Kalaam's page

Gisher wrote:

Deriven Firelion wrote:

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They could make Arcane Cascade more clear for those who read it as a problematic feature to trigger. The magus doesn't need much work.
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The rules for remaining in Arcade Cascade were obviously confusing (thankfully that was fixed in the remaster errata), but what was the confusion about entering the stance?

Remaining in the stance is the problem I'm talking about. Some were claiming the trigger prevented continuous of the stance.

Those were mostly memey or bad faith arguments because of the wording of the stance.

Kalaam wrote:

Yeah I am questioning that as well. It is pretty clear, just clunky.

I'm expecting that the answer is 'no', but...

Would it be less clunky to have the ability split into two abilities?

One being a new "Arcana Siphon" ability:

Arcana Siphon [free action]
Trigger: Your last action this round was to cast a spell or use Spellstrike.
Effect: You enter Arcane Cascade stance.

Arcane Cascade
[stance]
Requirements: none
<Current rules for Arcane Cascade benefits.>

Tbh it would make it easier to enter. Magus does need some more action management options. Arcane Cascade on a reaction, or exiting it on a reaction/free action to recharge spellstrike once per 10 minute or something like that could be neat.

Yeah I am questioning that as well. It is pretty clear, just clunky.

Well, it would be nice to have other options for when you cannot. Or to have more options on how to do it.
In a system that is so flexible, this inflexibility sometime feels frustrating.
Magus have had other ways to feel like a spellsword, it'd be nice to have some more of those.

Maybe I just hope we get more attack spells with interresting effects so Magus has a bit more ways to make spellstrike interresting.
Or maybe that spellstrike is reworked a bit to work more similarly to Channel Smite and allow single target spells with saves too, and Expansive becomes for aoe/multi target save spells.

Or he used Warfare lore to determine a strategy based on the opponent body shape :D

Wonder what that tatoo was, seems that Ezren is cooking some crazy stuff

The concern isn't about its power, just about some clunkyness and how you're kind of stuck doing a single thing and have little else to do to be useful. Since you have very few spells and your action economy is very, very tight. There are times where you can only do normal strikes with nothing else and it'd be neat to have some more fun things to do.
It's kind of like fighter only having power attack as their only strike.

Yeah that's very true.
It's likely more annoying for the Magus because without specific feats archetypes are hard to work with it to complete their kit since your actions are so restricted. Where any martial could enjoy Wrestler, or Dual Weapon Warrior etc, Magus has more of a hard time picking one. Cavalier seems to be very good for it tho'

I'd say that can be features added into Arcane Cascade.
Maybe having spellstrike recharge on 1d4 round, or with conflux spells.
And have more options for stuff to do while it is recharging.

But at this point is a big class rework stuff. Since Magus isn't a core class, and didn't have the issues the witch had, i doubt it'll get that kind of treatment. Though I wish the designers could give it a new pass, after the cool stuff they figured out with classes that came later like Psychic, Gunslinger, Kineticist or Thaumaturge

I mean outside of attack spells that often just are single target damage with nothing much else, it'd be neat for the magus to have more ways to feel kind of unique as a blend of martial and magic powers.
Like a special strikes that inflicts penalties on saves against magic or stuff like that.

It really needs stuff to build on Arcane Cascade, it's kind of weak on some hybrid studies.
Like, devastating spellstrike is cool in concept, but its damage seems to low. 5 splash damage at maximum is kind of meh. Like it's neat and is just a flat addition to all your spellstrikes but it's kind of boring.

Abilities to manipulate the action economy more, playing around with arcane cascade, recharge spellstrike and stuff, would go a long way to make the class more fun.

I think the one thing that kind of "feels bad" about Magus is that it didn't get new options since release, hopefuly the tian xia book will add a few more feats and options to refresh the class.

Though to be fair, I do think some of its mechanics could use the remaster treatment, mainly arcane cascade and the spellstrike recharging. It's a bit weird how repetitive Magus is, we do have some feats that alter spellstrike and that's something I think would be good to lean into more. As well as some more strike feats that interract with arcane cascade and are either action compression or have additional effects.

What happened to the brewmaster since ? We haven't had any updates in a while !

