The way of the small magus

[Goblin Wan Kenoblin]

Hey guys, i'm on a new creation for a party composed of:

- Paladin
- Cleric
- Summoner
- Cavalier
- Ranger

I'd like to do a Magus, small race(if possible), what do you suggest?

[Deighton Thrane]

Probably either wayang for the right ability scores (no str penalty), or a halfling for risky striker and 30 foot movement speed. Gripplis have a feat that allows them to make touch attacks with their tongue at 10 feet, which is kind of cool, but you'll be wanting to use spell combat when you can, so it's much better for other bad touch casters. Also, if the GM allows small sized tieflings or aasimars, I'd probably go with one of them (most likely standard tiefling).

EDIT- Guess I should also mention goblin, with 30 foot move speed and a +4 to dex, they can make excellent dex based melee combatants. But you also have to be in a campaign where playing a goblin is going to be acceptable.

[Pounce]

Seconding Halfling being a pretty decent option if going dex-based magus. Depending on your tastes, a 1-level dip in Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade) might ease out the lower levels, too.

[Goblin Wan Kenoblin]

thanks for advices!
So Goblin it's viable, and also small tiefling is really a nice idea!!
I'm wondering, how i should put points: INT>DEX>CON>STR>WIS>CHA ? that's the way?
And assuming i'll use (it makes sense) my DEX, how could i get DEX bonus to damage?

[Dyspeptic]

Goblin Wan Kenoblin wrote:

thanks for advices!

So Goblin it's viable, and also small tiefling is really a nice idea!!
I'm wondering, how i should put points: INT>DEX>CON>STR>WIS>CHA ? that's the way?
And assuming i'll use (it makes sense) my DEX, how could i get DEX bonus to damage?

One level dip into Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade Archetype)gives you Weapon Focus and Weapon Finesse when using a rapier, which would let you buy the feat Fencing Grace (Dex to Damage with rapiers).

Alternatively, you can just buy Weapon Finesse and 2 ranks of Perform(dance), then the Dervish Dance feat for Dex to damage with scimitars.

Or, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (in a one-handed slashing weapon) and the Slashing Grace feat.

[Markov Spiked Chain]

I really like the idea of taking a familiar and flying around on a Mauler Hawk from level 3. Maybe Beastblade, maybe not.

I think the big problem is figuring out how to get Dex online at the first few levels. Swashbuckler works well, particularly if you can retrain it later.

[Paladin of Baha-who?]

Dex higher than Int. You won't be relying on spell DCs.

[Goblin Wan Kenoblin]

Ook thanks again...
which is the best method of those you wrote?
-Rapier mode (seems the most flavourish)
-Scimitar mode
-Slashing mode

[Goblin Wan Kenoblin]

probably getting a longsword + weapon finesse + weapon focus + slashing grace is better?
Is it worth the d6 instead of d4?

[cnetarian]

Realistically longsword is off the table until level 5 so you have some time to figure it out, you could decide at level 3 by taking weapon focus then or can put it off and taking weapon focus & slashing grace at the same time at level 5. IIRC the increased crit chance of a 1d4/18-20X2 results in a greater average damage in the long run than 1d6/19-20X2 but I might be wrong as it is a long time since I've actually checked the math. Regardless of which weapon does more damage on average in the long run, I favor the increased critical chance with magni because it seems to increase the effective damage more (although this might just be an observer effect due to criticals with a spell doing outrageous damage).

[Pounce]

Just one small addition, it might be worth checking out the FCB's of the different races as a deciding factor.

Goblins / Wayangs etc only get the option of +1 HP or +1 SP / level.
Tieflings get an additional 1/4 point / level to your arcane pool.
Halflings get 1/6 of a new magus arcana / level, which is pretty damn awesome.

[kestral287]

For weapons:

Goblin Wan Kenoblin wrote:

probably getting a longsword + weapon finesse + weapon focus + slashing grace is better?

Is it worth the d6 instead of d4?

No. Crit profiles are generally the most important part of a weapon's real damage anyway, but that's reinforced for the Magus due to how Spellstrike works.

Slashing Grace also has the issue that it doesn't inherently open the door to Dex-to-attack. If you put it on a longsword, you get Dex to damage rolls and Str to attack rolls.

Thus, your options:
-Rapier + Fencing Grace
-Scimitar + Dervish Dance
-Slashing Grace + Whip or Aldori Dueling Sword
-Dipping a level of Swashbuckler, which synergizes with Slashing Grace to open up any one-handed weapon
-Slashing Grace + any one-handed weapon + spending gold on an Effortless Lace, which makes the weapon register as Light and therefore works with Weapon Finesse.

The simplest solution for a non-Kensai Magus is Scimitar + Dervish Dance. Take Weapon Finesse at 1st level and use a rapier or other finessable weapon-- your damage will kind of suck, but you'll hit things. At 3rd level, take Dervish Dance and switch to a scimitar.

For stats:

INT=DEX>CON>WIS>>STR>CHA

You can push Dex over Int if you have to, but I like to keep them balanced if possible.

For race:

Tieflings are very arguable as the strongest Magus race in the game. Halflings aren't as good but it's a decently close second and they have a strong favored class bonus. Wayangs are okay but for the most part outclassed by Tieflings.

[Goblin Wan Kenoblin]

thanks for all advices!
I think i'm going with Halfling+Dervish as suggested!