Character Ideas - Eiko Carol

Bringing beloved characters from video games into the tabletop world of Dungeons & Dragons is a rewarding challenge, allowing players to embody their heroes in new narratives. When it came to translating Eiko Carol, the feisty and powerful young summoner from Final Fantasy IX, into a D&D 5th Edition player character, our journey led us to a clear and compelling choice: the Divine Soul Sorcerer subclass from Xanathar's Guide to Everything. This subclass, more than any other, captures the essence of Eiko's unique magical abilities and her eventual mastery of summoning.

Artwork of Eiko Carol from Final Fantasy Dimensions II

Eiko’s magical prowess in Final Fantasy IX is primarily focused on white magic – powerful healing and support spells – but her most iconic ability, and indeed her heritage, lies in her capacity to call forth powerful Eidolons. Reconciling these two core aspects within D&D 5e required careful consideration. While a Cleric might seem an obvious choice for a white mage, the Sorcerer’s spontaneous spellcasting and the Divine Soul’s unique blend of arcane and divine power proved to be the perfect fit for Eiko’s innate magical talent.

The Divine Soul Sorcerer subclass grants access to both the Sorcerer and Cleric spell lists, a crucial feature that immediately addresses Eiko's healing capabilities. From level one, this allows us to pick up essential white magic spells. Early in her D&D career, our Eiko will focus on keeping her party safe and sound, echoing her role as a dedicated support character.

At these early levels, our spell selection prioritises healing and utility, ensuring she can function as the primary healer. This includes cantrips like Light, Mending, Sacred Flame and Spare the Dying and vital 1st-level spells such as Magic Missile, Sanctuary and Shield. Combined with the Acolyte background allowing options of Guidance, Resistance and Healing Word, these choices establish her as a dependable source of restoration and protection, reflecting the "white mage" side of her character sheet.

However, as Eiko grows in power and experience, so too will her connection to the ancient art of summoning. The Sorcerer spell list, combined with the versatility of the Divine Soul, offers a fantastic array of summoning spells that perfectly emulate her Eidolon abilities. Our plan is to progressively introduce these powerful summoning spells as she gains levels, reflecting her journey towards becoming a true summoner.

By mid-levels, Eiko will begin to tap into her innate ability to call forth allies. Spells like Spiritual Weapon (re-flavoured) and Spirit Guardians will allow her to manifest temporary companions in battle, albeit on a smaller scale than the full Eidolons of Final Fantasy IX. These early summons can be flavoured as lesser spirits or manifestations of her latent summoning power, hinting at the grander abilities to come.

As she reaches higher levels, the full scope of her summoner heritage will be realised. We’ll be aiming for impactful spells like Summon Celestial, Conjure Elemental and Planar Ally, allowing her to call forth powerful entities that truly represent the might of a fully-fledged summoner. Imagine Eiko, a small but fierce figure, standing alongside a towering celestial protector or an elemental spirit, a true echo of her iconic Eidolon summons.

The Divine Soul Sorcerer also provides other mechanical benefits that align with Eiko’s character. Her innate magical talent is represented by the Sorcerer's spontaneous spellcasting and the powerful Metamagic options gained at higher levels. With Metamagic options such as Twinned Spell and Quickened Spell, she can cast multiple healing spells in a single turn or quickly summon an ally, showcasing her prodigious magical talent. Her "Favored by the Gods" feature also captures her natural luck and inherent divine blessing.

Finally, her core ability scores have been tailored to reflect her nature, with a strong emphasis on Charisma as her spellcasting modifier, and healthy Constitution and Dexterity to keep her nimble and resilient.

By embracing the Divine Soul Sorcerer, we’ve created a D&D 5e Eiko Carol who starts as a dedicated healer but evolves into a formidable summoner, perfectly capturing the spirit and abilities of the Final Fantasy IX character. She’s ready to adventure, heal her friends, and call forth powerful allies when the going gets tough – kupo!

Link to D&D Beyond character sheet: www.dndbeyond.com/characters/153308155/TPZH2l