The Melee Transmorgifist revised?


Advice


So been looking for a new character and went back to magus, a class I long planned to do but never did. I am a conservative caster, I'm nervous to blow through spells but that is the point of the magus. So obviously back to the hexcrafter, I kinda went back and forth and I admit I forgot about the hexcrafter guide. So the option one, Melee Transmorgifist is pretty much what I'm aiming for. Seems to have a lot of options on the plate. What I'm wondering about is 2 things...what would you do for stats and would you change anything now. As far as I know the guide hasnt been updated in a long time so curious. This is for PFS if it matters.

hexcrafter:
The Melee Transmorgifist
This Hexcrafter is more orientated on Melee damage via using Magic to pounce and the Monstrous Physique spells to gain extra attacks. He is basically a Jack of All trades as far as Debuffing and Battle control goes.
Here is an Example with either a BLADEBOUND HEXCRAFTER, or Regular HEXCRAFTER.. If you don't want blade bound, get a familiar..Elf is best race for racial arcanas
Trait: Magical Lineage (Frostbite), Wayang Spell hunter (shocking grasp)
1- Arcane pool, cantrips, spell combat, Rime Spell
2- Spellstrike
3- Arcana: Familiar (either raven or pterosaur)/OR BLACK BLADE, Enforcer
4- Hex Magus: Slumber
5- Bonus Feat: Blindfight, Combat Expertise
6- Hex Arcana: Evil Eye, Racial: Hex Arcana- Flight
7-Knowledge Pool, Medium Armor, Moonlight Stalker
8-Improved Spell Combat
9-Spell Scars, Improved Familiar (Fairie Dragon)
10-Fighter Training
11-Power Attack, Spell Recall, Intensify Spell
12- Hex Arcana- Ice Tomb, Racial: Hex Arcana- Retribution or major healing
13- Heavy Armor, Arcane Accuracy
14 Greater Spell Combat
15- Arcana- Bane Blade, Craft Rod
16- Counterstrike
17-Quicken Spell, Spell Perfection:Chain Lightning
18- Hex Arcana- Summon Spirit, Racial: Lifegiver
19- Greater Spell Access, Dazing Spell
20- True Magus
How it Plays:
At real low levels Shocking Grasp is Still better, but once you get Alter Self or Monstrous Physique spells and multiple natural attacks, Frostbite, it's awesome.
You pre shift into a Form with multiple natural attacks. Say a Gargoyle for example
Now Close and Use Frostbite. You x/touches per level. So if say you had 2 Sword attacks + Claws+Gore.
You could full attack with your scimitar and combine it with your natural attacks. (This means they are secondary Nat attacks or BAB-5), pop a swift action on Arcane accuracy.
Now you have 2 scimitar swings +claw+gore. If your INT is High enough they have a good hit chance. Each attack does normal damage + 1d6 cold + CL in non-lethal. And Entangled for Rime Spell.
That is enough non lethal to knock most things out in a round.
Simple trick but a good one.
The pinnacle form is the 6 armed CALIKANG.


To touch base, debating on going human to add 2 to str and int. I think wand wielder will be a important feat early on.. if nothing else for shield


ekibus wrote:
To touch base, debating on going human to add 2 to str and int. I think wand wielder will be a important feat early on.. if nothing else for shield

If you want +2 to str and Int, you could go Lashunta and have actual racial abilities.

+2 str/Int, -2 Wis
+2 racial bonus to any one Knowledge skill.
At will–daze, mage hand; 1/day–detect thoughts.
Telepathy 30 '.


Problem is it has to be pfs legal.


ekibus wrote:
Problem is it has to be pfs legal.

Ah then I'm out. I don't do PFS and have no idea what is/isn't PFS legal so it's not worth either of our time for me to toss out ideas not knowing that. Good luck.

Grand Lodge

It looks good. I like to cast all day and wands are cheap in PFS I like to get wand wielder ASAP.

