Can a Magus use a two-hander and still use spell combate and spell strike?
Can a Magus use a two-hander and still use spell combate and spell strike?
You can use Spellstrike with a two-handed weapon. You may need a hand free to cast the spell, but you can deliver it through your weapon regardless.
You could use Spell Combat and a two-handed weapon if you have more than two arms, or if you can wield the two-handed weapon in one hand.
Can a Magus use a two-hander and still use spell combate and spell strike?
See Might of the Magus for the Greatweapon Spell Combat feat, but it requires a minimum of a 15 STR and you take a -3 to hit (instead of the normal -2).
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Did you even so much as glance at the ability before you asked the question?
Could you be a little nicer next time?
You can hold, rather than wield the weapon while you cast the spell. The downside, is that you must re-wield the weapon to attack with it on your next turn (usually a move action).
You can hold, rather than wield the weapon while you cast the spell. The downside, is that you must re-wield the weapon to attack with it on your next turn (usually a move action).
Releasing and re-gripping a weapon are both free actions. (Source)
Can the Staff Magus archetype, which gets Quarterstaff Master as a bonus feat at level 1, cast a spell using Spellstrike, then use Spell Combat to use his quarterstaff to deliver the attack as a two-handed attack?
Without Spell Combat, sure. Cast a touch spell normally, change grip, then use Spellstrike to deliver it.
In order to do that and take your iterative attacks you'll need Spell Combat, which requires that you have a hand free.
Can one hold a two-hander in one hand; cast a spell, then re-grasp the weapon in both hands to then deliver the spell via spell strike; then make your regular bab granted attacks?
If you cast the spell as a swift action, deliver it as a free action, then take a normal full attack, sure.
In order to cast a standard action spell and make iterative attacks, you need to use Spell Combat.
Spell Combat (Ex): "To use this ability, the magus must have one hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic components), while wielding a light or one-handed melee weapon in the other hand."
Not only would you not have a hand free as soon as you grasped the weapon, you also wouldn't be wielding a light or one-handed weapon in the other hand.
There is a way to cheese a two-handed attack into spell combat. Start turn, take full-round action to use Spell Combat, make iterative attacks (one-handed), then cast a touch spell. The full-round action is over, now take a free action to re-grip your weapon, and deliver the touch spell with the free action attack that casting the spell granted you. This is clunky, and probably frowned upon at most tables.
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You can hold, rather than wield the weapon while you cast the spell. The downside, is that you must re-wield the weapon to attack with it on your next turn (usually a move action).Releasing and re-gripping a weapon are both free actions. (Source)
Can the Staff Magus archetype, which gets Quarterstaff Master as a bonus feat at level 1, cast a spell using Spellstrike, then use Spell Combat to use his quarterstaff to deliver the attack as a two-handed attack?Without Spell Combat, sure. Cast a touch spell normally, change grip, then use Spellstrike to deliver it.
In order to do that and take your iterative attacks you'll need Spell Combat, which requires that you have a hand free.
Can one hold a two-hander in one hand; cast a spell, then re-grasp the weapon in both hands to then deliver the spell via spell strike; then make your regular bab granted attacks?If you cast the spell as a swift action, deliver it as a free action, then take a normal full attack, sure.
In order to cast a standard action spell and make iterative attacks, you need to use Spell Combat.
Spell Combat (Ex): "To use this ability, the magus must have one hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic components), while wielding a light or one-handed melee weapon in the other hand."
Not only would you not have a hand free as soon as you grasped the weapon, you also wouldn't be wielding a light or one-handed weapon in the other hand.
There is a way to cheese a two-handed attack into spell combat. Start turn, take full-round action to use Spell Combat, make iterative attacks (one-handed), then cast a touch spell. The full-round action is over, now take a free action to re-grip your weapon, and deliver the touch spell with the free...
You are a glorious fellow, and I would buy you a beer.
Thank you, kindly.
Thanks, Grick for the research. I now know the cheese and have decided that it is just that cheese. Thanks again. See you next time for another instalment of ask a stupid question.
I only ask the question because the eldrich knight and the magus in the books carries a elven curved blade. So, to expand on the question.
Can one hold a two-hander in one hand; cast a spell, then re-grasp the weapon in both hands to then deliver the spell via spell strike; then make your regular bab granted attacks?
Yes I did read the ability and yes i still ask the question, since you don't have to hold a two-hander in both hands at all times.
The concept comes to mind only because the creature of the class' character is wielding a two-hander, all be it a weapon designed for weapons finesse, but a two-hander non the less.
(this is a friends account btw) posted by von marshal.
Please read the use of the forums and as the bottom of the page says as you are composing your post "don't be a jerk".
Is it an elven curve blade or an aldori sword?
I only ask the question because the eldrich knight and the magus in the books carries a elven curved blade.
If you're referring to Seltyiel, I'm pretty sure he wields a scimitar.
