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I had an idea for a magus build a while back that uses elven curve blade, weapons finesse (even though I don't particularly like that feat) and spellstrikes, but I couldn't find a way to get around the one free hand to cast with. Then, when i was looking at the alchemist, I noticed the discovery
Vestigial Arm (Ex): The alchemist gains a new arm (left or right) on his torso. The arm is fully under his control and cannot be concealed except with magic or bulky clothing. The arm does not give the alchemist any extra attacks or actions per round, though the arm can wield a weapon and make attacks as part of the alchemist's attack routine (using two-weapon fighting). The arm can manipulate or hold items as well as the alchemist's original arms (for example, allowing the alchemist to use one hand to wield a weapon, another hand to hold a potion, and the third hand to throw a bomb). The arm has its own “hand” and “ring” magic item slots (though the alchemist can still only wear two rings and two hand magic items at a time). An alchemist may take this discovery up to two times.
So I thought making an alchemist2/magus18, or lower magus depending on what level I start, that has vestigial arm and does this with feats later on like imp. crit. elven curve blade.
I know multiclassing is HIGHLY unrecommended, but I was wondering if making an Alchemagus, if you will, that uses bombs as AOEs for battlefield control and then dex mutagen and reduce person and similar dex boosters, then magus, possibly kensai, for melee combat and enhancing my blade to do elemental damage. I'm thinking tiefling for the race (so I can get prehinsile tail trait) and was wondering if anyone thought this might be a good idea. Also open to different builds for this.
Interesting idea. Looks like it would work. You definitely won't be overpowered. You'll be unique, but you might be frusterated by your effectiveness, especially at mid-levels where you will be BaB and Caster Level behind the rest of the party.
This character concept might be better in a Gestalt game.
Remember, you will be able to use Spellstrike with a two-handed weapon, but not Spell Combat:
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.
Magus: When using spell combat, do I specifically have to use the weapon in my other hand, or can I use a mixture of weapons (such as armor spikes and bites) so long as my casting hand remains free?
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You specifically have to use the light or one-handed melee weapon in your other hand.
You will be limited to 1 attack per round when you cast a spell in that round.
Much of the damage from a magus comes from spellcombat with touch attack damage spell (intensified shocking grasp being the most famous example) as a full action.If it's just about wielding a big weapon, yes it would work.
But you could also use the vestigial arm to cast your magus spells and go wield 2 light weapons: two-weapon fighting... and you still get to Spell Combat with one of your two light weapons when you cast a touch spell in a given round.
Side-note: unarmed strikes and claws work with spell combat...
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Yes, so long as the weapon is a light or one-handed melee weapon and is associated with that hand. For example, unarmed strikes, claws, and slams are light melee weapons associated with a hand, and therefore are valid for use with spell combat. A tail slap is not associated with a hand, and therefore is not valid for use with spell combat.
If you're mainly focused on the One Big Weapon, can I suggest getting Exotic Proficiency: Bastard Sword to wield one as a one-handed weapon? Fluff it as a curve blade if you want.
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If you're mainly focused on the One Big Weapon, can I suggest getting Exotic Proficiency: Bastard Sword to wield one as a one-handed weapon? Fluff it as a curve blade if you want.
Eh, bastard swords do the same damage but have a lower threat range. I'm going for being able to get to a 15-20/x2 crit range. Bastard Swords are great for some magus builds, but this one focuses on to-handing weapons.
Interesting idea. Looks like it would work. You definitely won't be overpowered. You'll be unique, but you might be frusterated by your effectiveness, especially at mid-levels where you will be BaB and Caster Level behind the rest of the party.
Won't be frustrated by effectiveness. I will actually have the highest attack mod of all the melee focused characters. Our party is mainly defensive focused, so I'm actually bringing the heaviest hitter.
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You will be limited to 1 attack per round when you cast a spell in that round.Magus: When using spell combat, do I specifically have to use the weapon in my other hand, or can I use a mixture of weapons (such as armor spikes and bites) so long as my casting hand remains free?
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You specifically have to use the light or one-handed melee weapon in your other hand.
I think the GM will houserule this away for this purpose. He seems OK with the idea, though he thinks its rather stupid (he doesn't like the magus class, or multiclassing).
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I'd you can start with 4 free levels of exp, go for it. If you have to earn those levels, then ask yourself if you are really willing to wait that long to get your combo?
2/18 is gonna make hitting early career tough. It would take at least six levels to do a second level spell, eight to do both 2nd level extracts and spells. Usually it is.vest to focus on one spelll list and have better/higher level spells or extracts. Those bombs would also be much weaker.
Both classes are feat starved but both have many good feat selections to choose from.
My last character did exactly what you are trying to do. The answer is easy: use a katana with the kensai archetype so you don't have to waist a feat on proficiency. Then you CAN take 2lvls of alchemist if you want for the extra hand (2 extra if you take the feat extra discovery) but it isn't nessesary because you can weild a katana as a 2h weapon for the 1-1/2 star and let go with off hand as a free action so your casting hand is still free. But with 4 arms you can TWF with 2 katana and still spell combat. Katana is a 18-20x2 crit D8 DMG weapon that is a 1h weapon if you have the proficiency for it, so it works with spell combat.
shimesen is on the right track- regardless of whether you go katana or curve blade, if you're going to do this spend the feat for a 4th arm. as per the rules quoted by kyoni you can only make your spellstrike/spell combat bonus attack with a light or one handed weapon. you could (i think) technically do this with 3 hands by 2-handing a one hander (like the katana) then switching to 1-handing as a free action before using your 3rd hand to cast, but that's kind of sketchy. if you have 4 hands you can wield a curve blade in 2-hands and then use hand 3 to cast and hand 4 for a light weapon (which will automatically be usable with weapon finesse, and not garner any more attack penalties) to use for spellstrike/ spell combat.
Why go for a Dex build if you're going out of your way to use a two-handed weapon and aren't going to Dervish Dance? Assuming you have a base 18 Strength, you'll have a total of 24 Strength from mutagen and enlarge person. You'll be doing 1d8+10 damage...and that's without Power Attack and arcane pool. The mutagen's natural armor bonus also offsets the less AC you have from a Strength build.
You don't need to Kensai for high crit exotic weapons. Be a Half Elf and take ancestral arms alternate trait. Or, you be a human and use your bonus feat on EWP. You were going to burn a feat on Weapon Finesse, so why not?