As RAI has arcane deed (precise strike) killed the staff magus?


Advice


Always liked the staff magus, figured works great with eltrich scion (destined) for amazing 2H hits,saves and AC.

Then realized no precise strike(the best arcana) with staves.

Pretty much kills the build in the same book that made it or am I missing something?


1 person marked this as a favorite.

RAW it can work, if you have Weapon Versatility. Using that and changing the damage to piercing would allow a staff to qualify, although naturally you'd have to be using it one-handed through Quarterstaff Master and not ever use it two-handed to get the benefit.


Sweet. (edit: not sweet its not a paizo source..humbug)

Now if only I had a time machine and a modify memory spell.

Whoever made the eldritch scion incompatible with elemental knight needs a brain rearrangement
(or the elemental knight incompatible with most everything perhaps).

Such a sweet combo, it would basically make the elemental knight work and is a story board shoe-in for some of the bloodlines.

http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/advancedRaceGuide/uncommonRaces/sulis.ht ml


What? Weapon Versatility is a Paizo source, it's from a campaign setting book. I think you meant "core". It's even PFS-compatible.


Sweet.(just didn't recognize).

Silver Crusade

Precise Strike isn't a bad arcana choice, even if I would argue that flamboyant arcane is better, but frankly it is not always amazing.
It is worth remembering, that it won't work on a creature that is immune to sneak attack, and that two handed strikes are no option.


insaneogeddon wrote:

Always liked the staff magus, figured works great with eltrich scion (destined) for amazing 2H hits,saves and AC.

Then realized no precise strike(the best arcana) with staves.

Pretty much kills the build in the same book that made it or am I missing something?

I hadn't realized that Eldritch Scion was compatible with Staff Magus. Nice!


I think what killed the Staff Magus was the fact that you can't effectively critfish with a quarterstaff, and so, your only effective build option is debuffing.

And isn't the Elemental Knight kind of terrible? I think it's good that it doesn't mix, so, people don't accidentally take it thinking that it isn't a waste of time.

Eldritch Scion is pretty awful, too, but I think that's well known.


Elemental Knight would be good if it either wasn't tied to a race that has the exact opposite stats needed for a Magus, OR, stacked with Eldritch Scion.

As long as you use Assault synergy on things like chill touch, or Fiery Shuriken (basically, things that hit a lot of times) it's quite a nice DPS boost.


Ashram wrote:
RAW it can work, if you have Weapon Versatility. Using that and changing the damage to piercing would allow a staff to qualify, although naturally you'd have to be using it one-handed through Quarterstaff Master and not ever use it two-handed to get the benefit.

OT but I'd say it's about time we got a feat like that.


Sebastian Hirsch wrote:


It is worth remembering, that it won't work on a creature that is immune to sneak attack, and that two handed strikes are no option.

Why are you two handing with a Magus anyway? Precise Strike is built for the same combat style that the Magus is, it's never a bad option.

mplindustries wrote:
Eldritch Scion is pretty awful, too, but I think that's well known.

I keep seeing this com up and every time I think what the hell Eldritch Scion is really good.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Ashram wrote:
RAW it can work, if you have Weapon Versatility. Using that and changing the damage to piercing would allow a staff to qualify, although naturally you'd have to be using it one-handed through Quarterstaff Master and not ever use it two-handed to get the benefit.

A Staff Magus generally uses his staff one-handed.


NikolaiJuno wrote:
mplindustries wrote:
Eldritch Scion is pretty awful, too, but I think that's well known.
I keep seeing this com up and every time I think what the hell Eldritch Scion is really good.

Could you explain your reasons for that opinion?


Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Eldritch Scions major faults come from mostly poor editing and metamagic not functioning with Spell Combat.

I like the concept of the archetype.


Yeah, the concept was fine. If it wasn't so, well, bad, I'd play it.


The biggest problem is that you have to burn through your Eldritch Pool to be able to use Spell Combat until 8th level. You have to burn 1 point for two rounds of focus. This is ridiculous, because no other Magus archetype has to use their Arcane Pool to be able to use one of the defining features of the class.

I understand the desire to use parts of one of the new hybrid classes, but it cripples the archetype until it reaches 8th level.


AZGrowler wrote:

The biggest problem is that you have to burn through your Eldritch Pool to be able to use Spell Combat until 8th level. You have to burn 1 point for two rounds of focus. This is ridiculous, because no other Magus archetype has to use their Arcane Pool to be able to use one of the defining features of the class.

I understand the desire to use parts of one of the new hybrid classes, but it cripples the archetype until it reaches 8th level.

sounds a lot like myrmidarch and that shield magus archetype. paizo loves making magus ATs that are useless until X level, apparently.


It also makes metamagic pointless due to being a spontaneous class. You can not do intensify+shocking grasp or rime spell+frostbite with spell combat due to them being a full-round with metamagic and also use spell combat.

Silver Crusade

Ashram wrote:
RAW it can work, if you have Weapon Versatility. Using that and changing the damage to piercing would allow a staff to qualify, although naturally you'd have to be using it one-handed through Quarterstaff Master and not ever use it two-handed to get the benefit.

I don't think it works that way. Wpn Vers. just allows you to deal p or s dmg with a b wpn, it doesn't change the base dmg type. Same with Quarterstaff Master. It allows you to use it one handed, but it is still a two handed wpn. Precise Strike needs it to be a light or one handed wpn BASE. Abilities that modify how it is used do not change the base type. If you can show me a rule that says otherwise though, awesome!


There's an FAQ saying that if some ability lets you "use a two handed weapon as if it was one handed" then it counts as a one handed weapon for other abilities (the most often cited example being power attack giving 2 bonus damage instead of 3).


LoneKnave wrote:

There's an FAQ saying that if some ability lets you "use a two handed weapon as if it was one handed" then it counts as a one handed weapon for other abilities (the most often cited example being power attack giving 2 bonus damage instead of 3).

weapon versatily doesn't change the weapon from bludeoning to slashing or piercing.

it lets you do slashing or piercing damage with your bludgeoning weapon.

it is similar to how a lance doesn't count as a one handed weapon when mounted but a two handed wielded in one hand.

so to clarify:
IF weapon versatility was worded as:
you can change a slashing weapon to be piercing or bludgeoning. (and etc)
then the faq would apply.

but since it is worded as:
you can use your bludgeoning weapon (and etc) to deal slashing (and etc) damage.
then it nver changes the fact that it is still actually a bludgeoning weapon. and it is exactly like how mounted lance used in one hand is worded (when mounted you can use your lance in one hand, notice that it never change the lance to a one handed weapon)

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Advice / As RAI has arcane deed (precise strike) killed the staff magus? All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.