[PF] Arcane Archer...but how? Advice needed

[Krazzman]

Hello again playground.

While talking about characters with some folks I started to like the idea of the Arcane Archer.

I know how to get the prerequisites but the way to do it seems a bit more complicated.

I seem to ran into the problem of deciding between Zen-Archer Monk 8/Sorcerer 1, Ranger 6/Sorcerer 1, Paladin 6/Sorcerer 1 or Bard 8.

We play without traits and flaws, most likely 25 Point Buy, first HD full, next ones roll (either take what you get or at least half [i.e. 4 on a D8]).
Some feats out of the 3.5 books might be allowed if it is run by our dm and then approved.

Here is the build I've got so far and I would like some recommendations/critique for what I could do better and what I could do in another way.

Arcane Zen-Archer:

Level Progression:
Zen-Archer 1, Sorcerer 1, Zen-Archer 7 , Arcane Archer 10, Sorcerer 1
Stats:
Stat-Array level 01: 13 13 14 12 17 14
Stat-Array level 04: 13 13 14 12 18 14
Stat-Array level 08: 14 13 14 12 18 14
Stat-Array level 12: 14 14 14 12 18 14
Stat-Array level 16: 14 14 14 12 19 14
Stat-Array level 20: 14 14 14 12 20 14
Assuming level 20:
HP: 2x d6 + 8x d8 + 10x d10 + 48
AC: 10 + 2(Dex) + 2 (Monk) + 5 (Wis) + 1 Dodge = 20
Bab: 17
CMB: 17 + 2 = 19
CMD: 10 + 2(STR) + 2(Dex) + 1 (Dodge) + 2 (Monk) + 5 (Wis) = 22
Saves: Fort: 13 Ref: 13 Will: 17
Skillpoints: 6 + 50 + 40 = 96
Movement: 50ft

Feats:
R: Skill Focus(Perception)
01: Point Blank Shot
M1: Precise Shot
03: Deadly Aim
MB: Deflect Arrows
MB: Weapon Focus (Longbow) (Replaces Evasion)
MB: Point Blank Master
05: ???
07: ???
MB: Dodge
MB: Weapon Specialization (Longbow)
09: Vital Strike
11: ???
13: ???
15: ???
17: ???
19: ???



Arcane Archer:

Level Progression:
Ranger 1/Sorcerer 1/Ranger 5/Arcane Archer 10/Ranger 3
Stats:
Stat-Array level 01: 13 17 14 12 13 14
Stat-Array level 04: 13 18 14 12 13 14
Stat-Array level 08: 14 18 14 12 13 14
Stat-Array level 12: 14 18 14 12 14 14
Stat-Array level 16: 14 19 14 12 14 14
Stat-Array level 20: 14 20 14 12 14 14
Assuming level 20:
HP: 1x 1d6 + 18x d10 + 50
AC: 10 + 5(Dex) = 15
Bab: 19
CMB: 19 + 2 = 21
CMD: 10 + 2(STR) + 5(Dex) = 17
Saves: Fort: 13 Ref: 16 Will: 10
Skillpoints: 3 + 50 + 63 = 116
Movement: 30ft

Feats:
R: Skill Focus(Perception)
01: Point Blank Shot
RB: Track
03: Deadly Aim
CS: Precise Shot
05: Weapon Focus (Longbow)
07: Vital Strike
CS: ???
09: ???
11: ???
13: ???
15: ???
17: ???
19: ???
RB: Swift Tracker

2 Favoured Terrains
2 Favoured Enemies


Arcane Archer (Bard):

Level Progression:
Bard 8/Arcane Archer 10/Bard 2
Stats:
Stat-Array level 01: 13 17 14 14 10 14
Stat-Array level 04: 14 18 14 14 10 14
Stat-Array level 08: 14 19 14 14 10 14
Stat-Array level 12: 14 20 14 14 10 14
Stat-Array level 16: 14 20 14 14 10 15
Stat-Array level 20: 14 20 14 14 10 16
Assuming level 20:
HP: 9x 1d8 + 10x d10 + 48
AC: 10 + 5(Dex) = 15
Bab: 17
CMB: 17 + 2 = 19
CMD: 10 + 2(STR) + 5(Dex) = 17
Saves: Fort: 10 Ref: 17 Will: 10
Skillpoints:80 + 50 = 90
Movement: 30ft

