I’ve just finished playing through the Curse of the Crimson Throne series with a magus. So with our GM’s extra “quest/background/story” add-on’s I’m just shy of my 20th level.
Arcane Pool :
At first level, the +1 enhancement off-sets the -2 of spell combat. However, the GM wasn’t so sure what to do with the other +1 that came from masterwork quality weapons. He simply ruled that one was a magical bonus and the other a material bonus. At higher levels I often used this ability to give me an edge in combat, allowing me to do greater damage against certain type of creatures. I was often reluctant to use this ability in every battle due to the cost.
Although a useful ability, in my opinion, it should resemble a bit more the Ki Pool of the Monk. What I mean, is that it should give a +1 enhancement bonus as long as there is 1 point remaining in the pool.
On the other hand, my GM thought it should allow the magus to enhance his weapon for a day, by writing temporary runes on it for example, which would only work for the magus of course.
Spell combat, Improved Spell Combat & Greater Spell Combat :
At lower levels those handy unlimited cantrips help out a bit, but their low damage/save DC made the spell useless half the time.
I really enjoyed playing this class ability when I got the “wand wielder” arcana. Later on, with a glove of storing, I was able to use the wand whenever I needed and switch to a two-handed hold on my dwarven waraxe at a moments notice (it’s fun to be a dwarf). A good wand of vampiric touch saved my bacon on more then one occasion.
The Greater version of this ability wasn’t very useful for me. I had maxed out my concentration check for casting defensively by the time I reached that level (traits : focus mind +2, combat casting +4, skill focus +3, improved spell combat +2 & skill points equal to my level = 11+lvl).
Spellstrike :
I used this quite often at certain levels rarely bothering to use spell combat in conjuncture with it. With touch spell allowing multiple touches (such as calcific touch) it was very useful.
However, the low quantity of such spells (especially on the magus spell list) didn’t make this ability worthwhile. My GM ruled that the magus was a touch spell specialist and must have a lot more touch spells in its list of spells. So he added/allowed a few touch spells from various books (such as the for mentioned calcific touch).
Magus Arcana :
3rd : Haste Assault : is very good for a dwaven magus and pretty frightening at higher level while wearing heavy armor. I used this ability quite often.
6th : Wand Wielder : as I mentioned before, a must have in my opinion.
9th : Reflection : or how to make the GM cry
12th : Dispelling Strike : costly, but pumping a couple of points in this is very worth while.
15th : Familiar : used the bonded object version on this one with a dwarven waraxe (yes I stayed with my concept of a dwarven axeman).
18th : at this level, I didn’t know what to take. In my opinion all those once per day abilities would be a waste of a good ability. So I took spell shield to gain that little edge in defence.
I loved the idea of this ability but it needs a few adjustments.
Pool Spell, Improved Pool Spell & Greater Pool Spell :
It would be more useful if the arcane pool was bigger at low levels, at higher levels it help a bit more, being able to cast that unprepared or spent spell once more.
The greater version was fun to have but would be more useful if it wasn’t at such a high cost.
Knowledge Pool :
Useful to get those spells you don’t have from your magus spell list, but a “meh” ability in my book. In a few levels I was able to get all magus spells.
My GM and I thought that this ability should give some other kind of bonus and our idea ranged from : skill bonuses, spell DC increase, add a spell from another spell list, concentration bonuses equal to half magus level, etc…
Fighter Training :
Barely used this ability since the ½ level differential didn’t help much to get fighter only feats.
Counterstrike :
Very fun to use. As soon as I was in melee range of an enemy caster, my GM hesitated to cast any spell at all. The GM allowed me to make AoO with spellstrike (a melee attack) and calcific touch or other multiple touch spell “active” it was devastating.
Overall, it’s a nice class.
It’s a high requirement class needing high ability scores from 2/3 of the 6 ability scores. The average BAB progression means that you need a good str or dex bonus to make your attack count. Aiming for a dervish style magus, as proposed by other board members, means that you lack the higher up class ability of the heavy armor (unless you can see a half-plated magus dancing around on the battlefield). Not to mention the 2 feats cost of weapon finesse and dervish dance while you’re at it. With a d8 in hp, you also need a good AC or a good constitution score to be in melee either to dodge those attacks or take the hit. Finally you need a decent intel bonus to get those extra spells per day and increase those DC’s.
My GM suggested giving it a bonus to AC and/or BAB equal to its Intelligence modifier.
He also proposed a variant of the class to aim for the arcane archer prestige class. Allowing most melee abilities, such as spell combat and spellstrike, to be placed on ranged weapons
I enjoyed playing that class and look forward to try the final version of the class when it comes out.