Like, I'm jesting about Shocking Grasp being a hit on the Magus because of all the memes about it, but we all know that Horizon Thunder Sphere is a very natural replacement. Though I kind of liked the rider effect of Shocking Grasp and I wish we'd have some attack spell with similar effect that could be used like that.
I wonder what other spells we'll see in the future books too, hope we have a healthy selection of attack ones.

I wonder if we'll see more Attack spells being added/replacing some others. I kind of liked Acid Splash on my polearm magi and shocking grasp is iconic xD

A wizard uses geometry to build a pyramid and a city.
A bard uses geometry to draw impossible stairs and compose an intricate painting.

They both have a grasp on the geometrical theories, but have wildly different ways to apply them.

Honestly a class archetype for Champion (and Ranger) trading some class features (let's say Legendary proficiency in armors and the highest upgrade of their reaction) for bounded divine spellcasting would work fairly well. I think.

Do you think it'd be balanced ?
A Champion without Legendary armor, and only base version of their reaction, but access to divine magic baseline.

Shield is also Vocal component only, so in situations where you are restrained or can't use your physical shield or manipulate actions for one reason or another, it's a pretty nice backup to have !

Oh so we'll be able to mod Pathfinder now ?

The on the spot fireworks it can creates are pretty good, it makes a very flavorful free-archetype.
Some snares are described as being fireworks so you might allow them.

Currently trying to tinker a Starlit Span Magus using either a 1handed weapon and pistols or a combination weapon, not sure how to balance STR/DEX/INT yet. If using a combination weapon, a dip into gunslinger for some feats might be good, was thinking of the Piercing Wind and use it with 2 hands regardless

I guess fireworks will be added someday, or it's some leeway for homebrew ones.
Didn't catch the Advanced Alchemy level being used for counterracting, since I saw in other feats that the DC of the effects were your spell/class DC, thought it'd be the same here too.

Hi, I was looking at the Fireworks Technician archetype and I see it has feats to improve its Advanced Alchemy level.
It says however that it can only use it to craft fireworks... but I don't find any fireworks in the Alchemical items, so I wonder what Advanced Alchemy is for in this case.

Am I missing something ?

Tbh stuff like lamias, centaur etc being playable would be epic.
I know some monstrous races like snake-people are meant to stay as monsters, but if we got Gnolls, why not someday

Tbh, of what I was told, I think they can be fun to use. OP or the new meta ? Likely not.
But surely viable and worth it for the fun and aesthetic.
I mean, reaction on a crit to fire on someone, that's cool.

Also makes me think it'd be nice to get twinblades etc again, with each head having its own property runes.

You say it'd make a pretty straightforward action and it's true, but it'd be too likely to work. It's too good of a use of your 3rd action.

In irl fights, you rarely see someone attempt a grab right after exchanging a few blows, to "combo into the grab" so to speak.
It can happen, but usually you setup for it.

And if the player argues that it shouldn't have that trait, explain them that it's because if there wasn't, escaping would be way too easy since you could do 3 attempts each round at full bonus.
But if he really doesn't back down, you could say no manoeuver has the attack trait and let them enjoy ennemies doing 3 trip checks every round.

Marros56 wrote:

Do combination weapons lose anything over their regular counterpart? or is a gunsword just longsword+?

They're uncommon and also a step down from other martial weapons, more comparable to simple ones in terms of their numbers.

Gunsword for instance in ranged form is similar to the arquebus, except it has one-third of the range and no fatal property. In melee form it's a greatsword with the die size dropped to d8.

Worth it for the cool factor alone.

Kalaam wrote:

Those gunblades sounds very hot to me. I so want to use one with a Magus ! xD

Got one example, just one that sounds like a good picture in your head ?

The Mace Multipistol sounds cool to me. Doesn't look like the strongest, but it is a one-handed mace that has a three barrel pistal in the head and can fire 3 shots before needing to be reloaded. Has the following traits:

Concussive, fatal d10 on the firearm
Critical Fusion (like all combo weapons) and shove trait on mace.

Damn that sounds cool.

Those gunblades sounds very hot to me. I so want to use one with a Magus ! xD
Got one example, just one that sounds like a good picture in your head ?

