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Why was ranged spellstrike not errata'd? The archetype got other errata, but not for the archetype's most appealing ability that's unusable as written.
At 4th level, a myrmidarch can use spellstrike to cast a single-target touch attack ranged spell and deliver it through a ranged weapon attack. Even if the spell can normally affect multiple targets, only a single missile, ray, or effect accompanies the attack. At 11th level, a myrmidarch using a multiple-target spell with this ability may deliver one ray or line of effect with each attack when using a full-attack action, up to the maximum allowed by the spell (in the case of ray effects). Any effects not used in the round the spell is cast are lost.
This ability replaces spell recall and improved spell recall.
1) Magus already spent a standard action to cast the spell and the effect wears off after the round.
2) Spell combat only works with melee attacks.
3) Spell combat is a full round action, not a full attack action.
RAI isn't clear though. Are you suggesting that the Myrmydarch is supposed to be able to use spellcombat with ranged weapons? From level 1, or do they only gain this ability at 11th level? Can they do it with any spell, or only with ray spells? Can they do this with bows, or do they have to abide by the normal "one hand free" restriction (and thus can only use this ability with thrown weapons)? Furthermore, why is this information even in the spellstrike entry and not in the spell combat entry?
Frankly, there are million subtly different ways to interpret the RAI on this ability and none of them seems quite right. The only thing that is certain is that by RAW the ability does nothing.
That's my point entirely. RAI isn't clear and RAW it does not work at all. I personally believe it was intended that the ability allows you to cast a line or ranged touch attack spell as a full round action to deliver more than one ray/line effect through weapon attacks as if making a full attack action.
I think the RAI is that the Myrmidarch uses handaxes or daggers. But given the crappy range of throwable melee weapons, it's more or less pointless to ever actually use the ranged spellstrike option over just casting the ranged touch spells directly at an enemy.
While certainly thin justification, the fluff description from UCombat reads as follows: "The myrmidarch is a skilled specialist, using magic to supplement and augment his martial mastery. Less inclined to mix the two than a typical magus, the myrmidarch seeks supremacy with blade, bow, and armor", which seems to imply that bows would be one of the qualifying weapons for their class features.
Reading the Ranged Spellstrike ability: "At 4th level, a myrmidarch can use spellstrike to cast a single-target touch attack ranged spell and deliver it through a ranged weapon attack."
Would it be more clear if you replaced "spellstrike" with "spell combat"?
Probably. Myrmadarch is supposed to be the ranged magus right?
Kinda. Think less "Wizard who picked up a sword" and think more "Fighter with a bit of magic".
It would be really nice if the Myrmidarch got to use Spell Combat with a ranged weapon: cast a spell then fire your bow.
Also, are most people interpreting the text "single-target touch attack ranged spell" to mean "a single-target spell that uses a ranged touch attack"? As written, that wording has no in-game definition, and "ranged" could modify either "attack" or "spell". (I actually suspect it's an editing artifact more than anything else.)
I don't think being able to spell combat with ranged weapons is the intention. That would be insanely powerful and probably why no true ranged magus has been developed. The need to melee full attack while casting a spell in melee range balances spell combat. A ranged specialist can full attack all the time and don't risk attacks of opportunity.
Reading the ranged spellstrike ability also makes me think it was written by someone who did not grasp the mechanics of spellstrike -- like they assumed you would get a free action attack as you would with a touch spell.
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For me it seems "rather" clear:
When you get ranged spellstrike you can make a ranged weapon attack instead of a ranged touch attack from the spell (similar to spellstrike but at range).
From Level 11 on you can make multiple ranged weapon attacks to deliver multiple rays from the spell.
Example: You cast a scorching ray. At Level 11 it has 3 rays thus you can shoot three arrows, one for each ray. And each arrow that hits deals normal damage + scorching ray damage.
This is a special of ranged spellstrike that seems to work similar to spellcombat but really is something unique.
In other words: From level 11 on the myrmidarch can do what he promises from the beginning. It's just that you can't add all those archery feats like rapid shot, manyshot and the like because you are not making a full attack but a ranged spellstrike.
The 4th level ability works if you interpret the RAI as allowing you to make a ranged attack as a free action in the same round as you cast the ranged attack spell. That's reading a fair bit into the text that isn't there, but otherwise it would only work with quickened spells.
The RAI of the 11th level ability only works if you interpret it as allowing you to use spell combat with a ranged weapon, other than a Melee/ranged like a dagger, on those occasions when you are casting a ranged spell through it. However this opens the question as to whether this is the only situation in which you can use spell combat with a ranged weapon that is not also a light or onehanded melee weapon, or, as with standard spell combat, you can cast any spell you want regardless of whether it is going to be delivered through your weapon as per Spellstrike or not. Either way, this would read even more into the text than is there, and again the alternative is only working on quickened spells.
