I built this character for an upcoming Shattered Star game, mostly on theme. I had a really cool picture of a taloned Tengu with a raven sitting on its shoulder, and decided to work from that.
To get a familiar, you have to be either a Magus, Wizard or Witch (or do something with the Eldritch Heritage feat, which I didn't want to do).
I chose Magus.
Choolk
Hexcrafter Magus, Tengu
STR 14 [5], DEX 14+2 [5], CON 12-2 [2], INT 15 [7], WIS 12+2 [2], CHA 9 [-1]
STR 14, DEX 16, CON 10, INT 15, WIS 14, CHA 9
Trait: Desperate Focus (+2 to Concentration Checks)
Trait: Reactive (+2 to Initiative)
Replace the Sword Trained with the Claw Attacks natural weapons. This counts as having Improved Unarmed Strike. Gives 3 Primary natural attacks at 1d3+2 damage.
1st level feat: Deflect Arrows
Cantrips: All Magus Cantrips, plus Brand
Spells: Magic Fang*, Stone Fist, Corrosive Touch, Shield, Magic Missile,
2nd level: Spellstrike
Spells: True Strike, probably Shocking Grasp,
3rd level feat: Power Attack; Magus Arcana: Familiar
4th level: Feral Speech Hex
5th level feat: Extra Arcana (Feat), used for Flight Hex, Arcane Strike (Combat feat)
6th level Magus Arcana: Arcane Accuracy or Evil Eye (Hex)
Note: The GM allowed me to replace Magic Weapon with Magic Fang and Greater Magic Weapon with Greater Magic Fang.
My aim with this character is to use the natural attacks for as long as they can be kept viable. I see him as being mostly a spellcaster who only gets into melee when he has to, rather than the usual "Magus who goes in to dish max damage every other round."
I don't see many cases where I'll be using Spell Combat, but he carries a longsword that he'll spin up with Arcane Pool if he needs to. (Turning one of his claws into a +1 weapon is less useful than turning his sword into a +1 weapon in most cases), but that's a secondary option.
I may also swap out Power Attack and hold off on the Flight Hex until 6th level, and use the 3 feats there to go Dodge, Crane Style and Crane Wing. Since I'm going to have one hand free anyway...being able to make one melee attack per round miss (like I make one arrow per round miss) is thematic and very wuxia. I'm not sure I can afford to give up the damage potential.
My problem is that I forsee that around 7th or 8th level, he's going to suffer from Monk Syndrome - he'll have a bunch of attacks that have no chance of hitting against a level appropriate foe.
The fact that I can't do both Arcane Accuracy and Arcane Strike on the same round is somewhat annoying; Arcane Accuracy is going to be key to keeping the character able to hit things at medium levels.
Using an animal companion for a 10 pound Raven is kinda...underutilizing the animal companion. :)
I'm looking for something more in the "familiar" range than the "I have a tiger. It eats people."
Plus, played a druid in the last game, and want to try something different.
|
Well...I would say buffs are your friends...but the magus kinda got stiffed on that. However a rimed elemental aura cold spells will entangle any critter it can damage for -4 to their AC with no save. If your greater invised, you get a +2 to hit and they are denied dex. The various polymorph spells can give some decent + to hit as well.
That said, if you wanted a more caster who sorta fights...why not go with the EK?
|
I think that if you want to be a spellcaster more than a fighter, Magus probably isn't the way to go.
If you don't plan to use Spell Combat, you're probably not going to get terribly much out of the character- a 3/4 BAB class using natural weapons only really works well with tons of Strength, and most of a Magus' damage comes from Spell Combat + Spellstrike.
As far as making the build work: Weapon Focus: Claws is probably a better buy than Power Attack at level 3, considering you'll probably have far more problems hitting than doing damage, especially since you'll need to shell out big for an AoMF, since you can't enchant you claws/beak directly.
