Synthesist Summoner and Form

[Lyle "SkyCaller" Highhill]

Ok, so we can tell the Synthesist isn't restricted in which Base Form his Eidolon has. That's cool.

But what happens when the Fusing Ritual is over? Does the Summoner take on the Base Form or does the Eidolon act like a set of clothes?

If it acts like a set of clothes, how do you explain the mount or pounce evolution? It just makes more sense to me to say the Summoner is inside the Eidolon like this.

Thoughts?

[Scipion del Ferro]

The answer is in the archtype itself

Quote:

Instead of appearing as a separate creature next to the summoner, the eidolon appears around the synthesist, so that the synthesist seems to be inside a translucent image of his eidolon

Basically the same thing as your picture.

[Robert G. McCreary]

I think of it kinda like wearing your eidolon as a suit of living power armor (although the summoner and the eidolon are, for the most part, counted as one creature).

Pounce works because the summoner is using the eidolon's attacks. There's not much point to the mount evolution, unless you want someone else to ride your eidolon.

[Dragonchess Player]

Rob McCreary wrote:

There's not much point to the mount evolution, unless you want someone else to ride your eidolon.

...Which can be pretty effective in some circumstances.

A synthesist summoner is probably going to be a more effective combatant than most animal companions, mounts, etc. Another PC specialized in mounted combat (such as a gnome or halfling cavalier, fighter, paladin, or ranger) can pair up with the synthesist as a pretty brutal team (Spirited Charge with lance and Pounce + Grab + Rake, at 4th level*).

*- Half-elf or with the Extra Evolution feat.

[Umbral Reaver]

I was making a CR 6 synthesist villain. After half-finishing (evolution points and some gear not yet spent), I compared to the monster CR chart.

CR 9, roughly. Spending the remaining evolution points on strength and con or natural armour could push it to CR 10.

[Nigrescence]

Dragonchess Player wrote:

Rob McCreary wrote:

There's not much point to the mount evolution, unless you want someone else to ride your eidolon.

...Which can be pretty effective in some circumstances.

A synthesist summoner is probably going to be a more effective combatant than most animal companions, mounts, etc. Another PC specialized in mounted combat (such as a gnome or halfling cavalier, fighter, paladin, or ranger) can pair up with the synthesist as a pretty brutal team (Spirited Charge with lance and Pounce + Grab + Rake, at 4th level*).

*- Half-elf or with the Extra Evolution feat.

You could also combine a Synthesist Summoner with the Leadership feat, and search out a mounted combat specialist for your cohort.

I wonder though, would a Synthesist Summoner be able to qualify for the Improved Natural Attack feat, and would they be able to qualify for Power Attack and other such feats even if their personal strength doesn't make the cut? Obviously, they'd only get the benefit when the Eidolon is present or their strength is sufficient, but since the Eidolon now can't take those feats, a Synthesist who wants to use them would have to qualify somehow in order for their Eidolon to gain the benefit of it.

[HappyDaze]

I think that the general rule is that if you qualify when you select the feat then it's OK, but you can't make use of it when you lose the prereq for any reason (such as not having the eidolon-suit).

[Scipion del Ferro]

HappyDaze wrote:

I think that the general rule is that if you qualify when you select the feat then it's OK, but you can't make use of it when you lose the prereq for any reason (such as not having the eidolon-suit).

This is correct.

[Ævux]

To me, this is anotherway you could summon your pet..

Though the one from trinity soul is probably the best. They suddenly gain the ability to fly and jump around all ninja like when they summon their persona.