Feats:
R: Skill Focus(Perception/Perform)
01: Point Blank Shot
03: Deadly Aim
05: Weapon Focus (Shortbow)
07: Precise Shot


Holy Arcane Archer:

Level Progression:
Paladin 1/Sorcerer 1/Paladin 5/Arcane Archer 10/Paladin 1/Sorcerer 2
Stats:
Stat-Array level 01: 13 17 14 14 10 14
Stat-Array level 04: 14 18 14 14 10 14
Stat-Array level 08: 14 19 14 14 10 14
Stat-Array level 12: 14 20 14 14 10 14
Stat-Array level 16: 14 20 14 14 10 15
Stat-Array level 20: 14 20 14 14 10 16
Assuming level 20:
HP: 3x 1d6 + 16x d10 + 50
AC: 10 + 5(Dex) = 15
Bab: 18
CMB: 18 + 2 = 20
CMD: 10 + 2(STR) + 5(Dex) = 17
Saves: Fort: 13 Ref: 13 Will: 11
Skillpoints: 12 + 50 + 28 = 90
Movement: 30ft

Feats:
R: Skill Focus(Perception)
01: Point Blank Shot
03: Deadly Aim
05: Weapon Focus (Longbow)
07: Precise Shot
09: Vital Strike
11: ???
13: ???
15: ???
17: ???
19: ???

For Race I would like to stay with Half Elf, maybe switching to Elf for the Bard thing. (getting just a -2 to con and a +2 to intelligence)

I hope you can help me again and have a nice weekend.

[grarrrg]

+1 Monk
-1 Bard

Monk: Flurry of Bows is very nice, and saves you some feats (namely Rapid Shot and Manyshot).
AND you get TONS of bonus feats on top of that.
You get Perfect Strike, Weapon Focus, Weapon SPECIALIZATION!, Point-Blank Master, AND you get to keep your Bonus Feats at levels 1, 2 & 6.
Also, use the Sorcerer Bloodline that let's you use WIS instead of CHA for your spells.
*cue maniacal laughter*


Bard: Not as many spells, not as many "shootable" spells.

[Krazzman]

Also, use the Sorcerer Bloodline that let's you use WIS instead of CHA for your spells.
*cue maniacal laughter*


Do you mean the Empyreal Bloodline (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/sorcerer/archetypes/paizo---sorcerer-archetypes/wildblooded/empyreal) the mutated Version of the Celestial Bloodline (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/sorcerer/bloodlines/bloodlines-from-paizo/celestial-bloodline)?

Sounds pretty darn awesome!

[Novawurmson]

Make sure to check Qinggong Monk (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/monk/archetypes/paizo---monk-archetypes/qinggong-monk) to get rid of class features you don't want for spells and feats powered by Ki.

[Krazzman]

Make sure to check Qinggong Monk (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/monk/archetypes/paizo---monk-archetypes/qinggong-monk) to get rid of class features you don't want for spells and feats powered by Ki.

I think I can't take it since diamond body and tongue of sun and moon are "replaced" by both...

[KicktheCAN]

The best ability of Arcane Archer (Imbue Arrows) requires you to have spells that are worthwhile to cast. So right off the bat, 3/4 of those builds are ill-suited to be Arcane Archers. Drop the martial levels and pick up more caster levels.

[grarrrg]

Do you mean the Empyreal Bloodline....?

Sounds pretty darn awesome!

That would be the one. It would also, oddly enough, make your build almost SAD, you'd use WIS for attacks/spells/AC, just enough DEX to qualify for any feats, and some in CON for HP. Str/Int/Cha aren't really needed.
And using the Empyreal Bloodline means that ALL Sorc abilities that relied on CHA now rely on WIS. ALL of the CHA abilities.



Make sure to check Qinggong Monk (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/monk/archetypes/paizo---monk-archetypes/qinggong-monk) to get rid of class features you don't want for spells and feats powered by Ki.I think I can't take it since diamond body and tongue of sun and moon are "replaced" by both...

Technically those abilities are "optional" replacements on the Qinggong side, meaning you might be able to get your DM to let them slide (it also helps your argument that you'll never have enough Monk levels to get either anyway)


The best ability of Arcane Archer (Imbue Arrows) requires you to have spells that are worthwhile to cast. So right off the bat, 3/4 of those builds are ill-suited to be Arcane Archers. Drop the martial levels and pick up more caster levels.

True, but Arcane Archer is still a solid archery class.
Full Bab and Enhance Arrows are nice.