I love a 4 armed gargoyle once you get access to it. Moonlight stalker is cool but it's a lot of feats to get there. I much prefer to pick up extra arcana several times.

What do your DCs look like are they good enough to make slumber valuable? I like prehensile hair for holding rods making touch attacks at range etc. Swamp’s Grasp is pretty useful.


Kinda why I was debating on human. Not sure if it is worth losing racial abilities to get the extra +2 to go into int. I'm not home right now but think I was looking at 17str, 12 dex, 14 con, 16 int, 10 wis and 7 cha. 18 int if I go human and lose everything else. Otherwise go with 16 int and after I get str to 18 go all in for int. Going off memory atm


Kinda moving away from doing the human for the +2 in two stats. The extra feat sounds pretty nice up front. But a half elf might be good too. Take skill focus intimidate to help the cha penalty for enforcer. I could also take the elf favored for a extra arcana at 6 and 12

Grand Lodge

What works better with your stats skill focus or intimidating prowess? That could help you decide human or half elf.


Intimidating prowess would long term be better. But losing the feat to it means human would only net me a extra skill point and I could get a extra hp or skill for favor. Half elf would grant me the skill focus along with low light, the favor bonus, and some other perks (honestly being immune to sleep has only come up once that I can remember) I'm kinda leaning towards half elf. Plan is at lvl get str to 18 and modify it with magic. Then int 16 buff it however possible. Not sure if the 16 is ok with slumber and such. Didn't notice swamp grasp... that could be useful. Should I swap int with str?


So actually looking at either int or str and debating on getting the wand moving first before taking rime spell. Mainly want to get shield up every encounter since I'm looking at a 15 ac

Grand Lodge

I have found that the way to get defensive spell up is to still use spell combat. It seems odd but once your near the enemy you can cast add attack the same round. This is much better than standing back and casting a defensive spell.


Right and I agree but when you only have x spells wouldn't it be better to prep offensive spells and use the wand for defense? Sorry wad talking the wand wielder arcana so i could use the wand with spell combat. But thinking about it now I could only use the wand and I would still need to put it away to cast anything else.

Grand Lodge

Yep the point of wand wielder arcana is you can use it with spell combat. Spring loaded wrist sheath and the just drop it.

The same trick works for offense wands, true strike, blade lash, (tripping provides the same defense as shield while they are down), even shocking grasp nets you+1 to vs metal armor and 1d6 damage.


Hmm spamming shocking grasp at low lvl could be nice. Question is do wand wielder at level 1 or rime?

Grand Lodge

You can't take wand wielder at 1 becuase you don't have arcana yet, level 3.


Was afraid of that. So rime spell first or enforcer?

Grand Lodge

Enforcer can be used against every enemy if you can reliably do non-lethal damage. Rime will be three times a day at level 1. Enforce seems a little better to me.


Messed up and realized this character will be level 3. My thought atm is to hold off on the familiar until level 5 (since I cant really speak to it until then.) I think wand wielder will be the best option for now, perhaps retrain it later. Pick up a wand of shield, frostbite and true strike


So odd question if you go half elf and take the racial arcane training, I could use a wand as if it was 1 level higher? Ie would I be able to use a wand of Frostbite as if it is a second level spell?


ekibus wrote:

So odd question if you go half elf and take the racial arcane training, I could use a wand as if it was 1 level higher? Ie would I be able to use a wand of Frostbite as if it is a second level spell?

No. You can use them as if YOU were 1 level higher. It does not change the item in any way.

Basically, a 4th level wizard with the half-elf arcane training could use a fireball scroll. Any other wizard 4 would not be able to.

Another example, a level 5 wizard using a scroll of fireball with a caster level of 6 would need to make a caster level check to see if it worked, or might suffer a mishap. A level 5 wizard with the half-elf arcane training would not have to make such a roll.


Thank you, figures trying to find a good way to get a wand with a level 2 cast of frostbite but pfs doesnt allow you to purchase it

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