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So, I built a Kapenia Dancer Magus for PFS, because I like trying out non-standard builds. She's built as a trip build and is fairly effective at that now. As she approaches 5th level, I'd like to find a way to up her damage output. The plan had been to pick up Slashing Grace, and Flamboyant Arcana and Precise Strike, but the FAQs on those made them not work with Magus. So now I'm planning on making her Bladed Scarf Agile. I can't do that until I have enough fame which won't happen until she's almost 6th level.
At 5th, she'll get a regular feat and a bonus feat.
Arcane Strike is the obvious choice. It fights for action economy with Arcane Pool and spring-loaded wrist sheaths (Wand Wielder Arcana), though, so there will be rounds I can't use it. Piranha Strike is out, because the Bladed Scarf isn't a light weapon. Power Attack is out, because it's a Dex build. Finding a way to get Int to damage would be fantastic. Kirin Strike takes too long to set up.
I'm looking to boost static damage if possible. Shocking Grasp still give me a good burst damage option, even though she's not a crit fishing build.
I'd prefer not to dip another class.
CN Human (Varisian)
STR 10 DEX 14 CON 14 (+1 4th) INT 18 (+2 Human) WIS 10 CHA 12
HP 35 AC 18 (22 w/Shield) Touch 16 Flat 12 (16 w/Shield)
Fort +7 REF +4 WILL +5
BAB +3 CMB +3 (+5 with finesse weapon) CMD 15
Bladed Scarf +7 (1d6+1)
W/Arcane Pool +8 (1d6+2)
Trip w/Blade Lash +18 (+16 w/Spell Combat)
W/True Strike +28 (+26 w/Spell Combat)
Feats: B1) EWP: Bladed Scarf, B1) Weapon Focus: Bladed Scarf, 1) Weapon Finesse, H) Dirty Fighting (Retrained from Combat Expertise), 3) Improved Trip
Arcana: 3) Wand Wielder
Special Abilities: Arcane Pool (6/day), Spell Combat, Spellstrike, Canny Defense (Int to AC), Spell Recall
Traits: Two-World Magic (Touch of Fatigue), Harrow Born
Combat Gear: Bladed Scarf +1, Haramaki +1, Wands: Blade Lash (wrist sheath), Infernal Healing, Shield (wrist sheath), Truestrike
Other Gear: Cloak of Resistance +1, Pearl of Power Lvl 1, Ioun Torch
Typical Spells:
0) Detect Magic, Acid Splash, Touch of Fatigue
1) Grease, Longarm, Shocking Grasp
2) Glitterdust (or Mirror Image)
(Kapenia Dancer has Diminished Spellcasting, so fewer slots than normal)
Next major purchase will likely be a Belt of Incredible Dexterity. I'll likely have the gold and fame in 2 more scenarios.
I did just hit 4th level, so I could shift the stat bonus elsewhere. I went with the 13 Con at creation, so it seemed the best thing to do. Dex or Int might also make sense. In an extreme case, I suppose I could put it in STR and buy a Belt of Strength to qualify for Power Attack, but I feel like I'd be spreading her stats even thinner than they already are. I'm committed to the Dex route now. Losing Precise Strike really hurt my planned build.
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I'm casting Raise Thread on this one, because I'm likely finally going to play the character up to 5th level this weekend at a con.
I've had a new thought about this. Is it worth dipping one level of Wizard (likely Diviner)? Doing so would give me:
+1 Init and always act in the Surprise Round
The ability to activate Wizard wands without UMD (The Wand Wielder Arcana does not limit use to Magus spells)
The ability to take an Arcane Exploit with my level 5 feat. I would likely take Knowledge is Power, adding my Int to my maneuver checks (effectively +4 now, +5 when I get a headband). That's superior to the Maneuver Mastery Arcana, which would treat my BAB as my Magus level for a single maneuver type (effectively +2 at 5th level, +3 at 9th +4 at 13th). I'd be able to take the Maneuver Mastery Arcana later if I wanted, and they would stack.
3 1st level spells (1 Divination. True Strike is Divination).
Either an Arcane Bond (likely my Bladed Scarf) or a Familiar (though I'd want to take the Familiar Magus Arcana if I did that, and I could do that without the Wizard level).
Being disarmed of my Arcane Bond wouldn't be that debilitating as far as spell casting is concerned, since it would only affect the Wizard spell slots. I've already paid for a +1 on the Bladed Scarf, but I'll be making it Agile as soon as possible, so I'd save 3,000p there, and it would only be another 5,000 to add Dueling on top of that. I could then use my Arcane Pool to Boost the Enhancement Bonus, making the weapon +3 (at 6th level) and doubling that up from the Dueling Enhancement.
I would lose:
Spell progression. That hurts on a Magus, and especially one with diminished spell casting. But Wand Wielder helps, as does Spell Recall and Pearls of Power.
