So this is a concept that I've kind of fallen in love with, and while I don't really have a campaign to play the summoner in yet I've at least been wanting to figure out how to build a viable eidolon that doesn't do the pounce-bite-claw-rake thing. The aesthetic I'm going for is pretty much what the title says, a big stag/elk skeleton.
Unfortunately while there are some nice guides out there they mostly seem to focus on the kitty or bipedal type eidolons, I've actually not been able to find a single one that discusses gore as an option... which I guess there might be a reason for, but still.
Quadruped base form is a given, I know that much. Is there some kind of rule on if it's possible to trade away the bite that comes with the base package to mitigate the cost of a gore attack instead?
Aside from that I've pretty much just figured that I'd go for the gore evolution and pump the undead appearance evolution when possible. Probably also go large and maybe even huge? Aside from that I'm not entirely sure what evolutions to take for decent damage.
If the DM allows it I'll also apply tusk razors to the eidolon, for a 19-20 crit range (and then maybe add keen?).
Feats are also a bit of a question mark, though it would be cool if I could get it to qualify for awesome blow. Just to have the eidolon plow through enemies like a skeletal bowling ball.
I'm not really trying to build the optimal murder eidolon here, but it'd be nice to have something that can manage to hold its own while still retaining its flavor.
Any tips?
Unfortunately by the rules the starting evolutions are non-tradable, but you might convince your GM to let you swap bite for gore on a quadruped.
Evolutions you want to max your str score, going large and then huge when available. AC boosters would be next on the priority list.
Feats for your eidolon, you definitely want to grab power attack. Awesome Blow seems cool at first, but because it needs a standard action you'd get better results just doing a charge bull rush.
Should I still consider putting pounce on it? It seems like there might be times when it could be useful even if I'm not making a claw-rake monster and it's fairly cheap point-wise.
Only if it has multiple attacks. Otherwise you can just charge with it.
So after level 9 then? Since it gets multiattack at that level.
I was thinking more along the lines of a traditional megaloceros-skeleton. The one in the picture's got a bit more draconic tones to it than I want.
It does look really cool though.
That's more like it!
... And now I realize that I'm setting myself up for disaster if I ever end up needing to draw the eidolon in any context. But that's hardly relevant for this forum.
So large, huge, gore and undead appearance? How about some skeletal hooves to compete the look(with pounce)? That's still like 18 evolution points. Rest strength boosts and na boosts?
The hooves evolution is a little bit of a dilemma for me to be quite honest. On one hand, it might be good to get those extra attacks, and it would certainly be good for the look.
On the other hand I'm wondering if it's a terrible decision in terms of power. I do wish to aim for flavor for most part, but am always a bit worried about crippling my characters in the process.
My reason for this concern is partially because focusing on the gore attack would give it 1-1/2 strength on that one, and when multiattack sets in I'll get a second attack. Which might not sound all that great until one accounts for the tusk blades (or horn blades in this case), which can be enchanted like a weapon and increases the critical threat range to 19-20 before accounting for possible expansions to that range (which the blades mention that they are compatible with).
It might be asking for a bit much, but could someone give me a bit of insight on the math? I've never dealt with a companion that has secondary attacks, whereas I've seen my tyrannosaurus companion on another character be fairly effective, so I'm slightly biased towards the comfort of familiarity.
I had an eidolon based around a giant squirrel that was focused on its bite attack. Honestly, it felt like it was doing more than enough damage from its huge str score and power attack. And if your team has a dedicated melee fighter, you don't want to overshadow them.
Consider that at level 13, with just the huge evolution on your quadruped, it will have a 35 str score. So with 1 1/2 str to damage, plus power attack, that's +27 damage on your attacks before factoring in gore dice or anything else. More if you put any of its two ability increases or ability score increase evolutions into str.
That's also true. I suggest then you drop the hooves.