Note that your argument is not foolproof. By RAW the DM can control the numbers of freee action a character could do in a given turn. For example i would not let the player to regrip the weapon to deliver the touch spell.
Since that's the first free action he's taken, you've limited free actions to zero. This breaks, among other things, all spellcasting that uses material components, drawing ammunition, guiding a mount, dropping prone, and speaking.
Also note, the rules explicitly state "You can perform one or more free actions..." Most people would interpret that as a minimum of two free actions, which is enough to perform the cheese maneuver, but still breaks various other mechanics.
Most people consider the "reasonable limits on what you can really do for free" clause as being to prevent things like the commoner rail-gun, or thirty minute (real time) discussion during a round of combat, etc.
Before you cripple your game, or even find another way to hamper only the magus, take a hard look at what he's actually accomplishing. An extra half strength modifier on a single attack from a class that needs 3-4 ability scores to function probably isn't very significant.
Jason said the intent was to keep the Magus confined to one-handed weapons.
There might be a way to bypass it using RAW, but it is not RAI.
Jason said the intent was to keep the Magus confined to one-handed weapons.
He was likely referring only to Spell Combat.
But a Magus could still wield his one-handed weapon with two hands in a round when he doesn't want to use Spell Combat, couldn't he?Of course.
Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing
Ok, dumb question number two for me on this thread.
Say a character (magus) has a bastard sword (one-handed exotic, two-hand martial) that he wishes to use in a round with spell combate and spell strike; what are his choices?
I see:
1. If he has the exotic weapon proficiency he is considered wielding the sword in one or two hands.
2. spell combate needs a free hand so when he casts he needs to have it in one hand. Thus, he uses spell strike to dish out the spell with one hand not two.
3. He may then use a free action to regrasp his weapon to deal the additional str dmg for his additional attacks. (even if he misses with the spell strike and has to spellstrike with two hands then next attack ).
I see a round going like this:
(swift action) enchant wpn or use arcane strike
(free action) hold weapon with one hand
(Spell combate, spell strike)(def cast check)
cast arcane mark free attack one handed
(free action) grasp weapon with both hands
(bab) make addtional attacks with the now two-hander at the normal -2.
What say you all?
Yes, I know it's more cheese, but does it fit the rules as writen?
Say a character (magus) has a bastard sword (one-handed exotic, two-hand martial) that he wishes to use in a round with spell combate and spell strike; what are his choices?
If he's proficient, he can use the bastard sword in one hand for the entirety of the full-round action to use Spell Combat. Once he's no longer using Spell Combat, he can do whatever he normally could do, including grasping the weapon with both hands.
If he's not proficient, he can't wield it in one hand at all, even if he wanted to take a non-proficiency penalty, thus he couldn't use Spell Combat. (Treat non-proficient bastard sword just like a normal two-handed weapon)
2. spell combate needs a free hand so when he casts he needs to have it in one hand. Thus, he uses spell strike to dish out the spell with one hand not two.
He needs it in one hand for the entirety of the full-round action to use Spell Combat.
3. He may then use a free action to regrasp his weapon to deal the additional str dmg for his additional attacks. (even if he misses with the spell strike and has to spellstrike with two hands then next attack ).
Since the iterative attacks are part of Spell Combat, he still needs a hand free.
Jason said the intent was to keep the Magus confined to one-handed weapons.He was likely referring only to Spell Combat.
But a Magus could still wield his one-handed weapon with two hands in a round when he doesn't want to use Spell Combat, couldn't he?Of course.
Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing
What? When did he do that? Thanks for the update.
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When did he do that?
Sep 21, 2010, 06:25 PM.
;)
What? When did he do that? Thanks for the update.Jason said the intent was to keep the Magus confined to one-handed weapons.He was likely referring only to Spell Combat.
But a Magus could still wield his one-handed weapon with two hands in a round when he doesn't want to use Spell Combat, couldn't he?Of course.
Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing
You could click the link in Grick's post :)
Ok, got it, FRA.
Makes since to me.
Two-handed only in rounds where he's not casting a spell.
thanks again for the clerification.
ttfn
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a mutigen for strength and a few extra low level spells + brew potion isnt anything to scoff at.
i wouldnt say "Just a note: this is not worth two levels of alchemist".
You might not say so, but I do.
First of all, you're delaying magus levels; this means a lower caster level, fewer magus spells (the ones that you're getting the extra arm to cast), and fewer magus arcana.
Second of all, there was the above point that the strength mutagen gives a penalty to intelligence. Not only that, but two levels of alchemist means you've got that buff for twenty minutes. Woo.
Third, you are actually only gaining +1 to hit while you have that mutagen up, because the two levels of alchemist sapped you of a point of BAB. When the mutagen isn't up, you're actually at a net -1 to hit.
In return, you get a bunch of low level spells you can already mostly cast (while you do pick up cure light wounds, infernal healing makes for a better patch up wand anyway) and Brew freaking Potion.
Just say no to pointless multiclassing.