It's not about being optimal.
It's about the fun and flavor ?
Does a gambit-style magus throwing explosive cards around sounds cool ?
Hell yes it does.
So it's viable

Farmer Magus with witch dedication.
Using a pitchfork (trident ?) and either laughing shadow or inexorable iron.

His witch familiar is a dumb chicken that writes down the spells and magic circles to learn them while pecking the ground and leaving inky footprints.

Inexorable Iron with witch dedication would result into a nice tank.

by lvl 7 you'll be tanky enough for the boss

- 8 hp/round ( lesson of life )
- 3 temphp/round ( Arcane Cascade )
- 5 physical DR ( stoneskin )
- +2 AC from warding assault

as for the gameplay, I guess it will always be the same.

Strike x2 + recharge
Spellstrike + recharge

or if quickened

Stride/intimidate + Strike x2 + recharge
Stride/intimidate + spellstrike + recharge

But if you think about it. 99% of the characters have a standard routine ( strike x2, flurry of blows, hunted shot/twin takedown, double slice, twin feint, Animal barbarian exploiting the monk flurry of blows, etc... )

I think I'll make use of that lol. I always wanted to make a tank magus and this could be it, 2handed focus spell isn't as easy to use as the others anyway.

I had planned of bringing my 1e crafter Magus back in.
So either Inexorable Iron or Sparkling Targe. Sentinel dedication and investing heavily into crafting, ideally to apply some craft related activities (like fulus and talismans) in combat. I know it's not possible mid-combat, but repairing the shield with 3 actions is just hilarious to me.

Yeah, spellstrike provoking isn't that much of an issue.
Just have to strategize with your team, stay close of the paladin or shield wielding fighter so he can react to cover for you and prevent a potential crit etc.

That's very, very specific setup right here. Would a party invest in like, 6 +3 spellstoring longswords for their paladin ?

Since it'd be a 1 use per day thing at most (costing a slot to someone) I don't think it would have been a big issue

Kalaam wrote:

Yeah I was just thinking of "Could I make a tank 2 handed Magus ?"

And I thought this spell might be nice for that, and using a Fused Staff (Maybe a custom Abjuration staff focused on protective spell? a "Scepter of the Defender" thing) to get a few more casts of it.

Along with Sentinel dedication for Heavy Armor and some defensive reactions.

Be interesting to see how it works.

Well, just have to find a group to play it I guess x) Ideally free archetype for sentinel or something else, but well.

Yeah I was just thinking of "Could I make a tank 2 handed Magus ?"
And I thought this spell might be nice for that, and using a Fused Staff (Maybe a custom Abjuration staff focused on protective spell? a "Scepter of the Defender" thing) to get a few more casts of it.

Along with Sentinel dedication for Heavy Armor and some defensive reactions.

MC Fighter/Paladin can do it a single time every fight though.
Sure it only need to be done once and then just keep hitting, but is it worth MC into Magus just for that? Would be simpler to use a Spellstoring weapon, or MC into Wizard and cast the spell normaly.

Honestly I don't see how it'd be broken either. It's Double Slice but burns a spell to give +2 AC against an opponent (as long as you keep hitting them).

Sure, it's a nice bit of AC, it's like having a shield constantly raised, but remember that the Magus doesn't have has much AC as other martials.
So honestly that'd be fair for him to get that, especially at the cost of 1 to 2 or 3 Feat (Expansive Spellstrike, Striker Scroll and Fused Staff) and burning a slot (from his, the staff's, or a ring).

Think of it like this.
The magus/summoner losing the lower level spells is like a wizard having expanded all of their level 2 and 3 spell slots. They don't have slots left, so does it means they can't use a Staff of Fire ?

Yes he would, as long as you're an arcane caster rings of wizardry work for you.

A ring gives you 2 slots of X level and 1 of X-1 level (outside of the very first ring). So it's just 3 extra slots of whatever the ring's level.

Kalaam wrote:

HumbleGamer wrote:

CaffeinatedNinja wrote:

HumbleGamer wrote:

Grimore is costy, dedications are ok since you expend a tons of feats, and as for ring of wizardry it gives "additional slots".

if you don't have any to begin with, I am not sure you'll be able to get additional ( or else a character with just a dedication would be able to throw lvl 3 and 4 spells just by getting a ring of wizardry ). Quite sure it doesn't work that way.

