only gained a level earlier. Maybe not something you'd want, but not nearly as much of a problem.
I would absolutely not say its exclusive to Arcane and Divine. The examples are not included in the core sentence, but strictly separate via the us of parentheses.
The core sentence, "The spells must be the same type as the spellcasting class you're adding them to," doesn't discriminate.
If they wanted it to be exclusionary, they would need to have used commas, thus including arcane and divine within the actual sentence. They didn't. Grammar dictates that Psychic spells are allowed.
If they wanted them to be included, they could have also re-written "psychic" into the ability.
There was no need to exclude psyhic spells, as they didn't exist at the time the racial ability was written. You cannot make a real argument for them intending it to be included, as they didn't exist.
There was no need to exclude something that wasn't a possibility at the time.
What you are saying basically amounts to "They didn't exclude this completely new set of powers that was written last month in the ability that was made 3 years ago, so it is allowed right?"
As written it only refers to arcane and divine, so I wouldn't attempt to use it with the psychic classes in PFS. We don't have the intent one way or another, as it wasn't even a consideration.
I'm using structural logic to explain that arcane and divine are mentioned only as examples and that, structurally, they aren't included as an exclusionary set. Grammatically that sentence sets up only parameter, that spells be of the same type.
I am taking it extremely RAW. You are taking it as RAI by saying looking backwards is anachronistic because psychic spells as a category didn't exist back then. It doesn't matter if they did or not, or if the designers knew or didn't know that one day there would be a third category. What matters is what we have.
And while yes, they could go back and re-write it, I think the FAQ shows that they don't have enough time to clarify every change and slight change, choosing only the ones that really need attention. For example, look at James' mentioning of the Overrun FAQ that was promised, apparently, 7 years ago and still hasn't arrived. Thus, saying, "They haven't said explicitly that it does work" is reading into their intention as a company, which is outside the rules of PFS as well.
Ok, to be fair, some sources I'm reading (to confirm what I'm saying) say that commas and parentheses are interchangeable and others saying they can be used to list examples. So, I suppose, RAW, it really can be either. Sooooooo...
To be pedantic, what is between parentheses or commas is an Aside, and the sentence has to work regardless of it.
In the end "The spells must be the same type as the spellcasting class you're adding them to" has to exist and make sense.
True. I may be jumping the gun a little on my, "strict grammatical approach," to things.
And I am clearly biased as I'm playing one currently, but the sentence without the aside functions universally, and the aside works to clarify what "type" means. The contention is over whether or not it is excluding all other possibilities or simply clarifying how one discovers what type of spell their spells are.
Similar confusions to this led to the first question as phrased by Mark Seifter, "Since this mentions the spells having a type, rather than the spell list, how does one determine what type the spell is?"
Edit: Wording was awful, so I tidied it up some.
The way i see it, the way it is written at the time was that you can mess with all spells, but the target spell must share its type with the spellcasting class youre moving them to. The paranthesis seems to me like a "by the way, spell types are arcane and divine".
In other words, when it was written, all spell types were allowed, thus i believe that should remain true.
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Do keep in mind that Simulacrum requires an Ice Sculpture of the target and 500g per HD off the target.
In PFS thats rarely going to even be feasible
In PFS you say "I cast blood money for the sculpture and spend 12 hrs before the start of the module. I then cast some lesser restoration spells to heal the STR damage. I now have the use of this thing for the rest of the module at 0 gp cost.
I may be jumping the gun a little on my, "strict grammatical approach," to things.
In general Paizo's writing is way above average for a book, especially a RPG book. But I wouldn't assume perfect grammar style in all cases.
So, I suppose, RAW, it really can be either. Sooooooo...
This is all too common for things in debate.
So summoning a creature of equal HD, 9, requires an ice sculpture of the creature and, separately from that, 4,500 gp of powdered rubies. Using Blood Money, that's 9 points of strength damage all at once. Most wizards I know are created with 7-9 strength, so that knocks them out of the running.
Anything over 9 HD is probably straight out for most casters because its 10 strength damage minimum, and increases by 1 for ever HD over 10.
Similarly, I would inquire, as a GM, how the player knows they are going to be sent on a mission twelve hours before the briefing. Even if you assume Pathfinders are given a very generous 6 hours to meet up with their Venture Captain, that's not enough time to get more than halfway through your summoning.
Then you have to invest in either a Restoration, which is rather expensive, or many small Lesser Restorations, which is probably more expensive.
That said, some scenarios do take place across multiple days. Players could, I suppose, summon the creature every morning (though it would be night by the time they finished), and then just chill with it each day, but that means lugging around multiple ice sculptures and somehow preserving them. And that doesn't even need to account for preemptive buying of Restorations, lesser or otherwise.
All that work just to get a 9 or maybe 10 HD monster on your side. At that point you might as well cheese it up with a combat trained animal, because its going to be just as combat effective while also being cheaper, longer lasting (in general), and less likely to make both fellow players and the GM give you a look of disdain (though that may still happen with combat trained animal use).
Seriously, at that point you might as well just cast Lesser Simulacrum as its cheaper, only takes an hour, and is going to give you a 9 HD monsters anyhow, just at a loss of magical abilities.
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that's 9 points of strength damage all at once. Most wizards I know are created with 7-9 strength
In an AP my character had a blood reservoir of physical prowess and a ring of inner fortitude plus 14 str and belt of str.
I could do up to 23 STR in one go. 23 HD is good.
Had a staff with lesser restoration so Another pc would lesser me until I'm crying Nagios again.
and that's not even getting into magic jar shenanigans, but to repeat, if anyone thinks level 11 characters casting level 9 spells or just getting even earlier access to Simulacrum (and using it with blood money!) isn't broken then... there just isn't a meaningful discussion to be had.
Mystic Past Life is a badly written, badly designed alternative racial trait used primarily by munchkins, it's exactly this sort of dumpster diving for brokenness which creates all the wrong incentives.
Saying is "primarily used by X" is opening yourself up for trouble.
I'm, personally, using it to add a little utility to my Psychic and to help flesh out her backstory.
Of the Samsaran players I've met, I haven't seen one that's gone out of their way to abuse the race like mentioned above.
Could Mystic Past Life use a rewording? Sure. Is it very powerful? Definitely. Is it cool? Extremely.
that's 9 points of strength damage all at once. Most wizards I know are created with 7-9 strengthIn an AP my character had a blood reservoir of physical prowess and a ring of inner fortitude plus 14 str and belt of str.
I could do up to 23 STR in one go. 23 HD is good.
Had a staff with lesser restoration so Another pc would lesser me until I'm crying Nagios again.
I'm actually really curious why you had all of that. Were you an Eldritch Knight of some kind?
I suppose your level 12 wizard (can only get up to double your HD, and half of 23 is 11.5) could, indeed, summon a Solar Angel. In PFS that still restricts you to scenarios when you somehow have 12 hours before the mission starts and you can stop and summon, and also can find an ice sculpture of said creature.
Am I saying its impossible to break? No, of course not. I wouldn't put it past some players to explain to me how they can break improvised weapon Wizards that only use divination spells. After a certain point in source depth, everything could, in theory, get a little crazy.
My point is that to break it you have to really try, and that even then its very impractical for most people most of the time.