Author Topic: Optimizing a Pathfinder Summoner?  (Read 31484 times)

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deuxhero

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Optimizing a Pathfinder Summoner?
« on: March 11, 2010, 03:29:40 AM »
I stumbled upon pathfinder's Summoner and was curious to see how one would go through char op's "art".

To my not so trained eye, it doesn't seem like a half bad class). It has a bard's casting progression and a limited list, but said list has not only some spells given lower than normal levels (the net result seems to be 1 level late) AND a fighter as a class feature

How would one go about optimizing one? Coditions: Pathfinder and 3.5 stuff with the standard UA stuff (The ToS legal stuff ACFs, paragons, ect, 2 flaws and 1 trait). Pathfinder trumps 3.5 except for the stupid parts (that is, melee nerfs like Power Attack)

Anklebite

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Re: Optimizing a Pathfinder Summoner?
« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2010, 01:31:20 PM »
doesn't really seem like you have to optimize it much.

go straight classed. take summoning feats such as augment summoning. if you can, try to cheese entry into unique summoning feats like greenbound or ashbound. don't know if this is physically possible, as I cannot recall the requirements, but take a look anyways.

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Akalsaris

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Re: Optimizing a Pathfinder Summoner?
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2010, 03:32:08 PM »
Yup, what Anklebite said.  There's really no reason to ever leave the class and lose eidolon advancement. 

Good races: human, gnome, halfling. 

Good feats:
Your first 2 feats will probably be Spell Focus (Conj) and Augment Summoning, Cloudy Conjuration would be a good follow-up
Improved Initiative
Obtain Familiar and Improved Familiar or Dragon familiar
Leadership (obviously)
The summoner I'm DMing took Armor proficiency (medium) and battle caster (medium) so he can tank
Toughness (PF version)
Charging feats if you want to ride your eidolon into battle
Quicken Spell, extend spell

Good equipment: A mithril chain shirt, mithril buckler, morningstar, spear, maybe a lance.  Metamagic rods are nice because the spell list only goes up to 6th and some spells come early for the summoner, though the spell list got heavily nerfed in the final playtest version.  I miss having Haste as a 2nd level spell :(

Good spells: Enlarge person along with share spell is brutal early on.  Shield and Protection from Evil are also good spells to cast on the eidolon with this ability, while grease is a good control spell.  Later bull's strength, glitterdust, and resist energy are good, followed by haste and greater magic fang.

Eidolon: I'd say go for the quadruped and get as many primary attacks as you can, if I understand natural attacks in PF correctly.  I would start with energy attack (acid) and claws, and add ppunce at 2nd.  You want to always be at the maximum number of attacks possible, probably increasing mostly through through a tail and tail sting or tentacles, or through extra limbs (legs) + claws + rend/rake.  Later on, add flight, str increase, energy attacks, trip, and large size.  For feats I'd generally go with basic stuff like Toughness, Multiattack, and Improved Natural Attack, or maybe go down the ubercharger build.

Good roles to focus on: Tank, buffer, and battlefield control.  Between life link and life bond, it's pretty hard to kill either of the two, and the summoner gets all of the good wizard battlefield control and buff spells as well.

Slaughterhouserock

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Re: Optimizing a Pathfinder Summoner?
« Reply #3 on: March 11, 2010, 06:04:27 PM »
Do take note that the link goes to the beta version of the class, it has since been nerfed(both spell-wise and the eidolon).

Edit:  The newest version of the class can be downloaded here.
« Last Edit: March 11, 2010, 06:08:19 PM by Slaughterhouserock »
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deuxhero

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Re: Optimizing a Pathfinder Summoner?
« Reply #4 on: March 11, 2010, 09:47:12 PM »

Eidolon: I'd say go for the quadruped and get as many primary attacks as you can, if I understand natural attacks in PF correctly.  I would start with energy attack (acid) and claws, and add ppunce at 2nd.

Why claws over pincers? Pincers are 2 1d6s (instead of 2 1d4).

edit:nevermind, pincers are secondarys.

edit 2:Claws (1) energy attack (2) and pounce (2) take till third level to get at once, not second.
« Last Edit: March 11, 2010, 09:50:21 PM by deuxhero »

Akalsaris

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Re: Optimizing a Pathfinder Summoner?
« Reply #5 on: March 11, 2010, 10:50:31 PM »
Pounce is a 1-point evolution in the final playtest version that I have.

deuxhero

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Re: Optimizing a Pathfinder Summoner?
« Reply #6 on: March 11, 2010, 11:11:59 PM »
Ah. Oh well, how many people play at levels that a creature called from the "farthest reaches of the planes" can be killed by a housecat anyways?