Spellcasting as a summoner is very limited at the moment, but I think they could really benefit from some additional options that focus on the bond between summoner and magical creature.
The biggest complaint I've had so far is that casting spells in combat usually means you lose out on combat actions for the eidolon, which lets you drag behind, and means usually you dont necessarily get to boost eidolon.
Because of that, I think along the same line as Act Together with tandem action, there should be an ability to cast buff spells in a shorter length of time, and/or prolong the use of that boost/reinforce cantrip just like a Bard can.
Issue 1: Casting Buffs is too punishing
Before a combat, such as the start of the day, etc, you could preemptively 'store' a spell inside of your eidolon and pre-cast it. Then, during combat (or even while rolling initiative with a penalty to your roll), you could take an action to 'call forth' the buff spell with a single action.
So, at the start of a day, the beast eidolon summoner decides he wants to cast barkskin on his pet for later. So, during his morning routine, or a 10 minute break, he stores the spell. Then, during combat, he uses an action to finish the cast on his pet.
To make better use of the summoner's primary stat, perhaps you can store a number of spells in your eidolon equal to your CHA mod (which could in theory allow for you to store spells from wands/staves/etc)
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Issue 2: Boost Eidolon... boost eidolon boost...
Bards have a similar issue with their inspire courage. But, they can use lingering song as a focus power. I think Summoners need the same thing, but just like I think lingering song is a crutch because it costs too much (focus and roll with chance of failure), I think it should cost a focus, to last X rounds, and not get replaced by reinforce, or vice versa.
Example: Summoner casts Boost and spends a focus point to allow it to linger. This allows it to last for 1 minute (or 3 rounds, etc), and remains in effect even if someone uses Reinforce Eidolon instead. Alternatively, they could do the same for reinforce, and then continue to use Boost normally.
Just making it last longer is an option, especially if it only works on the eidolon. I dont even know if it would stack with the Bard's inspire now that I think about it, which makes it even worse.
So, having it last 2 rounds (much like how the Magus' spell strike works) would be pretty nice.
I just think it'd be nice to have something that makes it more 'feel good' than just throwing an action into the grinder every round.
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Just making it last longer is an option, especially if it only works on the eidolon. I dont even know if it would stack with the Bard's inspire now that I think about it, which makes it even worse.
Unfortunately as things are written now, this would not stack with a Bard's inspire as both give status bonuses.
False life focus cantrip. 10 hp to start, add 5 or 10 for each heighten level. This will let them take a hit for “free” at the start of combat.
You can essentially accomplish something similar just by taking Magical Evolution and picking up the Shield Cantrip.
+1 circumstance AC that stacks with Reinforce, extra hp once per combat.
A reaction spell when you defeat a summonned creature you gain its service for the rest of its duration
Yes, an interesting idea for a summoner! You'd probably need some limitations on this. Perhaps needing to be of the tradition of your Eidolon, and the damage taking it down has to be done by you, and if they fail a second saving throw (will, or instead perhaps the summon'ed creatures caster makes a will saving throw) If they fail, the damage just taken is reversed, and the creature becomes the servant of the summoner for up to a given time, as long as it is sustained. (and after no longer sustained, it vanishes)
Or would you have it be an ability that stashes that summoned creature away, to be recalled by a paired focus spell that brings that specific summoned creature back fresh as if summoned, even if you wouldn't know the given summon spell needed to summon it? (might it apply a weakened template of sort if you manged to catch a creature of higher level than yourself in your 'trap') Once someone destroys it, you can't summon it any longer. Perhaps you have a 1 action that would allow you to retrieve it during your turn if you want to retrieve it to reuse later after re-focusing and gaining focus back later.
Utilities, defensive and buffs are pretty obvious as you can precast them. I doubt that you will have enough to keep the party happy though so I suspect someone else will take that role.
Spells that you can sustain for an effect. Things like :
Lightning Storm
Implosion
Summon X
Ilusionary Creature
Spells that are single action like the power words, Time Beacon (all guaranteed critcal hits for your Eidolon attacks this round)