The 3 best options:
Monk 4/Sorc 6 The absolute minimum amount of Monk. Monk 3 gets WIS-to-hit, and Monk 4 is needed to meet the Bab requirements of Arcane Archer.
6th level spells/caster level 13, Bab 16, 17 on a Flurry

Monk 6/Sorc 4 would be the next stopping point, as you pick up a bonus feat and get Weapon Specialization from Monk, and still have Acid/Cold resist from your Sorc Bloodline.
5th level spells/caster level 11, Bab 16, 18 on a Flurry

Monk 9/Sorc 1 You get another Flurry of Bows shot (at -5Bab) at Monk 8, and gain the ability to shoot arrows as Attacks of Opportunity at Monk 9.
4th level spells/Caster level 8, Bab 16 (17 Fractional), 19 on a Flurry

[Novawurmson]

I think I can't take it since diamond body and tongue of sun and moon are "replaced" by both...

The way I understand Qinggong Monk is that whenever you get a access to a class feature, you have the choice to replace it, meaning it can be combined with any other archetype, you just can't trade out the same feature twice. RAW does not mean it'll be your DM's interpretation.

[Krazzman]

Monk 6/Sorc 4 would be the next stopping point, as you pick up a bonus feat and get Weapon Specialization from Monk, and still have Acid/Cold resist from your Sorc Bloodline.
5th level spells/caster level 11, Bab 16, 18 on a Flurry

This might be the one I will run for.

Leading to Monk 1/Sorcerer 1/Monk 5/Sorcerer 3/Arcane Archer 10.

But about this, I checked the Pathfinder spellbook via app and srd but somehow only can see the cloudkill spell as good 5th-level spell. For the other spells I wanted to take Gravity Bow and then...jeah there my lack of experience drops in. Since my highest arcane user was a blaster wizard level 6 I can't poperly choose good spells. (0th level spells are somewhat clear)

Hope you can further help me.

[grarrrg]

Correction: Monk 4/Sorc 6 is the minimum possible entry due to the 6-Bab required for Arcane Archer (assuming you want to take all 10 levels of Arcane Archer that is, otherwise Monk 3/Sorc 8+ will get you in).
6th level spells, Caster level 13.


Another option is to NOT take all 10 levels of Arcane Archer.
Level 8 seems like a decent stopping point. You only lose out on 'alignment' arrows, a few extra 1/day uses of other abilities, and Slaying arrow.
Although Slaying Arrow is powerful, it takes _1_day_ to craft it, and you can only have _1_ at a time (and keep in mind, you'll probably be level 19 or 20 before you would even get the ability)

Monk 3/Sorc 9/Arcane Archer 8 (7th spells/15 caster level)
Monk 6/Sorc 6/Arcane Archer 8 (6th spells/12 caster level)
Monk 9/Sorc 3/Arcane Archer 8 (4th spells/9 caster level)
should all be considered.


This might be the one I will run for.

Leading to Monk 1/Sorcerer 1/Monk 5/Sorcerer 3/Arcane Archer 10.


I don't believe you've given us your starting level yet, the following assumes a Level 1 start.
You will need to get to Monk 3 ASAP, from there take take Monk/Sorc however.
You'll want (at least) Dex 14 so you aren't horrible the first 2 levels.
It'd be nice if Arcane Archer could be taken earlier, but getting to 6 Bab with 3/4 and 1/2 classes is a problem.

Looking at the Feats, the ONLY archery ones that require a Dex of more than 13 (that can NOT be picked up as a bonus feat), are Improved (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/improved-snap-shot-combat)/Greater (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/greater-snap-shot-combat) Snap Snot.
The only other two are Manyshot (which we don't need thanks to Flurry), and Improved Precise Shot, which we can pick up as a pre-req-less Bonus Feat at Monk 6.
(Edit: Composite Bow, need STR, blarrrg)
25pt buy, assuming Half-Elf, Level 1
Str 8
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 12
Wis 20 (18+2Race)
Cha 8
Of course, it's your build feel free to rearrange as necessary (some people aren't comfortable spending point buy to get an 18 on a non-full-caster, but I feel this build can handle it).
Some tweak suggestions:
If you're starting at/after level 3, then drop the Dex to 13.
Str/Cha can be dropped further, I'd add the extra points to either Con or Int.

Favored Classes are Monk/Sorc (duh), Half-Elf has no special bonuses with either, so its HP or Skill points.

