Final Fantasy - Summoner (without Summoner class)

[Reuhne]

So, the summoner from the final fantasy series has been a favorite of mine since I was little, and I recently gained the opportunity of building a character who fits this theme.

I'm aiming for the ff10 yuna summoner tactic where she summons something to work in her place while she provides power from the backline. The thing is, I'm bored of pathfinder's summoner class, and would like to achieve the goal through the full casters (cleric, druid, sorcerer, witch, wizard, etc.)

This character will start at level 1, but the campaign will be picking up pace at 10 and up. I expect this character to be a 1 to 20 character. Pt. Buy is 25, and all of paizo is allowed, except summoner.

Looking at spells, I'm thinking the planar binding or ally ones might do the trick.

Beyond that, I have no clue. Any thoughts on how I could go about this?

[Saldiven]

Cleric Herald Caller with the Void domain.

Herald Caller gets Augment Summoning and Superior Summoning as bonus feats, and gets an ability to count as having Spell Focus (Conjuration) to qualify for certain feats. Instead of spontaneous heal spells, they get spontaneous Summon Monster spells.

The Void domain adds the Arcane Planar Binding spells as Domain Spells. They're not as kind as Planar Ally, but it broadens the type of creatures you can call forth since you force them to obey you instead of having to bargain with them.

[Reuhne]

Is there a way to focus feats and what not towards one summon at a time? Essentially buffing one creature per cast, but making it so that having one creature out would be better than having multiples?

I know. Counter-intuitive.

[Hubaris]

Multiple uses of Evolved Summons perhaps?
Plus when you use Summon Monster, the highest level does provide you only a single one at higher levels, and Evolved Summon only hits one at a time.

Or how about This?

Haven't seen it until now.

[Reuhne]

That is amazing, and exactly what I was looking for. Thank you.

My only question at that point is, can it be taken multiple times?

[Hubaris]

Unless it says otherwise, each feat can only be taken once.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news :(

[Reuhne]

If I go wizard or arcane caster, I can cast polymorph spells later on. Alter self could be useful, too.

[ekibus]

The arcanist has the occultist archretype. Full arcane caster with standard summons for a min per

[Reuhne]

The problem I'm running into with a plain summoner build is it's built for action economy, rather than focusing on the strengths of particular summons.

If there was a way to enhance four or five specific creatures, that'd be awesome. I even looked at the elemental ally archetype for druids, but the eidolons dont gain evolutions above 1 point, which is entirely understandable considering what the summoner can do without paizo's modifications, haha.

[ekibus]

What about the monster tactician? Teamwork feats to summons

[Saldiven]

There's a rod that functions sort of like a meta-magic rod. Up to three times per day, you can use it to give a summoned creature the "Giant" simple template. {+1 size category, +3 natural armor, dmg dice increase one step, Str/Con +4 & Dex -2.}

If combined with Augment Summoning, then Str & Con are +8 over normal numbers. Add Improved Damage as an evolution from Evolved Summons, then the damage dice goes up by two steps on one attack, and one on any others.

[Coinshot Colton]

Reuhne wrote:

If there was a way to enhance four or five specific creatures, that'd be awesome.

Go Wizard and take Balanced Summoning (Arcane Discovery) and use that along with Summon Guardian Spirit. That'll give you two distinct monsters right there. They can be your utility summons (make them cast Grease, or blind things, or fascinate or whatever). Then you can use the Rod of Giant Summoning for your glass cannon and/or tank, and modify them with Evolved Summons, possibly using Balanced Summoning with these summons too. Lastly you have your own familiar that can take archetypes, and perhaps later on you can upgrade them with Improved Familiar and it can be a wand wielder casting buffs for you. That's 4-5 specific creatures for you.

Use Acadamae Graduate feat to cast Summons as standard action so your summons can go right away.