Arcane Pool progression. I'd have to wait another level before being able to add a special ability with my Arcane Pool. Keen is likely still the best option there, but with a 20/x2 crit range, it's not a huge loss.
Lower HPs and no Favored Class bonus.
+ 1 BAB, which means I wouldn't get to +6 BAB until 9th level.
I wouldn't get my Magus Bonus Feat until 6th Level (likely still Arcane Strike).
5th Level Feat would go to Knowledge is Power, so would be unavailable for something like Phalanx Formation.
I'd appreciate any help. Should level the character on Friday, if games go off as planned. Might play her again on Saturday.
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A couple of things make the wizard dip less than ideal based on your plans. First, knowledge is power isn't PFS legal. Second, if you get an arcane bond, it will be required for all spell casting, not just wizard spells.
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Oh, wow. Yeah, those two things are a problem. Was posting from work, so I didn't check the Additional Resources.
So the "boring" options would be take a level of Magus, then:
5th level feat: Extra Arcana: Elasticity Arcana (from Kapenia Dancer)
Bonus Feat: Phalanx Formation or Arcane Strike
Or 5th level feat: Extra Arcana: Wand Mastery
Or 5th level feat: Extra Arcana: Maneuver Master (Trip)
Or just take both Arcane Strike and Phalanx Formation and take one of the Arcanas at 6th.
I've been trying to figure out other dips where I can make use out of my Int. Slashing Grace and Arcane Deed both being nerfed for Magus really disrupted my plan, which is part of the reason I haven't play the character much since my original post.
I was going to suggest getting agile on your scarf since it is finessable, but you probably don't meet the prestige spending level yet. Maybe at 6th?
Arcane strike would give you +2 damage (1+1/5levels) but competes for swift actions.
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Agile is in the plan, but Fame is the issue. I think I'm at 19 prestige now, and I need 27 or somewhere around there. So at least almost to 6th.
Arcane Strike isn't ideal. I just can't find another way to add to her damage quickly. Piranha Strike won't work with the bladed scarf, and I didn't give myself the strength to take Power Attack.
Right now I only use one swift at the start of a fight to enhance the scarf. Wand Wielder doesn't take an action to use (other than spell combat), so I'd only need a swift after the first round either to take a wand out of a wrist sheath or to use spell recall.
Taking Elasticity with my level 6 arcana would change that, though, as some rounds id want the extra reach.
Martial Focus might make sense when I can take it at 7th. +1 damage and it would open up some other feats down the line. Or I could go with Intensify Spell here.
Greater Trip is likely my level 9 feat.
9th level Arcana I'm not sure. Maybe Empower Spell or Accurate Strike.
Weapon Specialization would be my level 11 bonus feat.
Other level 11 feat could be Difficult Swings or Lunge.
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Ok, that's sounding promising. I have to admit, the Occult classes still confuse me.
Thematically, they are appropriate for the character, who is a fortune teller by profession (for PFS Day Job). At one point I was considering taking the Harrower prestige class, but it just doesn't seem like it would be worth it. I had looked at Medium, but not Occultist.
Spell wise, Occultist would get me access to Mage Armor and Lead Blades. Both of which would be very helpful to the build. Magus doesn't get Mage Armor, and Kapenia Dancer doesn't get armor proficiencies or avoid arcane spell failure while wearing armor. Right now I'm wearing a +1 haramaki, so Mage Armor would be a 2 AC boost.
Lead Blades would help. It stacks with Enlarge Person, correct? Just not something like Impact? If my weapon is physically bigger, though, then has Lead Blades cast on it, it would be treated as a Huge Bladed Scarf? That would get me to 2D6 when enlarged. I won't be all the time, but occasionally I'll want to do it for increased reach or to be able to trip a bigger creature.
As far as abilities... Divination school implements are thematically appropriate (I could finally do something with that Harrow Deck I have!), but the abilities would be even more competition for swift actions, and the Magus Arcana equivalents give a bigger bonus.
The stat bonus from Transmutation is an enhancement bonus, right? Not inherent? It doesn't look like it will stack with a Belt. Since I can only get a +2 with 1 level of Occultist, I don't know. I guess I could use it for Dex until I buy a Belt, then switch it to Constitution. It would give me some extra hitpoints without having to spend money on the +2 Con Ioun Stone.
Legacy Weapon does offer a little more flexibility than the Arcane Pool as far as enhancing weapons go. I could put Agile on with it before I can afford an Agile weapon. And Dueling later, once the weapon itself is Agile. It's a standard action, which is a little annoying, but at least it means I could use my Arcane Pool and Legacy Weapon in the same round.
Battle Host sounds interesting. I can't figure out what it would gain me over base Occultist, though, other than the armor and weapon proficiencies, which I don't really care about. Otherwise, with just a 1 level dip, it doesn't seem to do anything else extra.