I mean, we are talking a Magus right? They don't need anything extra to use a ring of wizardry. By the time this starts becoming a real issue, 12ish, those items start getting cheap. So even if you don't take a wizard dedication (which lots do) you can have 3 lvl 3 slots easily late game for cheap as a Magus. And lvl 3 slots competing favorably with lvl 5/6/7/8 spellstrike slots is just way too good.

You misundertood me.

I am not saying that a magus would need a wizard dedication to use the ring of wizardry.

I am saying that a class which doesn't have lvl 1/2/3/4 spell slots ( depends the ring you want to use ) wouldn't be able to receive extra slots, since it doesn't have spell slots of that level to begin with.

Allowing any character with zero slots of that level ( magus too ) to benefit from ring of wizardry would mean that any character with a spellbook and the wizard dedication would be able to cast 2 haste and 1 freedom of movement per day.

Magus wouldn't be any different.

This was already discussed before, Rings work as intended on Magus and give them slots.

I remember taking part into a similar discussion, but not a clear answer.

If magus are allowed to use them, so would character with just the wizard dedication? If not, what would be the difference?

Difference is that the magus can cast spells of higher level than that and could cast those slots before.

CaffeinatedNinja wrote:

HumbleGamer wrote:

Grimore is costy, dedications are ok since you expend a tons of feats, and as for ring of wizardry it gives "additional slots".

if you don't have any to begin with, I am not sure you'll be able to get additional ( or else a character with just a dedication would be able to throw lvl 3 and 4 spells just by getting a ring of wizardry ). Quite sure it doesn't work that way.

I mean, we are talking a Magus right? They don't need anything extra to use a ring of wizardry. By the time this starts becoming a real issue, 12ish, those items start getting cheap. So even if you don't take a wizard dedication (which lots do) you can have 3 lvl 3 slots easily late game for cheap as a Magus. And lvl 3 slots competing favorably with lvl 5/6/7/8 spellstrike slots is just way too good.

You misundertood me.

I am not saying that a magus would need a wizard dedication to use the ring of wizardry.

I am saying that a class which doesn't have lvl 1/2/3/4 spell slots ( depends the ring you want to use ) wouldn't be able to receive extra slots, since it doesn't have spell slots of that level to begin with.

Allowing any character with zero slots of that level ( magus too ) to benefit from ring of wizardry would mean that any character with a spellbook and the wizard dedication would be able to cast 2 haste and 1 freedom of movement per day.

Magus wouldn't be any different.

This was already discussed before, Rings work as intended on Magus and give them slots.

It's funny how we get two absolutely opposite take on the question back to back.

Yeah until further clarification it clearly is GM dependent and all interpretations are pretty valid.

Spellstrike does say that the MAP doesn't increases until the Spellstrike is completed though, but yeah making it a strike and a -5 strike makes sense, if either hit, the spell would apply. I guess ?

Hi, I was pondering a defender type Magus and of course I thought of that spell.
At first I considered using a staff, and then take Fused Staff and Expansive Spellstrike and I realized some things:

1- Warding Aggression doesn't have the Attack trait, despite making you do a Strike.
2- It does target a creature and implies attacking it, so it would qualify has "a harmful spell".
3- It doesn't require any save or other defenses.

The question becomes: Is Warding Aggression Compatible with (Expansive) Spellstrike ?

If yes:
-Do you end up attacking twice ? At full attack bonus ? That would be kind of strong, especially with a staff to have multiple casts of it thorough the day.

-Do you Strike only once, and just benefit from the Action economy of not turning the weapon into a staff then back into a weapon ?

If no:
-Well, it just doesn't work and you need to swap the weapon to a staff and strike with the staff as part of the spell. Or use Striker's Scroll with 2 handed weapons.

Good catch, this makes sense.

The only times it's mentionned to combine damage sources are usually when doing 2 attacks as 2 rolls (Flurry and Double Slice).

I guess a clarification would be needed, for now as GM fiat I'd say damages are combined for the purposes or resistance/weaknesses. Though maybe not on an AoE/Save Spellstrike...

Dunno, since it's all in a single strike it'd make sense to me to combine the damage.