Today I was thinking about GISH classes, you know Part warrior, part Arcane caster.
I thought I would compare two "gishes" for the benefits and negatives of the builds. For our purposes we will be using a Magus (The gish class) and a Eldrick Knight build. We will be taking a "Snap shot" of level 1, 5, 10, 15, 20
Level 1
Our Fighter/Wizard/EK build. Starts with a level of Fighter
+2 HP, +1 BAB, +1 Feat, Medium/Heavy Armor/shields
-1 Trait (to continue casting levels), -1 Favored Class bonus
Magus
+Spell Casting, +2 Will save, Light armor Casting, Arcane Pool, Spell Combat Ability
------------------
Level 5
Multi-class is now a Fighter 1/Wizard 4
+ Scribe Scroll, Arcane Bond, Arcane School (Assume +1 First level spell, plus school powers), Medium/Heavy Armor/shields
- Arcane Failure if wearing armor or using shields, -1 Trait (to continue casting levels), -1 Favored Class
Magus 5
+1 Fort Save, +2 HP, Light Armor Casting, Spell Combat, Arcane Pool, Spell Strike, Magus Arcana, Spell Recall
---------------------------
Level 10
MC, Now Fighter 1/Wizard 5/EK 4
+ +1 HP, Scribe Scroll, Arcane Bond, Arcane School (Assume +1 First level spell, plus school powers), +2 Bonus Feats, Diverse Training, Heavy Armor/shields. +1 3rd level, +2 4th level spell,
- Arcane Failure if wearing armor or using shields, -1 Trait (to continue casting levels), -5 Favored Class
Magus 10
+2 Fort Save, +1 Reflex, +1 Will, Med Armor Casting, Spell Combat, Spell Strike, +3 Magus Arcana, Spell Recall, Fighter Training, Improved Spell Combat, Knowledge Pool
---------------------------
Level 15
MC, Now Fighter 1/Wizard 5/EK 9
+ +6 HP, +1 BAB, Scribe Scroll, Arcane Bond, Arcane School (Assume +1 First level spell, plus school powers), +3 Bonus Feats, Diverse Training, shields. Better spellcasting
- Arcane Failure if wearing armor or using shields, -1 Trait (to continue casting levels), -10 Favored Class
Magus 15
+1 Fort, +1 Reflex, +2 Will, Hvy Armor Casting, Spell Combat, Spell Strike, +5 Magus Arcana, Spell Recall, Fighter Training, Improved Spell Combat, Knowledge Pool, Improved Spell recall, Greater spell Combat
-------------
Level 20
MC, Now Fighter 1/Wizard 5/EK 10/Arcane Archer 4
+ +11 HP, +2 BAB,
Scribe Scroll, Arcane Bond, Arcane School (Assume +1 First level spell, plus school powers),
+2 Bonus Feats,
Diverse Training,
shields,
Spell Critical,
Enhance Arrow (magic, Element), Imbue Arrow, Seeker Arrow.
Better spellcasting
- Arcane Failure if wearing armor or using shields
-1 Trait (to continue casting levels)
-15 Favored Class
Magus 20
+2 Fort, +4 Will, +1CL,
Hvy Armor Casting,
Spell Combat, Improved Spell Combat,Greater spell Combat,
Spell Strike,
+6 Magus Arcana,
Spell Recall, Improved Spell recall, Greater Spell Recall,
Fighter Training,
Knowledge Pool,
Counterstrike,
True Magus
They don't compare that well. It's like the difference between a cleric and a warpriest.
The eldritch knight ends up with 9th level casting that is augmented by BAB, and HD. It is a caster with martial ability.
The magus is more a martial augmented by a caster. Really the answer of which is better is probably going to be eldritch knight at higher level, and magus at lower level.
|
They don't compare that well. It's like the difference between a cleric and a warpriest.
The eldritch knight ends up with 9th level casting that is augmented by BAB, and HD. It is a caster with martial ability.
The magus is more a martial augmented by a caster. Really the answer of which is better is probably going to be eldritch knight at higher level, and magus at lower level.
This is also weighed heavily in the magus's favor when you realize that the vast majority of campaigns never reach level 20, and will generally end when the eldritch knight is just starting to supersede the magus.