I'm starting this thread because i wanted to have a general opinion about the use of the Synthesist without the application of any house rule;
The ruling as i read is pretty clear , the only misunderstanding is about the following sentence: "While fused with his eidolon, the synthesist can
use all of his own abilities and gear." This make me think that a Synthesist can use his Abilities and not his Feats as long as Abilities are different from feats.
This question came out because i created i PC for a friend that's playing a campaign (i'm not the DM)assuming that Synthesist feats were apllying to fused eidolon.Now at 12th level he his actually using multi-weapon fighting feat and exotic weapon proficiency feat to fight with four Large Keen Falcatas and his Character seems to be a little too Imba; this made me read the ruling with more attention.
Did i get it right or is really the synthesist so powerful?
The eidolon gets feats and skills. However, the summoner can not use them as the eidolon can take no actions of its own.
Abilities include the use of feats. If not, the synthesist with his suit on would have no feat except for the free multi-attack at level 9.
Check the math to be sure about the Falcatas, since they are 1handed weapons the penalties for multi-weapon fighting with them are -4.
Also you only get iteratives with the main hand and 1.0 str dmg mod, all off-hands attacks only get 1 swing and 0.5 str dmg mod.
But yeah, you can then add some secondary tentacle attacks in the mix at only -2 (and half str dmg) since you have multi-attack.
Ask the player to slack a little on the evo pts spent on offense, it's easy to skyrocket above a party average power with a synth if no one optimizes.
Thanks very much :)