Summoner Archetypes

[Sphynx]

None of the guides really dig into the archetypes…. Can anyone rate the efficacy of the various archetypes? Thinking of a Storm Caller, but wondering if it would be a downgrade from vanilla…

[Melkiador]

Storm Caller is more apples to oranges. You trade out summoning versatility for ok AOE damage. If you are fighting a lot of swarms, then Storm Caller could be a good option.

[Sphynx]

So, it is a downgrade then?

[Melkiador]

A downgrade in versatility but an upgrade in spell damage. Which does your party need more?

[Sphynx]

Oh, I'm the GM, not the player for this one... just like to prepare a bit when a player choses something outside the norm, and was surprised that none of the guides really mention many archetypes. Thinking to allow the Call Lightning stuff even when the Eidolon is summoned, doesn't seem game breaking and fits the theme he has of the character...

[Tom Sampson]

Storm Caller is indeed more a downgrade than anything for a Summoner. You usually have better things to do with standard actions than a buffed Call Lightning. Even for spell damage a regular Summoner at level 11 can just summon 1d3+1 Bralani Azatas who will cast two 6d6 damage lightning bolts (reflex DC 15 for half) and thus contribute 24d6 to 48d6 lightning damage (reduced based on how many DC15 reflex saves enemies make) with one standard action (in addition to any regular attacks they can contribute and other spells they might perform, including the Cure Serious Wounds SLA you might as well use them for once the encounter is done if they are still alive) when his Call Lightning would have him contribute 6d6 by himself (and the Storm Caller cannot summon Bralani Azatas with his summoning spell-like ability). Certainly, the Summoner can use his Eidolon while using this Call Lightning power, but he could also just cast a spell with that standard action instead. Honestly, unless you have a lot of protracted encounters per adventuring day (or a lot of enemies hovering vertically above each other), there's actually not much value to be had from Storm Caller.

[Sphynx]

Ah, okay, that explains his request then...

He suggested that his "Call Lightning" should be d3 bolts if he reduces his damage by 1d6, or d4+1 if he reduces his damage by 2d6, and that Superior Summoning should allow him an extra bolt. I knee-jerked a "heck no" on that one, but maybe I reacted too quickly... I thought maybe letting him use the ability while the Eidolon was present would be generous enough, but mayhaps I was wrong...

Admittedly, your 24d6 to 48d6 example would change his 6d6 into 5d6-to-15d6 (d3 5d6) or 8d6-to-20d6 (d4+1 * 4d6), still lower than summoning Bralanis, but sensible since the spell lasts minutes, not 2 rounds. Maybe reduce the number by 1 per round until there's only 1 bolt in effect for the remaining duration...

And, so many monsters (demons/undead) have complete immunity to electrical attacks at the higher levels... I need to think on this a bit... create a: Storm Caller (Unchained) homebrew archetype maybe...

[Melkiador]

At level 11 those azatas are good but also your game is more than half over by the time you can do that, assuming you start at level 1. And they don’t scale very much past that level, though there are other summoning options that get their own spell damage. And they will suffer more against spell resistance with their lower caster level. The storm caller seems to come online much earlier.

You are correct about usually having “better” things to do with your standard actions though. There are a lot of buffs to cast as a summoner, even when unchained.