[hex0]

Drop the martial levels and pick up more caster levels.

Or have both...by being a Duskblade. Or is this PF only?

[Krazzman]

Or have both...by being a Duskblade. Or is this PF only?

No, everything should be PF, but if something from any 3.5 source seems so much needed for these builds...well feel free to suggest it, while I will try to get it past my DM.

Starting level is between 1 to 3 most of times I played. (We just played One-Shots then but for a proper campaign I thought this build good.)

Thanks so far.

[Talionis]

I don't know much about PF, but this is one of the best Arcane Archer builds I've ever seen: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11663884&postcount=122

[hex0]

No, everything should be PF, but if something from any 3.5 source seems so much needed for these builds...well feel free to suggest it, while I will try to get it past my DM.

Starting level is between 1 to 3 most of times I played. (We just played One-Shots then but for a proper campaign I thought this build good.)

Thanks so far.

If you can't get Duskblade you can get the PF version, Magus. Either one gets channeling for when you get engaged in Melee and you can Imbue Arrow your nice selection of spells and many per day for ranged.

Duskblade would be better since it has Full BAB though, of course.

[Krazzman]

If you can't get Duskblade you can get the PF version, Magus. Either one gets channeling for when you get engaged in Melee and you can Imbue Arrow your nice selection of spells and many per day for ranged.

Duskblade would be better since it has Full BAB though, of course.

Magus is out since I played a Magus last round. And more that I am psyched to play an Zen-Archer. And maybe thought about being an Arcane Archer.

[Krazzman]

I know there was a Thread about it, but can't find it, so I'll ask here.

Assuming Strength 14 and a +2 Composite +2 Longbow.

Would I deal 1d8 + 2 or 1d8 + 4?

Now if we take an Arrow with the shock ability. (+1 Shock Arrow)

1d8 + 1d6 + 2 or 1d8 + 1d6 + 4 or 1d8 + 1d6 + 5?

What happens if I get GMW on the Bow?

[ericgrau]

^1d8+2, 1d8+2+1d6, 1d8+2+enhancement bonus+1d6
Use the lower of a composite bow's strength rating or your strength modifier. I don't know if Pathfinder still has it but in 3.5 if your strength modifier is lower than the strength rating you get an attack roll penalty equal to the difference because you're not strong enough to pull the bow all the way back.

More caster levels would hurt his BAB and screw him overall in actual archery. There are two ways to do this. One is arcane caster 1-2 for the attack bonus, plus any archery base. Zen archer is fine. Then you can still get some buffs to improve it further without needlessly sacrificing any archery ability. The second way is pure caster all the way for imbue arrow; the best personal area spells for it like antimagic field and repulsion are high level anyway so taking a long time to get the BAB requirement is no big deal. In this case you would only dip 2-4 levels of the prestige class so you don't lose any more casting than you need to.

The wrong way to do it is to try to do both and have less casting than possible and yet also less martial ability than possible, because you can only do one thing each round. That's a good way to screw yourself.

[Eldariel]

Most logical way to enter the class would be Eldritch Knight. Something like:

Ranger 1/Wizard 5/Eldritch Knight 3/Arcane Archer ->

This loses a painful amount of spellcasting levels but it's the best you can do with Pathfinder. If you take more than 4 levels of Arcane Archer, you'll never see level 9 spells though.

You still get level 8 spells if you max out on Arcane Archer so I guess it's about the best you can do, in case you want level 10 in AA. It's also really sad that Arrow of Death doesn't scale by your spellcasting stat; taking Sorcerer means giving up level 8 spells too...


Ah well, I guess it's still kinda reasonable to go Ranger 1/Sorcerer 6/Eldritch Knight 2/Arcane Archer 10. Well, about the best you can do, at any rate. If you go Zen Archer, I don't see why you'd go Arcane Archer. Zen Archer really doesn't multiclass well at all.

[grarrrg]

^1d8+2, 1d8+2+1d6, 1d8+2+enhancement bonus+1d6
Use the lower of a composite bow's strength rating or your strength modifier. I don't know if Pathfinder still has it but in 3.5 if your strength modifier is lower than the strength rating you get an attack roll penalty equal to the difference because you're not strong enough to pull the bow all the way back.


Wouldn't it be 1d8+4, 1d8+4+1d6?
He asked about having a STR bonus of +2, while using a +2 Composite Longbow with a Str Rating of 2.
+2 for magic, +2 for Str > 1d8+4

And the low Str=Attack roll penalty is a flat -2 now.


