#summoner

(art by butterfrog on DeviantArt)

And we’re back again, too soon, to my favorite punching bag: Construct Handbook, with another archetype.

By my own admission I rag on that book as a disappointment a lot, but today’s archetype I don’t actually mind that much, and in my opinion provides an elegant solution to something that felt missing from the game for a long while: A summoner character that conjures a construct-like eidolon to aid them!

Unlike other summoners, construct callers use their rote and rituals to literally build their eidolon, crafting astral quintessence into a perfect orderly form which might resemble any sort of construct, from a golem to a clockwork to something more cultural or regional. However, others might resemble more esoteric concepts, such as a mathematical or geometric equation given roughly humanoid form. Unlike inevitables, however, they are not necessarily lawful.

Some of these summoners might craft their eidolon entirely from scratch, but others might instead use an eidolon consciousness as a “seed” or core around which their body is built. Either way, as we’ll soon see that prove to have impressive control over their eidolon’s form.

As this archetype specifically works with the eidolon subtypes of the unchained version of the summoner class, it is limited to that version, but we’ll soon see exactly what that means.

The summoner’s eidolon functions much like an inevitable, but having no constitution and having size-based vitality. What’s more, their durability against all but the most chaotic attacks is instead bypassed by the hardest materials.

Additionally, due to how thorough their control over their minion’s form is, they prove able to squeeze more unique abilities and evolution out of their eidolon than most.

A simple archetype which provides a different sort of companion creature at the cost of limiting the progression of their ability to summon other creatures, this option is a fun, flavorful way to scratch that “pet automaton” itch, no matter what form it takes. You’ll be a bit less reliant on your other summons, so I suggest a build focused on supporting your eidolon in particular.

While some of these summoners might be brilliant engineers, capable of crafting complex esoteric constructs, the fact that they remain charisma-based casters does suggest that there may be a significant portion that are not so extremely gifted when it comes to engineering expertise, and might instead construct their eidolons because they lack the ability to craft such a being from components more restricted by the laws of physics than quintessence. In such cases, many might struggle with imposter syndrome, particularly if they had construct-crafting or engineering-focused peers. Conversely, however, some may see their creations as just as much art as engineering, not as bothered by the intricacies under the hood. Of course, this is less likely to come up with construct callers that have eidolons that resemble solid-material constructs like most golems.

Researching the strange denizens of Leng is no easy task. One needs a companion that can handle the rigors of that maddening environment, and Kadia envisioned such an ally, a construct eidolon, into being. Even still, she reaches out to the part for help with a particularly nasty target, a leng hound.

Endlessly fascinated by crafting and invention, many catfolk around the Scarred Cape take up a craft to pass the time, and some even learn to summon their ideal creations into existence. Some resemble the ruined automatons seen throughout the region, while others resemble more rustic materials. Jokes about yarn, however, are not appreciated.

Rather than being scorned as “false craftsmen” the construct callers of Vendia are reknowned as innovators, constantly perfecting their eidolons with new designs which true crafters study in order to realize them as true constructs. However, plagerism with the help of evolution surge and devolution spells is common.

How are my favorite dogs doing?
It’s me, Mary, everyone’s favorite Werewolf and professional badass.

So we have been like crazy swamped, and shit has been going down.
Heh heh … down.

SO!
Ya’ll may have heard about the old fart’s tryouts, which have brought in some new friends and expanded our happy family.
Now I’m all about family, except for my idiot brother, but the ones who didn’t pass … some of them did the belly flop of fail.

So here is a list of the BIGGEST FAILS!
Enjoy.

1. So this one gal waltzes on up and claims that she needs to take on harder challenges. She can mess with yer emotions and eff with people, and the girl was all over the place like spiderman. So we did what any rational people would do, we sent a big ass robot to kick her back into place. Exactly 3 seconds after seeing the bot we learn that she stress farts, loud. Oh my dawg, so she’s trying to fight a huge robot with a handgun and baseball bat, and she’s farting louder than your grandpa. Now we didn’t care if the girl was a loud farter, but it did suck that she started screaming and running when she ran out of ideas on how to fight this thing. Beautiful.

2. Next is this Australian wizard who specializes in strength and speed buffs. What he didn’t tell anyone was that he got the power from animals, but he also channeled their spirits. So he was in a country he’d never been in before and he decided to channel the nearest animal. An effing squirrel. He channels this squirrel and he can suddenly balance and climb like a boss, but then his eyes roll back and the spirit takes over. He leaps onto the old man when he sees that he has a walnut on his coat and claws the HELL out of his face. Squirrel man was disqualified when we eventually ripped him off of the old fart. The dude, however, climbed into the trees and still won’t come down … or put on clothes.

3. Man comes out all Iron Man and demands to be a part of our group. Turns out he’s an android, but decked with tons of gadgets and other pimp toys. So we send the dude out on some trials, guy can fly, super strength, lasers, and a cloaking skill. He was more than qualified. Except he had a problem he was unaware of, he screams at the top of his lungs every single second that his tech is being used. On top of this he can’t hear while doing this stuff and because of all of this we got a screaming deaf man flying around, shooting lasers, and turning invisible. Disqualified.

4. So we had a guy who claimed to be a professional Summoner and he waltzes in and summons an animal or a mythological creature to help him with everything he comes across. He does pretty well, until he summons a whale … in the middle of a room WAY too small for it. It got worse when he got rid of it and then decided to try again, ELEPHANT! Except this one wasn’t under his control and just started rampaging. He decided to summon something else to stop it … a freaking Dinosaur. Big ass T-Rex suddenly in this room and it was awesome dudes. Took us an hour to get rid of the big ol lizard.

