With Arcanist (with the archetypes as per the title) multiclassing into Darkfire Adept worth the lost abilities to summon monster SLAs and spellcaster levels?
No, if you aren't going to maximize your summon monster level there's no point in even having the Occultist archetype in the first place.
No, if you aren't going to maximize your summon monster level there's no point in even having the Occultist archetype in the first place.
Adding the Planar Ally series of spells to the Arcanists spell list is worth the price of admission, imo. -- Although Planar Binding is an option.
Additionally, given that you have to use 1 point of arcane reservoir per spell level of summoned monster SLA, the overall amount of use of the SLA is somewhat limited, I'm finding. @9th level, I can use my maximum summoned monster ability something like 2x per day (barring using consume spells to artificially increase the number of times I can use it).
The two archetypes aren't compatible. The occultist archetype is okay at low levels, but weak at higher levels due to the change in consume spells.
The change in consume spells?
I wouldn't multiclass, one of the advantages of occultist is it gives you wizard level summons. Consume spell used to be unlimited but now it is equal to times per day equal to cha modifier
Planar Ally is way worse than planar binding. Particularly for Arcanist who literally is the best user of planar binding. Anyway Darkfire Adept is a pretty bad PRC. Instead I would recommend Diabolist for an evil summoner.
Duiglas Muir has a guide reguarding both if your interested
Blackfire
Diabolist
Planar Ally is way worse than planar binding. Particularly for Arcanist who literally is the best user of planar binding. Anyway Darkfire Adept is a pretty bad PRC. Instead I would recommend Diabolist for an evil summoner.
Duiglas Muir has a guide reguarding both if your interested
Blackfire
Diabolist
I took a look at both planar binding and planar ally, and they look pretty equivalent, barring binding the creature has the opportunity to escape/kill you.
1. You don't have to pay planar binding. Note that binding/ally's greatest advantage over summoning is duration. Ally's cost scales fast by duration
2. Its a low chance to escape
3. You pick your bound creature, not your dm, when using planar binding
4. You can bind creatures of any alignment. Ally only gives you critters of your deities alignment
1. You don't have to pay planar binding. Note that binding/ally's greatest advantage over summoning is duration. Ally's cost scales fast by duration
2. Its a low chance to escape
3. You pick your bound creature, not your dm, when using planar binding
4. You can bind creatures of any alignment. Ally only gives you critters of your deities alignment
Good point on not having to pay. But Lesser Planar Binding is level 5 for arcanists, whereas planar ally is level 4 for Arcanits[Occultists]. And it doesn't leave out Planar Binding as well as an option.