Kat Tenser |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
So, I was looking at the Kensai Magus last night. I am interested in making one, but with less "eastern mystic swordmaster" and more "western magic using fencer".
Basically, i want to take Dervish Dance, and re-flavor the scimitar as a sabre/saber (whichever spelling you prefer) and make the character as armor-less fencing swordsman, who uses magic to augment his otherwise less than excellent combat ability.
Here is a proposed build...
20 point buy, Human
STR 10
DEX 16(18)
CON 12
INT 16
WIS 10
CHA 8
traits:
magical lineage: shocking grasp
wayang spellhunter: shocking grasp
1 Finesse
1 Arcane Strike
(1) Weapon Focus: scimitar (sabre)
3 Dervish Dance
5 Intensified Spell
7 Weapon Specialization: scimitar (sabre)
9 Improved Critical
11 Extra Arcana
13 Lunge
15 Toughness
Magus Arcana:
3 Arcane Accuracy
6 Spell Shield
9 X
12 Spell Blending
15 Arcana Edge/Ghost Blade??
Magus Feats:
5 Combat Reflexes
11 Quicken Spell
Spells:
1: Color Spray, Expeditious Retreat, Grease, Obscuring Mist, Ray of Enfeeblement, Vanish, SHOCKING GRASP
2: Bears Endurance, Cat's Grace, Frigid Touch, Glitterdust, Mirror Image, Pyrotechnics, Web, Scorching Ray (Maybe)
3: Fly, Force Hook Charge, Haste, Keen Edge, Ray of Exhaustion, Vampiric Touch, Slow, Stinking Cloud
4: Black Tentacles, Dimension Door, Invisibility, Greater, Stone Skin, Ice Storm
5: Cloudkill, Corrosive Consumption, Overland Flight, Teleport, Wall of Force, Wall of Stone
Obviously I will spend quite a bit of money on DEX and INT boosting items, seeing as that I don't wear armor, and that's where all my AC comes from, as well as damage and bonus spells: Definitely necessary since Kensai loses one spell/level.
So yeah... IF anyone has any advice, insight, or suggestions, I would love to hear them!
Thanks guys!
Cheapy |
Gee willikers! It's the same magus as 95% of all other magus. And taking two traits that do the same thing! Has anyone come up with a cookie cutter build for these guys yet? May as well cut to the chase because every build for magi on the boards revolves around the same feats and traits.
Arcane Edge would be a good fit for 9th level arcana, as it fits the theme of the precise swordsman.
galahad2112 |
Many folks will tell you not to bother with Arcane Strike, as you should be using Arcane Accuracy. Personally, I feel that it's a mixed bag, in that you're only getting a very small bump to damage, so it's not all that hot, and when you DO use AA, you're not using AS. However, Arcane pool points are not overly abundant. There are a few ways to boost your pool, but I like to focus on being able to consistently hit, and use AA only when I'm having trouble hitting my target. Also, there's the fact that you don't even get AA until 3rd, which is also when you get Dervish Dance, so your damage will be lagging. However, we're talking about the difference between 1d6 vs 1d6+1. Once you hit lv. 3, 1d6+4 vs. 1d6+5. either way, it's not a huge thing. I'd think that Improved Initiative would serve you better, and it will ALWAYS be helpful.
I take it that you're using both traits for shocking grasp so that at 11th level you can quicken and intensify as a 3rd lv. spell? If that's the case, why not take heighten spell, so that at lv. 15 you can grab spell perfection, and use a 1st level slot?
Also, just taking elf would be better, as your stats would be basically the same, except that you'll have +2 to your wis. You'll also get some free weapon proficiencies (longbow, I'm looking at you!). However, the major kicker is their alternate favored class bonus gets them 1/6th of a new Magus arcana. Since you're looking at getting the extra arcana feat at level 11, wouldn't it be better to just have 2 extra arcanas at lv 12?
galahad2112 |
@ Cheapy
Yeah, Arcane Edge would fit fairly thematically. Of course, I'm sure that he'll probably end up taking Critical Perfection, seeing as how that's what Kensai gets at lv. 9 instead of their 9th level arcana...