The wrong way to do it is to try to do both and have less casting than possible and yet also less martial ability than possible, because you can only do one thing each round. That's a good way to screw yourself.

That all depends on the general level of Optimization in his group.
If everyone else is a Cleric/Wizard, then yes, he will be behind.
If everyone else is a Fighter/Paladin, then he should be just fine.


Let's try the Stats thing again, WITH Composite factored in.
25pt buy, assuming Half-Elf, Level 1
Str 14
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 12
Wis 18 (16+2race)
Cha 8
Again, if starting at level 3+ you can drop Dex down to 13.
If your feeling spicy, you can start with Str 15/Wis 17 (15+race), this will save you 1-point, drop Cha to 7 to pick up another 2-points, and boost your Int to 14 to start, then round off your Str/Wis scores at level 4 and level 8.
Str 15
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 14
Wis 17 (15+2race)
Cha 7

[Krazzman]

Thanks,

I'd like to state a few things.

1.) Wizards (or casters in common) bug me...I can't decide which spells to prepare that day and when to cast them or even which do I take. Furthermore I've got a bit of a weakness in bookkeeping spells prepared.

I try to approach this weakness of mine by trying out gishes.

2.) I like to be as flexible as possible. Meaning: we've got 2 Brutes and an Ranged Skillmonkey: I'm gonna be an Arcane or Divine Caster (at least in a gishy way).
Therefore I asked for the Arcane Archer with various approaches to this.
The problem is: I don't know how to proper build a cleric anymore. Without Divine Metamagic and other goodies that used Turn Attempts (and without RSoP I quite don't know how to build one).

In fact atm I would either want to play an straight Zen Archer, Storm Sorcerer or an Arcane Archer with a more Archery aspect. (Level 4 Spells are enough for starters)

3.) Optimization:
My GF rarely does it. She likes simple chars and therefore likes Barbarians most. I help her a bit in building a proper Barbarian but it is probably mid-opt at best.
We will additionally play with two new folks. She also seems to like simple characters and they both seem to be in about the same bracket of Optimization as we are. With me most likely being the one wanting the bit higher one since I don't like to make mistakes and therefore my character can't survive properly.

4.) I personally don't think Imbue Arrow as the ability why I take the class. I am more appealed by the Enhance Arrows part. And thought about the Sorcerer part only for Buffs and Retreat options, with some (a few) good other spells.

[ericgrau]

Wouldn't it be 1d8+4, 1d8+4+1d6?
He asked about having a STR bonus of +2, while using a +2 Composite Longbow with a Str Rating of 2.
+2 for magic, +2 for Str > 1d8+4
Ah missed that, I thought the enhancement bonus was an isolated question. Yeah +4. When you cast greater magic weapon it does not stack with the existing enhancement bonus; instead use the higher of the 2.

I see you're the only arcane caster. The good buffs tend to be 3rd level and lower. Most of the utility spells are 2nd or 1st level, but you're better off buying most of those on scrolls anyway. The fancier stuff like dimension door and other teleports start 4th level, though not essential. Plus there's phantom steed at 3rd level. So if the party needs more buffs and so on and you don't mind being weaker you could shoot for 3rd level spells as early as reasonable. Just remember every level hurts your attack bonus and your effectiveness at your main role.

[Eldariel]

Well, if your party lacks an arcanist you really kinda want to make up for as many casting levels as possible. It's impossible to replicate stuff like Dispel Magic, Fly, Scrying, Teleport, True Seeing, Greater Magic Weapon, Planar Binding, Mind Blank, etc. without magic and without those...well, the life of the party is going to be hard.

That said, I wouldn't go half-way; just go straight Zen Archer or a caster-heavy Arcane Archer. Half-way caster isn't really gonna provide what an arcanist provides to a party anyways so the value in that

[Corlindale]

Straight summoner is also an alternative possibility, it can qualify at the same time as Magus, and has a pretty nice spell list (and you will get to access the 6th level spells, some of which are actually sorc/wiz 8th and 9th level spells).

Synthesist is the obvious choice here, you can really boost your mobility and resilience with some of the evolutions, though you will probably end up with a somewhat lower dex than other builds, because you get your eidolon's stats and they're a little harder to boost. On the other hand you can afford to dump most of your physical stats in your natural form (though be a little careful with this, as you'll be screwed if something takes out your eidolon-shell in this case).

