Synthesist as a tank?

[Dingo333]

As far as I can tell, the Synth gains the armor and natural armor of the eidolon. By that, if the eidolon has armor bonus of +0, and +X natural, you get to add +0 to your armor and +X to natural armor, in addition to any natural and normal armor you have.

That is at least how I read it, and if you can use shields, you can use armor

 

[kubodhi]

StreamOfTheSky has the armor side right. You can wear light armor, but when you have your eidolon around you it doesn't help you (as clarified in the FAQ) - though as soon as he's banished or dismissed, you'll at least have some protection.

You could technically have the caster standard of a mithral buckler since even without proficiency it has no arcane spell failure or ACP - but as GlassEye stated, it won't help you while you're fused with your eidolon unless you are holding it in one of the eidolon's limbs (though that won't stack with your L4 Shielded Meld ability, as they're both shield bonuses).

Bottom line, though, is that synthesists are viable tanks - especially when optimized.