Synthesist Eidolon and Paired Weapons

[Derek Dalton]

So concept character a Half Elf Synthesist. I'm going with a Tauility doesric form so to resemble a Drider. One wild idea to add to his form is a second pair of arms. Here's the question, if I take a second pair of arms and found a Kasatha could I take the Bow Nomad archtype Ranger. The archtype states any race with four or more arms learns to use two Long ot short bows together with so restrictions.
Granted the attack penalty is minus four for each shot before anything else. Rapid shot adds another two and it only allows one bow to fire that extra shot. So I'm firing three shots a round at a minus six. Not great odds but the damage if all three hit would be impressive.
This isn't a Rule Question per say just something I noticed. So Book Rules say you can't stack archtypes if they change or remove a primary ability. In this case a Sythesist and Master Summoner. A sythesist changes Shield Ally to Shield Meld. The ability doesn't change at all it is still exactly the same just a name change. Now a Master Summoner completely removes the ability for the increased summoning and allowing you to summon monsters with your Eidolon present. As a GM I would allow this since in this case the ability doesn't change except in name with a Sythesist then is removed when you take the Master Summoner. I'm curious at to what others think.

[CMantle]

Personally I'd allow it. Typically what they're trying to avoid with that are two archetypes that have an ability removed or nerf'd out of balance's sake for the archetype as a whole. Whereas the Synthesist was clearly just renamed for the archetype but does the exact same thing. If your GM doesn't like it though that's his prerogative. Make sure you show how they're literally the same ability though.

[Melkiador]

Both synthesist and master summoner replace the eidolon ability. I probably wouldn’t allow the combo. First, because flooding the field with summons can bog the game down so I don’t usually allow master summoner anyway. But second, because you’d be way tougher while still being able to stand behind your summons. It’d be a pretty big upgrade over the master summoner as it’s eidolon was pretty weak anyway.

[blahpers]

You cannot stack synthesist and master summoner because they both alter or replace eidolon. It's a pretty straightforward example of incompatible archetypes.

[CMantle]

In my defense I hadn’t noticed the eidolon bit, was just looking at the class ability in question

[Derek Dalton]

Blahpers you are correct however my previous and current GM and I would all allow this combination. Here's why my Eidolon would be at half strength. He's no longer nor will he ever be a tank or damage dealer. His main strength would be in summoning. I lose the Shield and saving throw increase as well. The attraction in this combo is the increase in summonings per day and a free feat, two actually. Augment Summoning at second level without requiring spell focus. Without augment Summoning I lose access to that tree of feats that improve my summoning capacity.
My original question wasn't should this combination be allowed. My question was as a Systesist if I took evolutions that increased my arms to four total could I take the ranger archtype that allows any four armed race to use two bows at once.

[Melkiador]

Stacking synthesist and master summoner is way crazier than letting you take that feat. If that’s how your table rolls then I’d assume you could do it.

[Derek Dalton]

It actually lowers my combat effectiveness this way. I'd have to rely more on spells and the summoned monsters then my Eidolon. I use the summon monsters and spells then my Eidolon. Still I do see your point.

[blahpers]

Re: "could I take bow nomad":

Bow Nomad wrote:

This archetype is available to kasathas (and to other races with four or more arms at the GM’s discretion).

Can't get much clearer than that. Ask your GM.