| 3 people marked this as FAQ candidate. |
Would a summoner fused with his eidolon still benefit from somethign like boots of dexterity? Would they apply to the new stats gained while fused?
| 1 person marked this as FAQ candidate. |
RAW I would rule that the summoner is wearing the belt, so his stats are increased, then replaced.
While fused with his eidolon, the synthesist uses the eidolon's physical ability scores (Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution), but retains his own mental ability scores (Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma). [Emphasis added]
While fused, the synthesist counts as both his original type and as an outsider for any effect related to type, whichever is worse for the synthesist. Spells such as banishment or dismissal work normally on the eidolon, but the synthesist is unaffected. Neither the synthesist nor his eidolon can be targeted separately, as they are fused into one creature. The synthesist and eidolon cannot take separate actions. While fused with his eidolon, the synthesist can use all of his own abilities and gear. In all other cases, this ability functions as the summoner's normal eidolon ability (for example, the synthesist cannot use his summon monster ability while the eidolon is present). This ability replaces the class's eidolon ability, bond senses, and life bond. [Emphasis added]
I would LOVE an official answer though.
Note the sentence in the second paragraph of the Fused Eidolon class ability (Ultimate Magic, pg. 80): "The synthesist also gains access to the eidolon's special abilities and the eidolon's evolutions." Then note Table 2-9 Eidolon Base Statistics in the Advanced Player's Guide: The eidolon of a 1st level summoner gains the special abilities darkvision, link, and share spells. The description of the link special ability on pg. 58 of the Advanced Player's Guide states: "...the summoner and his eidolon share magic item slots. For example, if the summoner is wearing a ring, his eidolon can wear no more than one ring. In case of a conflict, the items worn by the summoner remain active, and those used by the eidolon become dormant. The eidolon must possess the appropriate appendage to utilize a magic item."
There is nothing preventing the summoner from removing a magical belt, summoning his fused eidolon, and then replacing the belt so that the fused eidolon receives the benefit of the physical ability boost. A lenient interpretation of "While fused with his eidolon, the synthesist uses the eidolon's physical ability scores..." and "While fused with his eidolon, the synthesist can use all his own abilities and gear," would allow the summoner to increase the eidolon's physical ability scores without having to remove the belt and then replace it. Of course, this would then make the belt immune from being sundered/otherwise targeted while fused with the eidolon, so it might be more powerful than some GMs are comfortable with.
I was always under the impression that the "use his own gear" stuff was referring to this. I suppose we should faq this though.