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Ok, so it looks like if I went with a level of Occultist, I'd want to choose Conjuration and Transmutation. While Divination is thematically appropriate, the spells it grants access to and the focus powers just aren't that useful to me. The Conjuration focus powers aren't very useful to me either (though a standard action summon is at least something, it wouldn't scale), but the list of spells it would add to my list is much better. Mage armor and the Cure spells are the main ones.
Cure Light Wounds would probably be my known spell for Conjuration, and Lead Blades for Transmutation. I'd pick up a Wand of Mage Armor. I'd probably keep my Haramaki, but put a special ability on it instead of making it +2 (maybe Spell Storing for an eventual Vampiric Touch).
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I always feel like I'm talking to myself on these build posts, but thanks to those who've responded. Imbicatus, Occultist was an especially good suggestion. Just posting this so the thread includes where I ended up, but any additional advice would be much appreciated.
The con is over. I had to miss the last day unexpectedly, but it was only one game. So this character played once and (barely) survived, then got a GM credit for Deepmarket Deception to put her to 5th and a GM credit for Fangwood Keep to put her to 6th. That lets me dip a level in another class and avoid having to play another level without the Magus bonus feat or being able to add a special ability with my Arcane Pool.
I forgot that I dropped Combat Reflexes out of my build for lower levels, since I wouldn't have reach most of the time. But with Greater Trip coming in the future, I need to add it back in. I've also decided Phalanx Formation will be more useful to me now than Arcane Strike, though I'll try to fit that in later.
And, finally, I've decided on dipping a level of Occultist (no archetype). I plan to take the Transmutation and Divination Implements. I came around on Divination. It is very thematic for the character.
Here is what the character will look like now:
CN Human (Varisian)
STR 10 DEX 16* CON 14 (+1 4th) INT 20 (+2 Human, +2 Headband) WIS 10 CHA 12
* w/+2 from Physical Enhancement Focus Power, so technically not permanent.
HP 51 AC 20 (22 w/Mage Armor, 26 w/Shield) Touch 18 Flat 12 (14 w/Mage Armor, 18 w/Shield)
Fort +9 REF +5 WILL +7
BAB +3 CMB +3 (+5 with finesse weapon) CMD 18
Bladed Scarf +8 (1d6+1)
w/Arcane Pool (+1 and Keen) +9 (1d6+2 19-20/x2)
w/AP and Legacy Weapon (Agile) +8 (1d6+5 19-20/x2)
Trip w/Blade Lash +21 (+19 w/Spell Combat)
w/True Strike +31 (+29 w/Spell Combat)
Feats: B1) EWP: Bladed Scarf, B1) Weapon Focus: Bladed Scarf, 1) Weapon Finesse, H) Dirty Fighting (Retrained from Combat Expertise), 3) Improved Trip, 5) Combat Reflexes, B6) Phalanx Formation
Arcana: 3) Wand Wielder
Special Abilities Magus: Arcane Pool (7/day, +2), Spell Combat, Spellstrike, Canny Defense (+Int to AC), Spell Recall
Special Abilities Occultist: Mental Focus (6/day), Third Eye, Sudden Insight, Physical Enhancement, Legacy Weapon
Traits: Two-World Magic (Touch of Fatigue), Harrow Born
Combat Gear: Bladed Scarf +1, Haramaki +1, Wands: Blade Lash (wrist sheath), Infernal Healing, Shield (wrist sheath), Truestrike, Magic Missile, , *Mage Armor (UMD), *Invisibility (6chgs), *Shocking Grasp (CL4 12chgs), *Lead Blades, *Heightened Awareness
* to be purchased, in that order.
Other Gear: Cloak of Resistance +1, Pearl of Power Lvl 1, Ioun Torch, Headband of Intellect +2 (Fly, Infernal)
Typical Magus Spells:
0 3/day: Detect Magic, Acid Splash, Touch of Fatigue
1 5/day: Grease, Longarm, Shocking Grasp, Shield, True Strike
2 2/day: Glitterdust, Mirror Image
Occultist Spells:
0: Guidance, Mage Hand
1 3/day: Heightened Awareness, Lead Blades
Transmutation Implement essentially gives me a +2 Dex until I can buy a Belt. Then I can switch the +2 to Con.
Legacy Weapon will allow me to add Agile to my Bladed Scarf when I need to deal a little extra damage, until I can just make it Agile, likely after 1 scenario. After that, I could use it for Bane, Ghost Touch, or any +1 special ability that I can't get through Magus when needed.
So when that's done, I could, I believe, have a +1 Agile, Bane, Keen, Flaming/Frost/Shock Bladed Scarf. It would take me a swift and a standard to do it.
Being able to pre-buff is important for this character. See "barely survived" above. She can trip without any prep time (swift action out Wand of Blade Lash, then activate), but her AC suffers without Shield, and Mirror Image would really help, too. And Longarm and Lead Blades. Basically, she can probably come up with a minute or so of Buff Spells to cast, if given the opportunity. Or she has a variety to choose from if combat breaks out unexpectedly.