Also, there's no need to berate the OP for making a build that fits his character concept. Just because it's in the shape of a snowman or Christmas tree doesn't mean that it's not valid. Personally, I don't care for the Dervish Magus build, as it IS almost all that I see on the boards.
Kat Tenser |
Gee willikers! It's the same magus as 95% of all other magus. And taking two traits that do the same thing! Has anyone come up with a cookie cutter build for these guys yet? May as well cut to the chase because every build for magi on the boards revolves around the same feats and traits.
Arcane Edge would be a good fit for 9th level arcana, as it fits the theme of the precise swordsman.
Yeah I know. I guess you should have chimed in onmy thread last week about trying to make a dex based magus that DIDN'T involve dervish dance. In any case, it's this or strength based, which basically looks the same. I honestly don't like it either, but it's a class I haven't played yet, and is one of the few where dexterity isn't basically discouraged.
I hate it too, to reiterate. Im trying to make up for the sameness (lameness) by flavouring it as more western.It also looks as though I should drop wayang spell hunter trait; I dislike cheese.
Darkon Slayer |
40 point buy, Elf (Arcane Focus)
STR 14
DEX 16(18)
CON 11(13)
INT 18(20)
WIS 12
CHA 13
traits:
Barroom Talespinner (Perform)
Killer
1 Finesse
(1) Weapon Focus: scimitar
3 Dervish Dance
5 Breath of Experience
Magus Arcana:
6 Arcane Accuracy
Magus Feats:
5 Defensive Combat Training
Spells:
1: Magic missile, Shield, Shocking Grasp, , True Strike, Vanish, Color Spray, Obscuring Mist, Burning hands, Mirror Strike, Feather Fall, Warding Weapon, Shock Shield
2: Cat's Grace, Frigid Touch, Glitterdust, Scorching Ray, Spider Climb, Levitate, (from scroll: Invisibility)
My build so far, we just made 5th level, I try not to plan my characters out cause I hate being type cast in my builds.
Cult of Vorg |
Dervish Dance builds are devotees of Sarenrae, not eastern mystics, as a default flavor. Reskinning the weapon is a problem if game is in Golarion, either way you're basing it on a GM house-rule to allow it.
I think it would fit your flavor more to suck up the lame damage without it, unless your GM is a pro-finesse activist who's ok with that reskin.
Possibly drop Dex or Int to afford Str-13, as using magic to augment otherwise lesser combat abilities could be better represented by power attack plus an accuracy arcana (or the +4 to hit metal with SG).
With Aldori you could 2H + power attack to make up some damage on rounds where you're not using SpellCombat (and since Kensai gives up Spell Recall, you won't have the same unlimitted SGs that a straight Magus does).
If it's a western style fencer you're looking for, why have the Wayang training mixed in?
(EDIT: I took way too long to type this stuff.)
LazarX |
my Bladebound Kensia isn't specializing in shocking grasp :P
Mine is, but she's using a Katana. She's one hundred percent Dervish free. and she's balanced her physical stats between sTr, dex, and con with Elvish reflexes giving her a minor init boost. (She's half-elven) When she gets further in level though she'll have fun with lightning and firesnake.
Matt2VK |
Is Kensai as a archtype really worth grabbing over the base Magus class?
I'm also working on building a Magus and at first I was looking at the Kensai. My opinion, what it gives does not equal what it takes away. My best Kensai build so far (that uses the Kensai abilities to the fullest) has been a Bastard Sword, Strength build.
I can understand grabbing it for flavor reasons but it faces some serious drawbacks.
(1) MAD stats. Need DEX & INT for AC, CON for Health, and a decent STR.
(2) Low AC for being a front line melee type. (Did some rough comparisons with fighter & Rogue types.
(3) Low Health for a front line. (You do a maga-damage burst on someone and you'll have a big target pained on you if you don't drop them.
I really like the idea behind the Kensai. I just see him as a resource healing sponge.
