Hamenaglar's page

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to build a bloodrager and wouldn't mind some help with some of the options. The goal is to build a character with intimidating presence that can stand toe to toe with multiple opponents. Final level wil be 12 maybe 13. Despite having spells, I feel they are far too few to help consistently. So it seems to me that going reach and DR seems like a good option.
For point buy 20: I would use the following stats after racial adjustment (Human +2 to str):
17, 14, 14, 10, 10, 13

No traits at the start, but extra traits feet is allowed. Destined bloodline fits very nicely with the character concepts so that's picked.

So I'm thinking of the following build:

So at level 12 assuming the character has the following gear:
+2 furious bardiche, Mithral Breastplate +4, belt of strength +4, ring of deflection +2, amulet of natural armor +2, cloak of resistance +3, some runestones of power, there should be enough gold left for boots of speed.

the stats are following when bloodraging

One of the issues is lack of raging vitality, but destined bloodline lvl 12 power should somewhat help mitigate that (essentially once per day survive a killing blow).

The biggest issue for me seems to be to hit which is kinda lowish at 20 due to penalties from power attack and fighting defensively. Haste and Pale Green Prism Ioun stone can help mitigate it somehow. I could often drop because I can stay out of reach. But any other ideas? Maybe picking weapon focus as a bonus feat at lvl 12, but losing + 10 to intimidate seems a lot. There's also lvl 1 bloodline power that allows me to add half my level as bonus.

So any feedback, improvements?

Kurald, I've noticed you've given lunge a blue rating, would you care to elaborate, as I've never felt the need for it.

One argument that I've heard is that it helps you don't have to cast defensively. Not sure how true is that considering that since level 9 and afterwards more and more monsters will have reach. Anyways defensive casting should be an auto-success most of the time for a magus at that level and later.

As mentioned, monsters will have reach so getting into the melee usually provokes, but magus has spells he can use to circumvent that (bladed dash, storm step, dimension door + dimensional agility).

Also there is a long arm spell (level 1) that also gives reach. So I'm really interested in what makes lunge so good and how to use it?

Also, what do you think about taking critical focus (level 13) and then using tactical adaptation to get critical feats, such as staggering critical. Frigid touch is similar but has SR, and costs multiple level 2 spells to keep it going for more rounds (unless you crit, you should crit once per round at that level, but may not be on a frigid touch attack), so this gives you a good chance at stagger-locking enemies and you can cast other spells.

Dimensional Agility can be used if you have DD as an SLA.

FAQ wrote:

Spell-Like Abilities, Casting, and Prerequisites: Does a creature with a spell-like ability count as being able to cast that spell for the purpose of prerequisites or requirements?

Only if the pre-requisite calls out the name of a spell explicitly. For instance, the Dimensional Agility feat (Ultimate Combat) has "ability to use the abundant step class feature or cast dimension door" as a prerequisite; a barghest has dimension door as a spell-like ability, so the barghest meets the "able to cast dimension door prerequisite for that feat. However, the barghest's dimension door would not meet requirements such as "Ability to cast 4th level spells" or "Ability to cast arcane spells".

posted February 2015

So, the question then that remains is whether using spell-like ability such as dimension door cancels holding the charge.

Here's the thing: you can't have it both ways. You can't have your SLA count as a spell to qualify for the feat, then have it not count as a spell for holding the charge. One way or another, this doesn't work.

Yes, I agree. It can't be both way. Per RAW having DD as SLA wouldn't allow me to take dimensional agility. I would have to wait until level 11. But then combo would be possible?

You take it at level 10 by retraining. Then yes: declare spell combat, cast DD to teleport, then make all your attacks.

No retraining so far.

Thank you.

@Avr

I'm not casting a spell, but using a spell-like ability. I don't think that should count against holding the charge. But I'm not sure.

No retraining feats.

@Kurald

How can a Magus at level 2 cast DD? Or did you mean cast Shocking grasp, move, then attack. Also using dimension door, means forfeiting all your actions. Unless you are interpreting that casting dimension door as part of spell combat allows you to still take your attacks. Otherwise dimensional agility (level 11) is needed.

So currently we started a new campaign and I'm playing elf magus (dervish dancer). I can't make my mind between standard magus and spelldancer. I really love the fluff of spelldancer but it seems a suboptimal choice. I don't think extra mobility is worth it in exchange for enhancing weapon. There are spells like expeditious retreat and bladed dash. Losing extra feat hurts even more. However at 9th level spelldancer can once per spelldance use dimension door as a spell-like ability.

If I take dimensional agility, that would allow me to effectively pounce and cast shocking grasp in same round.

Combat starts:
1st round: start spelldance, cast intensified shocking grasp (hold charge)
2nd round: use dimension door SLA to reach BBEG. Initiate spell combat and attack. Hopefully hit on one of the first two attacks for 9d6 SG + d6 scimitar. After 1st two attack cast empowered intensified SG as part of spell combat and attack. that is another 13d6+d6. If I would have a spell storing weapon and intensified shocking grasp there it would be another 9d6. For a total of 31d6 +2d6 + static modifiers.

1) Is using Dimensional Agility with DD as SLA allowed or does it need to be casted as a spell (meaning I can do combo at level 11 earliest instead of 9).

2) Would this combo be worth losing the ability to enhance my weapon (normal magus can't do the same thing without investing 3 feats and can reach it at level 15 earliest).

Thank you.

P.s. I'm not interested in playing kensai, hexcrafter or any other archetype. Basically it's straight magus vs spelldancer.

