Matheren's page

Clarification Request
The two new Magus Hybrid Studies in the TXCG both come with Conflux Spells that include the Manipulate trait, unlike all prior Conflux Spells.

Can we get clarification for why these two in particular are given that trait (opening them up to reactive strikes)?

More specifically, how does the Aloof Firmament's passive benefit - specific move actions not provoking a reaction while in Arcane Cascade stance - interact with their Conflux Spell's Manipulate trait? Does one override the other?

My group's like 3 sessions into Strength of Thousands and I'm the first character death, so I was thinking of a Jinin Elf Magus/Fighter from the Pavilion of Falling Flowers. But the more (I think) I understand that particular Hybrid Study, the less great it sounds. Might just go with bland old Inexorable Iron instead.

The inclusion of Manipulate is a bit anti-synergistic, but my guess is it's there to encourage using Sky Laughs at Waves only after you've entered Arcane Cascade, where it should (and they should make this more clear) allow you to avoid provoking a reaction. If you use it as the opening action of your turn/combat, then it has the balancing factor of provoking reaction.

I don't think the rest works as you describe though?

It still takes an action to go into Arcane Cascade to gain the Study's benefit. Additionally, the Conflux allows you to make a Strike (1 action), not a Spellstrike (2 actions). AFAIK those two aren't interchangeable, so you couldn't Conflux > Arcane Cascade > Spellstrike in a single turn.

Seems like they wanted these things to be done over subsequent turns. Something like:
Turn 1) 1 action spell > 1 action arcane cascade > 1 action conflux to move to target + strike (presumably w/o provoking enemy reaction)
Turn 2) 2 action spellstrike > reaction to move away (again w/o provoking enemy reaction) > last action for whatever