Now, mind you, quickened spells aren't impossible. If the magus has traits or feats to reduce how much metamagic increases the level of her favorite spells, at level 10, she can start quickening level 1 spells. All two of them. One of which is ray of enfeeblement, which does no HP damage and isn't terribly effective at this level, and the other is Snowball, which is in a splatbook and hit a damage cap levels ago, and which does energy damage that many things at this level are immune to.
Note that Magi do have the option to qualify for Spell Perfection - that would sidestep the Quickened Spell problem.
Overall this is a rather badly worded class feature, which in turn is probably why people don't play Myrmidarchs, which in turn is probably why it wasn't errataed.
The 4th level ability works if you interpret the RAI as allowing you to make a ranged attack as a free action in the same round as you cast the ranged attack spell. That's reading a fair bit into the text that isn't there
It's the same as spellstrike allowing you to make a weapon attack instead of a free touch attack. To cast shocking grasp and deliver it via spellstrike you do not need spell combat, only spellstrike. Only if you want to make normal weapon attacks in addition to free attacks you need it.
The RAI of the 11th level ability only works if you interpret it as allowing you to use spell combat with a ranged weapon, other than a Melee/ranged like a dagger, on those occasions when you are casting a ranged spell through it.
Again, this assumption is wrong. At level 11 the ranged spellstrike allows you to substitute your free ranged touch attacks from spells with ranged weapon attacks. You would only need spell combat if you wanted top make normal ranged weapon attacks in addition to substituting the free ranged touch attacks.
The archetype is weak until level 11 but apart from that it works RAW and RAI.
That's my point entirely. RAI isn't clear and RAW it does not work at all. I personally believe it was intended that the ability allows you to cast a line or ranged touch attack spell as a full round action to deliver more than one ray/line effect through weapon attacks as if making a full attack action.
+1 to your whole post. Absent clear text, that seems to be a good way to interpret it. It's probably how I would do it for my house game.
The 4th level ability works if you interpret the RAI as allowing you to make a ranged attack as a free action in the same round as you cast the ranged attack spell. That's reading a fair bit into the text that isn't thereIt's the same as spellstrike allowing you to make a weapon attack instead of a free touch attack. To cast shocking grasp and deliver it via spellstrike you do not need spell combat, only spellstrike. Only if you want to make normal weapon attacks in addition to free attacks you need it.
The RAI of the 11th level ability only works if you interpret it as allowing you to use spell combat with a ranged weapon, other than a Melee/ranged like a dagger, on those occasions when you are casting a ranged spell through it.Again, this assumption is wrong. At level 11 the ranged spellstrike allows you to substitute your free ranged touch attacks from spells with ranged weapon attacks. You would only need spell combat if you wanted top make normal ranged weapon attacks in addition to substituting the free ranged touch attacks.
The archetype is weak until level 11 but apart from that it works RAW and RAI.
Sorry Umbranus, but with regards to the 11th level ability you're missing the point:
It's the action economy: casting a spell is a standard action (usually). The ability says "when you take a full attack", which is a full-round action.
How do you cast a spell (standard action) and take a full attack (full-round action) in the same turn? Your explanation of "substituting the free ranged touch attacks for weapon attacks" doesn't make sense, because it doesn't address the fact that you can't cast a spell AND take a full attack in the same turn. Unless you're using spell combat, of course... but that point has already been addressed.
You are right, I really missed this part. So for the 11th level part is really doesn't work as written.
I, like you, have to agree that Cyrad seems to have it right with the intention.
But the 4th level ability works without spell combat.
It would be good, but not actually that great. A lot of the good spells a magus uses are touch spells, not raysI don't think being able to spell combat with ranged weapons is the intention. That would be insanely powerful and probably why no true ranged magus has been developed. The need to melee full attack while casting a spell in melee range balances spell combat. A ranged specialist can full attack all the time and don't risk attacks of opportunity.
Oh, I meant that if you could spell combat with any spell and a ranged weapon, that would be insanely powerful because you would basically be an archer that can cast quickened spells for free when he full attacks. Spell combat's action economy advantage is balanced because you need to be in melee range to benefit from it. I was merely pointing out this is probably why no true ranged magus archetype exists. However, that's out of the context of this discussion. Admittedly, it would be nice to have an archetype that lets you channel spells through ranged attacks (not a fan of arcane archer), but sadly the broken Myrmidarch is the best we got.