Background:
One of the thing that frustrates me in pathfinder is calculating all the modifiers to hit/damage/AC depending on my abilities, feats, spells, equipment etc. So I've started out making my own mobile web site, to do it automatically for me.

One of the main features for me was that it gets loaded only once, and then never uses internet connections and can basically run offline (until you exit from browser or or navigate to a new page).

Targalad the Magus Spelldancer:
http://tbabic.github.io/targalad-web/

It doesn't look quite good on mobiles/small screens and it looks even worse on large screens :D. Also after last session I've noticed some issues in user experience. So I'm currently in the process of redesigning it and it raised a few questions for me.

Questions:
1) Is there an app or web site that already has the same functionality?

2) If there isn't, would anybody be interested in using this kind of mobile website (or mobile app)?

3) Considering pathfinder is released under OGL and I intend to keep the app free and open source, this shouldn't be illegal?

My background if anybody is interested

Lord Pendragon wrote:

Xaratherus, are you casting Quickened Dimension Doors? Since DD is a standard action to cast, I don't see how being able to still act in the round is particularly useful with only, at most, a move action left...

As Malsheem mentioned, Spell Dancer can activate Dimension Door as a swift action once per spell dance.

As a spell, it can also be used in conjunction with Spell Combat, allowing you to cast Dimension Door to teleport up to a foe, take a full-attack action against him, then 5-foot step away.

As an aside, if Lunge could be used in conjunction with AoOs, this would be such a fun combination...

Hamenaglar wrote:

Regarding melee. I've focused on taking out my opponents before they can strike me. Also with cat's grace, shield, mithral chainshirt, mirror image, displacement, haste and dance of avoidance you can really become unhittable.

So far, I've been three times close to death. One was when a Ninja sneak attacked me. Second time when I got touched by shadow and it drained 8 strength from me in a single attack (I got 9 :D). Third time was when I encountered a demon. That demon disarmed me.

I've actually 'died' once because of a (lucky or unlucky?) GM streak of bypassing my Displacement on a crit by a large creature wielding x3 weapon.

Just an aside, I would suggest going with elven chain if you can. Technically a mithral chainshirt still counts as medium armor for purposes of proficiency, while elven chain states that it counts as light for proficiency's sake. Better still if you can get celestial armor.

Chainshirt is a ligt armor. Mithral chinshirt costs only 1100 GP, as opposed to Elven chain of about 5000. Celestial armor is a great armor, I definately plan to pick it up later.

Hamenaglar, thanks for the advice. I can see what you mean about having better things to use my swift actions on, but I definitely want to know whether or not it is doable.

Just avoiding AOOs is only part of why I think using the dimension door ability could be awesome. Using it to put myself into position to use spell combat and spellstrike on a foe is the main draw. I also keep thinking this character is going to be in danger of getting its butt kicked in melee due to relatively low hp, so using the dimension door to escape melee range after attacking a foe who was next to me when the turn began is certainly going to happen as well.

And yeah, I am definitely taking the 1/6 magus arcana favored class option, and gloves of elven kind are an obvious must. Going to be worth every penny of the 7500 GPs. I'm going to take the Lunge feat as well, the option to attack from 10 feet away with touch spells and weapon attacks seems like it could be a life saver. I am very paranoid about this character just dying every time it gets near strong melee monsters, especially ones with reach.

Regarding AoO and defensive casting. After getting gloves of elvenkind, I can not anymore fail a defensive casting spell. That's without combat casting. By the time you hit level 9, defensive casting should become auto success.

I also planned to take a lunge, but I don't think you can take it until lvl 11. Note that the increased reach ends after your turn, meaning no AoO.

Regarding melee. I've focused on taking out my opponents before they can strike me. Also with cat's grace, shield, mithral chainshirt, mirror image, displacement, haste and dance of avoidance you can really become unhittable.

So far, I've been three times close to death. One was when a Ninja sneak attacked me. Second time when I got touched by shadow and it drained 8 strength from me in a single attack (I got 9 :D). Third time was when I encountered a demon. That demon disarmed me.

long post

1. I've asked my DM the same question. Still didn't get a ruling :). Didn't matter that much. As I usually had better stuff to spend my swift actions on.

2. With dimensional agility, yes you can do that, but you shouldn't. Not at least to avoid AOE. Elves have an alternate trait arcane focus (+2 to concentration checks and you basically lose nothing, unless you planned to wield Elven curve blade). Remember that you can take a penalty on to hit in exchange for concentration. There is another trait that can give you +2 to concentration (although honestly, magical lineage is better). Also later you can pickup Gloves of Elvenkind (+5 to concentration and spellcraft). In essence, defensive casting shouldn't be an issue for you.

3. I'm currently playing Spell dancer and I love it. Ofcourse it's a dervish dancer. Losing weapon enhancement is a big loss, but I think spell dance more than makes up for it. You are anyway going to be dealing damage through spells (shocking grasp). Personally I memorized Greater magic weapon at higher levels, so that I can save a little bit money. Yes DR can be a problem sometimes. Particularly demons, I recommend taking oil of Bless weapon :D.

Anyway for me the bigger loss was the 5th level feat (for a useless ability) than weapon enhancement. Mobility and speed enhancement that you gain with spell dance are really great at times.

P.s. remember that as an elf you can take 1/6 of magus arcana as a favored class option. I really recommend it. By level 12 you get two magus arcanas extra. I think that is worth 12 HP.

Spell dancer is a really cool archetype. Have fun.