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Alright, so I see everyone complaining that Synthesist are broken (I like the cheesy brokenness anyway ;P). So leaving that subject aside I am curious about how they attack? Book says it’s limited to natural attacks of eidolon. So does this mean that the synthesist foregoes his attacks to use the eidolons attacks? Or do both the fused eidolon and the summoner get to make standard actions?
Additionally, if I start a Synthesist what should I be focusing on for feats and eidolon abilities in the first two levels? Is synthesist work best a front line damage dealer?
a Synthesist can use any weapon that an eidolon of its shape could use. As far as what to focus on it really comes down to what sort of character youw ant to play then focus on that. I doubt there is any sort of chatch all for every synthesist to focus on.
Mojorat is correct. The synthesist I'm currently running, for example, uses a biped fused form. I have the option of using natural attacks when fused, any manufactured weapons my character normally possesses and is capable of wielding, or a combination of the two. Just remember that when mixing natural attacks with those from manufactured weapons that the natural attacks are treated as secondary.
Additionally, when fused you are considered a single character. A synthesist's eidolon is not treated as a separate creature and as such does not receive its own actions; synthesist and eidolon act as one.
What is the point of Synthesist?
To be Iron Man.
-ratty
When attacking with your naturals weapons, and say you have a max of four attacks and you want to make all four attacks, do all four attacks get your BAB plus whatever yur strength modifier is, or is it like attacking for a normal character where your first attack gets the full bonus, and you take successively higher penalties with each additional attack?
Natural attacks all work on your normal base attack bonus, there is no such thing as iterative natural attacks...
Secondary natural attacks, and/or any natural attacks when used at the same time as manufactured weapons, get a -5 to attack rolls. (this is reduced to -2 if you have the Multiattack feat)
a Synthesist can use any weapon that an eidolon of its shape could use. As far as what to focus on it really comes down to what sort of character youw ant to play then focus on that. I doubt there is any sort of chatch all for every synthesist to focus on.
Exactly. In fact, I am of the opinion that the Synthesist is one of the MOST versatile archetypes in the game, you can do so many completely different things really really well.
It makes your DM cry and your fellow players go out for pizza while you argue about the rules with your DM.
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Additionally, if I start a Synthesist what should I be focusing on for feats and eidolon abilities in the first two levels? Is synthesist work best a front line damage dealer?
A synthesist is best at the role you design him for. That role can be as a front line damage dealer if that is your goal, in which case you are going to want to take evolutions such as improved damage, bite, and ability increase, strength early on.
What makes the synthesist special is your flexibility in choosing your role. You could boost a critical skill by +8 and be assured of success, build a defensive nightmare that survives nearly anything, build a controller that trips like a fiend or build a ranged striker that can fly and use multiple bows.
For what it's worth, Synthesist is actually weaker than normal Summoner, just for the sheer loss of action economy: a normal summoner can be casting spells while his eidolon is pounding face simultaneously. People just get upset about Synth. because it directly and blatantly makes all the martial classes look completely impotent by comparison. It's one of those funny things about the caster/martial divide. Giving up ability to cast (usually actual caster levels, in this case the mere loss of time to use them in the heat of combat without ceasing to melee and making the achetype pointless) in order to be a Big Stupid Fighter is a power downgrade; yet doing so and outfighting the fighter will catch WAY more flak because before you were much better but different. Now you're better and similar.
TL;DR: Dey tuk owr jobs! *rabble* *rabble*
As for your question...you have the right idea. Do all the stuff the Eidolon would've done. Be a quad, get pounce, always utlize your max natural attacks limit to the fullest, always be as big and strong and long-reached as possible... It's pretty basic. :)
Only major question is if you want a Kali build (lots of arms and manufactured weapons AND all the natural attacks as 2ndary natural attacks) or not. The # of attacks is scary, but the evolution point and monetary (so many things to enhance!) cost is prohibitive.