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Ultimate Magus Feedback

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

As you can imagine, life around here is all about Ultimate Magic. So being the new "entity, " I get to write a bit in the blog about the project. I know; it's a rough life.

You rules junkies will already know all about this, but one of the great parts of the book is the new base class—the magus.

If you're anything like me, some days you wake up and ask yourself: How do I kill my enemies today, with steel or spell? Now I don't have to choose. The magus is a slayer dilettante extreme, using both to beat down the bad guys.

I know, I know, you've seen your share of multiclass spell-swords. You're not easily wooed, but the magus is worth checking out, if you haven't already. While it has a respectable spell list that is very wiz-bang and a little bufferish, the key to the class is the arcane pool. While some arcane magic comes from ancient bloodlines or the rigor of magical formulae, magi are among the creatures blessed with a well of arcane energy that they can learn to focus with flair of a swashbuckler, using a spell as dirk. This pool allows the magus to enchant weapons with a touch, mimic the abilities of other arcane classes' spells (like calling a familiar, or using metamagic feats), and even recreate entire spells. It's arcane power mixed with weapon mastery at its most fluid.

With just a little more time left to go, we are working on the finishing touches for the class, and one of the things we have to do is finish the archetypes. We have a good list right now, but we're interesting in hearing what you have to say. What is your dream archetype for the magus? What interesting flavor of magus character are you looking to play?

Talk at me here. And if you are playtesting the magus, and you haven't posted your feedback on this class yet, make sure you post to the Round 3 – Revised Magus: Playtest. You have until December 20th.

Stephen Radney-MacFarland
Pathfinder RPG Designer

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Stephen Radney-MacFarland wrote:


What is your dream archetype for the magus? What interesting flavor of magus character are you looking to play?

Just cross Darth Vader with Elric and add a dash of the Witch King of Agmar and colour me happy.

I'm easy.
Scarab Sages

Magus archetypes.... drool
Liberty's Edge

Is the date for this supposed to read January 14th?
Paizo Employee Senior Software Developer

Stupid discount time machine.
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2009, RPG Superstar Judgernaut

I'd like to see a magus archetype focused on fighting and defeating outsiders and magical beasts...kind of like a demon/devil/genie/elemental-slayer. A hero who basically has to focus arcane power into his weapons to stand against such opponents...capable of piercing both spell resistance and DR...as well as many of the other defenses such monsters might otherwise have against routine fighters and wizards. Maybe with a dash of a favored enemy bonus. And some lingering magic that continues to punish them....maybe like an arcane channeling effect distributed via a smite-like ability.
NSpicer wrote:
I'd like to see a magus archetype focused on fighting and defeating outsiders and magical beasts...kind of like a demon/devil/genie/elemental-slayer. A hero who basically has to focus arcane power into his weapons to stand against such opponents...capable of piercing both spell resistance and DR...as well as many of the other defenses such monsters might otherwise have against routine fighters and wizards. Maybe with a dash of a favored enemy bonus. And some lingering magic that continues to punish them....maybe like an arcane channeling effect distributed via a smite-like ability.

sounds more like an inquisitor archetype ;) haha

We'll be playtesting it tonight, if all goes well.
Sczarni RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
Neil Spicer wrote:
I'd like to see a magus archetype focused on fighting and defeating outsiders and magical beasts...kind of like a demon/devil/genie/elemental-slayer. A hero who basically has to focus arcane power into his weapons to stand against such opponents...capable of piercing both spell resistance and DR...as well as many of the other defenses such monsters might otherwise have against routine fighters and wizards. Maybe with a dash of a favored enemy bonus. And some lingering magic that continues to punish them....maybe like an arcane channeling effect distributed via a smite-like ability.

I already have a cleric archetype that does that. Would be a great idea for a magus and easy to do with some new magus arcana.

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