5. A lady goes through all the trials and wins EVERY SINGLE ONE. She tears through them and doesn’t even break a sweat, she has the ability to summon up all of her luck and use it whenever she wants. So for like 3 hours she is using up her luck and makes the Old Man look like an … well like an old man. When she completes the last test she steps over the finish line, looks back at us, smiles, and then a deer comes charging out of the forest and kicks her in he back. But then, after the deer runs off, a remote controlled plane flies right into her face. Then when she hits the ground, the lighter in her pants pocket, breaks and lights up her ass. She rolls around screaming until the fire goes out and then just lies there on her back. Until an arrow from another test flies through the air and stabs into her knee. I couldn’t stop laughing.

So, what is the best way to spend a week? Easy, you watch a bunch of wannabe super heroes mess up trying to impress an old bag of bones. I took pictures, and turned them into posters.
:3

Hot off the heels of my last brew, this is my final commission for this round. Thanks to everyone who’s commissioned something from me, it was great working with you all! I’ll be taking more on in the future once I’m in a better place to do so, so keep an eye out when I start again.

Like I said, this was a commission. It’s a conversion of the demon summoning mechanics from some of the old Shin Megami Tensei games and by Gond did it get complicated FAST. Still though, super happy with how it turned out. Now I will say, I would be careful with this one. It has a LOT going on and a ton of bells and whistles so it could be a little broken. I think I fixed many of the biggest problems with the first iteration but as always there could definitely be some unforeseen jank once it sees play. As always with anything I make, let me know if anything breaks and I’ll get it fixed when I can.

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Since Endwalker is approaching… have this dude.

Olivier Moreau. A flashy performance magician who dabbles in both Reaper and Summoner, calling forth voidsents and primals for either battle or to assist with his performances.

“When I’m able to look in the mirror and see my unique beauty, my self-confidence will mean the end of all who oppose me.”

-Mumm-Ra

Call Forth the Abyssal Hordes – Bloodlines & Black Magic / Pathfinder (1st Edition) Spellcaster Feat

What do you care for the mewling adoration of mere humanity? You are served by the mad & howling damned, insane & violent souls wrenched-free of the blackest pits of Oblivion to run wild … their blood-spattered passions obedient only to the crushing grip of your iron magics.

Brought to you absolutely free to enjoy, to test & to share – as always – by the fine folks of my Patreon.

original image from here

Prerequisite: Character level 7th; non-Lawful and non-Good alignment

Benefit: You add schir demon as a 4th level summons for your summon monster list; thus, you may freely summon 1d3 schir using summon monster V or 1d4+1 schir using summon monster VI.

When you summon schir demons using a summon monster spell, you may cast the spell as a standard action rather than as a full-round action; if you choose to do so, the range of the spell drops to zero feet: demons summoned in this way arrive directly adjacent to you, emerging from your shadow, from the folds of your cloak or from the blood pooled at your feet.

In addition, if any magical attack you make (with a spell, spell-like ability, magical weapon or supernatural ability) would ever outright kill a living, corporeal creature within 30 feet of you, you may choose to expend a single spell of 1st level or higher as a swift action to reduce your damage by any amount, thus leaving the creature alive. If you choose to do so, your target must succeed at a Will save – DC 10 + ½ your character level + your Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma bonus (your choice) – or immediately gain the Demon-Possessed template (schir only).

For every 5 points of damage by which you choose to reduce your final damage, your target suffers a -1 penalty on all of its Will saving throws until the beginning of its next round.

Schir demons summoned & bound into a mortal host in this way cannot freely step out of the body they occupy, unlike other Demon-Possessed creatures (see the Possessed Special Quality).

Any use of Pierce the Veil(seeBloodlines & Black Magic, pg. 10) upon a creature possessed in this way automatically reveals the schir demon – no roll, action or check required – attached to the soul of the victim.

Demon-Possessed creatures created in this way are not loyal to you and do not automatically obey your instructions. As a standard action, you may expend one spell of 1st level or higher to enslave all Demon-Possessed creatures within 30 feet; all such creatures receive a Will save (DC as above) to negate this effect. Demon-Possessed creatures that fail their saves fall under your control, obeying your commands to the best of their ability, as if they were undead under the effects of control undead. Demon-Possessed creatures receive a new saving throw each day to end your command over them; the duration of this enslavement is otherwise limitless.

You can control any number of such creatures, so long as their total Hit Dice do not exceed your character level. If a Demon-Possessed creature is under the control of another master, you must make an opposed Charisma check whenever your orders conflict.

At the end of each 24 hours, a Demon-Possessed creature created in this way receives a new saving throw to end their possession and return to normal; such a creature gains a +1 bonus to their save for each previous failure.

Campaign Note: Within the Bloodlines & Black Magic setting, this ability is most common amongst witches drawn from the Shadow Bloodline in service to the Aku No Jotei, Demon Queen of Spite; rumors persist that members of the now-vanished Lineage known as the Eyes of Nyx (see page 61) were the truest masters of this black art, although their apprentices were legion. In addition, the Archons task each & every of their loyal servants – including such disreputable Lineages as The Masters (see page 56) – to hunt-down & execute anyone known to practice this technique, seeking to rid the world they now rule of all such dangerous Goetic intrusion.