GM Tektite's #00-02 The Hydra's Fang Incident (Inactive)

Game Master Hawkwen Agricola

To expand on Magus magic...

A special note that a magus has to have Spellstrike to replace the free touch attack with a regular attack (which then goes against regular AC instead of touch.) The primary downside being that casting spells either require concentration or 5' shenanigans, but the "uses your weapon's crit range" is usually worth it. It's really similar to TWF, but isn't entirely the same.

Disclaimer: The last time I played a Magus was the first playtest in Temple of Elemental Evil, so my memory of when Maguses get things is definitely muddled.

Spell Combat is a first-level ability and Spellstrike is at second level. As a Bladebound magus, I'll get my Black Blade at third level. This thread is a good intro playing magi. They are one of my favorite classes but they can be pretty complicated for the uninitiated.

Spell Combat is a first-level ability and Spellstrike is at second level. As a Bladebound magus, I'll get my Black Blade at third level. This thread is a good intro playing magi. They are one of my favorite classes but they can be pretty complicated for the uninitiated.

Right, right; I remember in the first playtest that Spell Combat was a 2nd level ability (as maybe spellstrike was as well; I'd have to check my old pdf at home?) It was really gimping unless you started after 2nd level, though it does me no favors when trying to remember magus stuff. It's such a good class, now. Plus- Free Intelligent Item.

I have a staff/hex magus that I made to spite someone who told me staff magus sucked.

They're crazy, staff magus is awesome. I almost did that with Beleg because staff magus and bladebound stack (if I recall), but bladebound magi don't really need much beyond their black blade so I decided against it.

I have a staff/hex magus that I made to spite someone who told me staff magus sucked.

Slypher is a cocky egomaniac and is the only magus that I have never seen cast a spell in two scenarios and a module. ;) (kidding of course)

Haha! Yeah, his Int is a little low, so he's really more useful as a wannabe frontliner for now.
But I *did* cast color spray once. Don't forget that.

Thanks for the link on that thread!

Thanks for the link on that thread!

No problem. That post really helped when I first started playing Beleg (in a homegame). The trick about arcane mark is brilliant because it's a cantrip and basically just gives you a free second attack all day long.

Plus, if you own the Sargava book, you can get Brand as a cantrip via a trait, which is also a touch attack. Plus, it does one damage, as opposed to "your chosen symbol for the day"!

What about getting the feat two weapon fighting? Will it remove the penalties or no?

Two-Weapon Fighting, were it to actually affect Spellstrike (which it doesn't), would actually make the penalties exactly the same. -2, -2 (as if the off-hand is light.)

What is good about staff? I mean it would be nicer to get weapons with a high crit range cause it affects your spells too? I'm really thinking of making one up to use on a campaign. I like the idea of the hexcrafter but if you're going to spellstrike you need a full round action, I guess you can curse them first before doing that.

I've read that some GMs don't appreciate the whole arcane mark business, so I went TWF with my staff magus. It essentially plays like an eldritch knight. You are good in combat, but not like a fighter or barb. You're passable in magic, but definitely no wizard. It's just nice to be able to cast Grease or whack someone depending on the situation. Since I focused on STR, hexcrafter will get me more mileage on my magic (hexes can be used a lot) and arcane pool (not wasting pool points on spell recall), so more for pumping my melee.

What is good about staff? I mean it would be nicer to get weapons with a high crit range cause it affects your spells too? I'm really thinking of making one up to use on a campaign. I like the idea of the hexcrafter but if you're going to spellstrike you need a full round action, I guess you can curse them first before doing that.

Staff Magus is one of the easiest ways to jump into the quarterstaff feats higher up the tree. The feat tree is so demanding it's not really worth it unless you're a fighter (and then there are better things you could be doing with your fighter). I think it's pretty neat. Not necessarily the strongest archetype, but it sounds fun.

Always wanted to try out the staff feat chain too. I run a cleric now that can put out some punishment with a staff, no way they will ever get those feats though...

You all must be talking about a different feat tree than I see. The one I see looks kind of awful, and even with quarterstaff mastery as a bonus feat, would take the Magus forever to get.

I'd like to note that I'm quite pumped this thing is progressing right on schedule, unless they've got a surprise Encounter-ception going on in the inconveniently undead-filled hold. (Schedule, being "This being done in time for Xathalial to play Rivalry's End and get the SL boon.)

I'm sure there's a reason he's got a boatful of zombos, but it just seems really silly to be carting around a bunch of undead in a boat (though I have to admit I thought about it in S&S.) Were this a more fun character, there'd definitely be a comment or two about it.

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