Using sorcerer / duskblade spell rules for a magus?


Advice


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I'm looking at joining a new group playing pathfinder but i've only played 3.5 before.

One of my favourite classes was the duskblade and while researching how to convert them to pathfinder i saw someone suggest magus instead.

The magus class looks pretty much the same as the duskblade except for their usage of wizard style prepared spells instead of duskblade/sorcerer style known spells.

I've seen the eldritch scion archetype but it means switching from int-based to charisma based which doesn't fit my "monster researcher" theme that i want to use (he tries to encounter as many different creatures as possible so that he can catalogue and research them). It also trades off a lot of spells (using the bard spell progression) in exchange for extra character features that i don't want to use.

Can anyone see any significant problems or exploits that would occur if i were to approach my GM about using sorcerer spell mechanics instead of wizard?

I would need to adjust the spells per day in line with the wizard vs sorcerer spell progression (sorcerers get spells 1 level later than wizards) or adjust the duskblade progression slightly but that shouldn't be too hard to tweak.

Grand Lodge

Archeologist Bard might be better.


I'm not in favor of adjusting an existing class with a bunch of houserules to make it fit your concept, especially when existing classes can do it. So the eldrich scion casts off cha...so what? You can still have a decent int too, unless you're using a really low point buy.

If you're insistent upon an int based spontaneous gish...then...

For you I'd suggest a wildblooded archetype sage sorcerer. Spontaneous casting based off int. Take a martial level. Prestige into eldrich knight. Bam. You have what you're asking for without superfluous house rules and customizing.


archeologist bard would still be charisma based (for casting) but with a rogueish bent.

im not sure what the point buy will be yet so i don't know if i can afford to spread over int and cha. If it's high i guess i could take eldritch and adjust the concept to being a face character with a lesser interest in monsters as a hobby.

I'd really prefer to avoid multiclassing and level dips as much as possible though

I just realised that i was comparing the magus/bard spell progression wrong as i was looking at 0 level spells which the bard table didn't have so that made the table for magus seem to progress faster and have more per-day spells

thanks for the advice


thegreenteagamer wrote:

I'm not in favor of adjusting an existing class with a bunch of houserules to make it fit your concept, especially when existing classes can do it. So the eldrich scion casts off cha...so what? You can still have a decent int too, unless you're using a really low point buy.

If you're insistent upon an int based spontaneous gish...then...

For you I'd suggest a wildblooded archetype sage sorcerer. Spontaneous casting based off int. Take a martial level. Prestige into eldrich knight. Bam. You have what you're asking for without superfluous house rules and customizing.

You could have that wildblood as an add-on to the bloodline the eldritch scion gets. Say, replace the first level arcana.

I mean, I guess if you don't just go ahead and say "Eldritch scion is kinda eeeeeeh anyway, I'm fine with keeping it INT based" you wouldn't do that, but It's kinda dirty calling something the player wants but the game doesn't provide as "superflous houserule".


What about taking the Eldritch Scion archetype and then doing a one level dip into Lore Oracle? You could take the Lore Keeper revelation to use your Charisma modifier to knowledges instead of Intelligence, and later even consider taking Sidestep Secret through Extra Revelation?

There's tons of ways to make up the loss of skill points if that's another thing holding you back. There's a feat that let's you take hit points -and- the skill point increase from a favored class, Finding Haleen (if your DM allows... seems like everybody is looking for Haleen if there's no campaign trait restriction!)
Depending on what level your game goes up to and how much gold you're willing to spend... I had a player take Craft Wondrous Item and make a bunch of the Intelligence ioun stones (4000 gold to make) and choose a different knowledge skill to max out with each one.
The Intelligence bonuses didn't stack but she considered it a good trade given her high level gp limit and being able to make knowledge checks on every monster.


For research it doesn't matter that the bard isn't int based. Bardic knowledge class feature gives you +1 to ALL knowledge checks per level so you'll do better than any int caster. At first level let's assume the wizard has an int bonus of 5 and you've got one of 1. At first level you're sporting a +6 to all 8 knowledges and you still have 2 skill points to spare (if you put your favoured class to skill instead of health), the wiz has +9 to all 8 only if he uses his favoured class point. At level 2 you'll have +8 and he'll have +10. At level 4 you catch up with both of you having 12 and you're gold from there because you get 2 points per level to his 1 point.

As for spontanious casting as a magus check out the Spell Recall ability. It's fantastic, give the class a very spontanious feel. It's like you know any spells you want and at the start of the day you prepare your "spells known"


Archaeologist is a great option for a studious character. Even with a modest INT, you've got tons of skill points and bonuses to all knowledge skills. One skill point in each gives you a +4, then you get half your class level added as a bonus, then the int mod. Even if you can't spend a skill point on each right away, you can use them untrained, which is more than you can say about most classes.

Alternatively, and I list archaeologist first because I'm in love with it, you can be an Inquisitor. It's divine and you worship a deity, but it's a Wisdom based spontaneous caster who gets to add Wisdom to knowledge rolls to identify monsters and their weaknesses. It's also kinda super powerful of a class. Depending on how you flavor it though, and which deity you worship, it could still match your flavor remarkably well.


Aaand... since I'm an idiot and can't figure out how to edit my earlier post...
You could always try Arcane Trickster with the above mentioned suggestions in order to rack up some decent skill points.


There's a 3rd party feat called Spell Finesse that let's you switch which mental stat your spellcasting is based on.


The Eldritch Scion is a hate crime against Magus fans.

You don't want to deal with extended casting times for metamagic'ed spells anyway, believe me. It's annoying for a full caster, but it kills your Spell Combat class feature.

Just...go with a fixed memorization list instead of changing it every day.


Lots of things to think about, and i'm still toying with different character concepts.

Thanks for all the advice everyone

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