Bertious |
Human Dual Talent
Kensai 5
Hp 44 Ac 23 (+4 Armor, +5 Dex, +4 Int, ) to 19, ff 15
F +5 R +6 W +4
Str 1 11 11
Dex 7 16 +1 lvl 4 +2 race +2 magic 20
Con 2 12 12
Int 10 16 +2 race 18
Wis 0 10 10
Cha 0 10 10
Pool 8
Skills
Spellcraft 5 13
Survival 5 9
Know Arcana 5 13
Craft Weapon 3 10
Know Dungeon 5 12
Know Planes 5 12
Climb 1 4
Swim 1 4
Traits:
Student of Natambu (+1 spell craft & Know arcana)
Poverty Stricken (Survival +1)
Magus Spells
Lvl 0 (all)Acid Splash, Disrupt Undead, Ray of Frost, Mage Hand, Light
Lvl 1 5/Day Mage Armor, Burning Disarm, Shocking Grasp, Reduce Person, Magic Missle, Ray of Enfeeblement, Shield, Vanish, Frostbite, Infernal Healing, Burning Hands, Mount, Unseen Servant
Lvl 2 3/day Frigid Touch, Glitterdust, Scorching Ray, Bladed Dash, Mirror Image
Lvl 1 Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus Terbutja, Exotic Weapon Terbutja,
Lvl 2
Lvl 3 Arcana Close Range, Extra Arcane Pool
Lvl 4
Lvl 5 Extra Arcana Spell Blending (mage armor + burning disarm) , Craft Arms + Armor
+1 Agile Terbutja 04335gp (+10 or +8/+8 1d8+6 (19-20/x2)(can add keen + 1d6 elemental))
+2 Dex Belt 04000gp
2x lvl 1 pearl of power 02000gp
10335gp
Terbutja- A Terbutja is a slightly modified Terbutje making it an exotic weapon and able to be used with the Weapon Finesse feat
Black Powder Chocobo RPG Superstar 2015 Top 16 |
Heh, I'm thinking of going a stranger route that is somewhat similar to what you're planning.
Arena Bred Half-orc Kensai Magus
Str 12
Dex 16
Con 12
Int 14+2
Wis 12
Cha 9
Traits:
Osirion (Tomb Raider), so Perception is a class skill
Focused Mind (debating something else)
Feats/Progression:
1(b): Exotic Weapon Prof: Scorpion Whip
1(b): Weapon Focus: Scoprion Whip
1(g): Weapon Finesse
3(g): Whip Mastery
5(b): Intensified Spell
5(g): Extra Arcana (Spell Blending) For Mage Armor, Touch of Gracelessness
7(g): Improved Whip Mastery
9(g): Weapon Specialization (Scorpion Whip)
10(b): Combat Reflexes
Arcana:
3: Familiar
6: Arcane Accuracy
12: ??
Haven't thought end game, but thought this would be an interesting build at the least.
Kieviel |
Make a staff Magus that is battle field control focus your party will love you .
I can't agree with this enough. I ran one in our most recent campaign (until a tpk)and between buffs and tripping with an insane trip CMB i had a lot of fun. Heck, even my AC was the highest in the party. It took getting surrounded by 4 mummies to finally take me out.
jerrycoke |
qutoes wrote:I can't agree with this enough. I ran one in our most recent campaign (until a tpk)and between buffs and tripping with an insane trip CMB i had a lot of fun. Heck, even my AC was the highest in the party. It took getting surrounded by 4 mummies to finally take me out.Make a staff Magus that is battle field control focus your party will love you .
That sounds interesting. Could you post / PM me that build please?
Jodokai |
qutoes wrote:I can't agree with this enough. I ran one in our most recent campaign (until a tpk)and between buffs and tripping with an insane trip CMB i had a lot of fun. Heck, even my AC was the highest in the party. It took getting surrounded by 4 mummies to finally take me out.Make a staff Magus that is battle field control focus your party will love you .
I would love to see that build also, sounds like a lot of fun.
LazarX |
Is Kensai as a archtype really worth grabbing over the base Magus class?
It's not "better" it's a different style. You essentially do less casting for more melee tricks. My magus isn't a kensai, but she's going bladebound.
GeneticDrift |
GeneticDrift wrote:What do you mean "never roll damage"?The build I want to make work is a bastard sword never roll damage build. To bad aldori duling sword or scimitar build is so much better in theory land.
It's been a while since I looked at it. But there are two abilities. One i believe is a Kensai ability to maximize melee damage and the other is a feat measured response, where you do average damage instead of rolling.