You could also just play a normal summoner - eventually your eidolon will lose it's combat utility when you start taking AA levels, but you could still use it as a (flying) mount or for utility purposes.

[CTrees]

Straight summoner is also an alternative possibility, it can qualify at the same time as Magus, and has a pretty nice spell list (and you will get to access the 6th level spells, some of which are actually sorc/wiz 8th and 9th level spells).

Synthesist is the obvious choice here, you can really boost your mobility and resilience with some of the evolutions, though you will probably end up with a somewhat lower dex than other builds, because you get your eidolon's stats and they're a little harder to boost. On the other hand you can afford to dump most of your physical stats in your natural form (though be a little careful with this, as you'll be screwed if something takes out your eidolon-shell in this case).

You could also just play a normal summoner - eventually your eidolon will lose it's combat utility when you start taking AA levels, but you could still use it as a (flying) mount or for utility purposes.


Synthesist would open up two really interesting options, as I see it. First, you could pretend to be a solar. I'm actually incredibly fond of Synthesists bluffing that they really are the things they resemble. Second, take multiple sets of arms and wield several bows at once (would be interesting to see what sort of machinegun archery THAT could enable!).

EDIT: I'd almost say Synthesist Summoner 4/Divine Hunter Paladin 3/Arcane Archer X could be interesting if you were going a little more melee, but fifth level is a really nice one for Summoners, and at that point you might as well take the full eight levels of Summoner, as you're not getting into AA earlier, you get better casting, AND you get some nifty evolutions (like Large).

[Krazzman]

Summoner Sounds Interresting, I'm open to new stuff but, what about the book keeping? (That's at least the reason I stayed away from Wizard and Alchemist)
And the inherent brokenness of this class? I remember reading something about murky description and unhelpful errata or something like that.

But back to the core problem. I don't exactly know what the other folks will be playing. I assume my GF to take a Dwarven Barbarian but about the other 2? I just don't know. My plans so far either involve a charismatic blast-focused Sorcerer with the Stormborn Bloodline or Straight Zen-Archer or Arcane Archer.

[grarrrg]

EDIT: I'd almost say Synthesist Summoner 4/Divine Hunter Paladin 3/Arcane Archer X could be interesting if you were going a little more melee, but fifth level is a really nice one for Summoners,.....you get some nifty evolutions (like Large).

Large is generally not the best choice for an Archer build. What with the -Dex and 4-point cost and all.
I'd rather bump my Dex up another notch, and, depending on the ruling for "multi-armed>many bows", another set of arms.



Summoner Sounds Interresting, I'm open to new stuff but, what about the book keeping?.....And the inherent brokenness of this class? I remember reading something about murky description and unhelpful errata or something like that.

....My plans so far either involve a charismatic blast-focused Sorcerer with the Stormborn Bloodline or Straight Zen-Archer or Arcane Archer.

Summoner is not broken. The Synthesist archetype of the Summoner is broken (both in the "overpowered" way AND the "rules no make sense" way).
I would take Monk/Sorc over Synthesist for an archery build. Mainly because it would be LESS effective.

*warning, the following contains a lot of text.*
*I will summarize for those of you with short attention spans: "Synthesist is bad archer, Monk is good archer"*

First off, the typical main argument for Syntheist is that you can "dump your physical stats". OP has a 25 point-buy, that's HUGE. And a Synthesist still needs a fair Dex score in 'normal-form' to qualify for feats and in 'case of emergency'.
Monk pumps Wis, needs some Con, and 13 Dex
A Synth pumps Cha, 13+ Dex, and some Con

Secondly, a level 6 Synthesist/Eidolon Form has 9 evo-points, if it spends 4 it can have a Dex of 23 (Serpentine, 16 Base, +2 levels, +4 Evo-points, +1 ability increase). It must spend 2 points to grow a set of Arms, leaving only 3 points left for 'other'. A normal char could have a Dex of 21, which isn't far behind.

Lastly, and most importantly, FEATS! A level 6 Monk gets, effectively, __9__ bonus feats, a Synthesist gets _0_. (Monk gets bonus 'ignore requirement' feats at 1, 2 & 6, it also gets 4 pre-assigned feats, none of which are bad, and does not need to take Rapid/Manyshot due to Flurry of Bows).
Heck, a Fighter 6 has, effectively, 6 bonus feats himself (weapon training = weapon focus/specialization), 7 if you count Full Bab as a 'feat'.