So I'm debating on either the exploiter wizard or the occultist, arcanist. I read where some feel the exploiter is just better overall (for the life of me just cant see the why) I am liking the idea of going a summoner route so the occultist does appeal. This would be pfs
Not a PFS player, but still strongly recommend the occultist archetype!
Honestly, your main drawback are the spell levels. Wizards will always get the next spells a class level earlier. The Occultist, at the very least, gets their monster summoning even earlier than regular spells of the same level. Plus, standard action summons that last quite long! If I'm not mistaken, that means they also attack on the turn you summon them. All the other free spells are just gravy.
A wizard has more freedom, e.g. At 6th level either can cast 3 3rd level spells per day (assuming int 16+) but the arcanist casts exactly one spell with those 3 slots vs. the wizard who can select 3 different spells if they so choose, or even prepare 2 and leave the last open to be prepared when they have more information.
If you're wanting to play a summoner though an occultist arcanist is an excellent choice. Standard action summoning makes the tactic much more viable. An exploiter wizard is going to use their arcane reservoir to boost spell DCs etc., they get no special bonuses to summoning.
Biggest worry I have is using the points to summon. I like the idea of the strong summons and picking up some utility as I go along
Also not a PFS player. If you want summoner do the arcanist occultist. It is seriously powerful to be able to spend points in place of a spell slot. Also don't worry to much about point costs. They are there to be spent and honestly consuming low level slots for full level summons is a bit OP. Also you can just prepare summon spells if you find yourself running out of points
Don't worry about utility either. Both the exploiter wizard and the occultist would need Quick Study to reliably use some niche utility spells, and both are more likely to have some more combat-worthy spell prepared otherwise. The occultist is the only one that has some Amazing summoning power though, capable of dragging a single summons from one fight to the next at later levels. The daily augury and other free spells are a pretty neat boon too.
Again, not sure if this is PFS legal... but Grab the half elf's Paragon Surge spell. Choose a feat that gives you access to some unique summons, like Summon Good Monster. Choose to summon a Lyrakien from bestiary 2. You now have access to ALL knowledge skills And Truespeech. And more. Do it again, this time after you've taken the Evolved Summoned Monster feat. You now have access to Any knowledge check... +16.