Summoner - Theorycraft

[Wakkander]

For the purpose of this post when I say 'summons' I am using it interchangeably with pets, actual summoned creatures, and hirelings.

While pondering over some build options for a new character two of the new feats for U29 were all about Summons. This made me curious if it was possible to make an effective 'Summoner'.

Now to start I want to admit that I suspect the answer is no, especially where epic elite and beyond comes into question. But the hell with it, seems like it could be interesting for awhile anyway. I figure a druid is the best option, as it has a customizable pet, summon spells, and summon buffing spells, combined with my owlbear, panther, and a hireling that makes for a small party of 6 including myself for solo operations. The question now is how best to utilize what is available to me to make the best possible summons.

Thus far I see the following as potentially useful.

FEATS

• Augment Summoning
• --Improved Augment Summoning (Only mentions summons, does it affect only summoned creatures?)
• ----Scion of Elysium (Ditto?)
• Druid Past Life x3

That seems about it for feats, slim pickings to boost summons effectiveness. Is it worth giving up an epic feat and a legendary feat? Probably not, I am somewhat cynical that even with these additions summons will hold up in the higher levels, but who knows, maybe I'll be surprised.

ENHANCEMENTS

• Nature's Warrior - Blood Moon Frenzy (On a kill, +20/30/40 movement, +10/15/20 attack speed) [Total investment in tree: 8ap]
• Harper Agent - Harper Leadership (+2/3/4 stats) [Total investment in tree: 8ap]

I considered Heroic Companion from the Harper Agent tree as well, but it just does't seem worth the extra points, but I could be wrong. Have the devs said what, if any, the plans are for the third tree? A tree with pet enhancements could go a long way with this build... Well, longer.

EPIC DESTINY

• Primal Avatar
• --Friends of Nature (Level 1, Fits the theme)
• --Natural Shielding (Level 2)
• --The Oncoming Storm (Level 3)
• --Summon Dryad Elder (Level 4) (Does this replace another summon, so if I had a Dryad or Elder Fire Elemental, would they be replaced, or is it in addition to?)

SPELLS

• Animal Growth (Level 5)
• Fang: Magic, Align (Level 1/2)
• Pack Aptitude (Level 5)
• Pack Presence (Level 2)
• Tenacious Pack (Level 6)
• Mass, Ability Score (Level 6)

Obviously healing spells and the summon natures ally line goes without saying.

ITEMS

• Necklace of Mystic Eidolons

Any other items that benefit summons, or would allow for other benefits from the above feats, enhancements, etc, etc?

TOTAL BUFFS

@ 30 (Numbers in parenthesis include spell buffs.)

• Base Creature.
• +16 Ability Scores. (+4 Enhancement, +6 Circumstance to One, +4 Size to Strength, +4 Size to Constitution, -2 Size to Dex) [PLs would make it an additional +6].
• +70 Melee & Ranged Power.
• +120 Spell Power.
• +75 MRR.
• +110 PRR.
• +200 HP.
• +10% Dodge.
• +150% (180%) Fortification.
• +On a kill, +40% movement & +20% attack speed for 12 seconds.
• +5% chance to ignore incoming damage entirely. Does not affect any incoming Positive, Negative, or Repair effects.
• +1% chance to knockdown enemies.
• +1% chance to deal 20d20 sonic damage.
• +1% chance to deal 20d20 lightning damage.
• +Evasion.
• (+60 Healing Amplification).
• (+5 Enhancement weapon/Align weapon).

[gsteele96]

I have also been looking into something like this, the only problem is I have no way to test it. I think that the wolf pet would do a lot of damage and the pet would be my main focus. However, While I take a lot of feats to make my pet viable I think the next step i this build is to also have your character be viable. Somehow finding a way to have a decent Earthquake DC on EE would suffice, as well as having the gear you need to help keep a party and your wolf healed. Those are just my thoughts and opinions. If you or anybody else does any research on this please let me know

PS: You should not need that necklace since you are already taking the augmented summons feat.