General Observations:
Spellstrike needs something, the only time I found it to be really useful was round 2 of combat (cast spell and move round 1, round 2 charge). Otherwise you are better off casting the touch spell and hitting and then swinging the next round. You don't really get a bonus for taking 2 rounds to set up the combo and then having a smaller chance to hit with the spell (as your opponent will almost always have a lower touch AC). I am assuming that these touch spells can be held until you hit with the weapon otherwise it is even less attractive of an option. What if spellstrike was a full-round action that let you cast the spell and make one attack through the weapon?
Spell Combat is cool, but problematic at low levels. The -4 to hit on top of the -2 to your concentration check, makes it an inconsistence ability to use until 8th level. One option I thought of was if you fail your concentration check you don't take the -4 to hit. Spell Combat also creates a lot of rolling. Roll a concentration check, then possibly an attack roll for the spell, and then 1 to 3 attack rolls for your attacks, then roll damage.
I was very happy with the implementation of the Magus Arcana. The one thing I thought was missing was the ability to sacrifice spells to increase damage. Maybe 1d6 per spell level? The one thing I did notice was it was very easy for the Magus to burn through all of his spells in a combat.
First combat was at 1st level against a standard orc. Pretty standard combat. Magus casts shocking grasp. Orc charges and almost kills Magus. Magus spellstrikes orc and kills him.
Second combat 5th level against a Large Air Elemental. This is where the good rolls required for the class really start to show up. The Air Elementals AC of 21 was high enough that the Magus needed a 12 to hit, unless he used spell combat and then it became a 16, plus he needed a 12 to get make his concentration check. Needless to say the Air Elemental killed the Magus before he could even bring the Elemental to half of his hit points.
The third combat the Magus was 10th level and cast greater invisibility and destroyed a fire giant. He just moved around and unloaded on the poor giant.
I am adding an NPC Magus to my Kingmaker campaign as a NPC ally and will try the class out more from there.
I am sorry, but I read Spellstrike differently.
The way I understand the ability, is that when you cast a touch range spell, through normal casting or spell combat, you usually get a free meele attack in the same round to hit your enemy with your Harm.
The Spellstrike ability allows you to exchange spell effect with the 20/x2
against touch AC - VS - attacking with a longsword 19-20/x2 but having to target normal AC.
I am really not sure, if you can actually cast a touch range spell move arround and use you waepon to deliver the touch spell later.
I am sorry, but I read Spellstrike differently.
The way I understand the ability, is that when you cast a touch range spell, through normal casting or spell combat, you usually get a free meele attack in the same round to hit your enemy with your Harm.
The Spellstrike ability allows you to exchange spell effect with the 20/x2
against touch AC - VS - attacking with a longsword 19-20/x2 but having to target normal AC.I am really not sure, if you can actually cast a touch range spell move arround and use you waepon to deliver the touch spell later.
Spellstrike (Su): Whenever a magus casts a spell with a range of touch from the magus spell list, he can deliver the spell through any weapon he is wielding as part of a melee attack. If successful, this attack deals its normal damage as well as the effects of the spell. This ability does not grant the magus a free melee attack—such attacks must be made normally. Alternatively, a magus can make a free touch attack with his free hand instead of delivering the spell through his weapon, as normal.
So you can't cast a spell and attack in the same round with Spellstrike. Now once you have spell combat it is possible, but then you get to the second problem.
I am sorry, but I read Spellstrike differently.
The way I understand the ability, is that when you cast a touch range spell, through normal casting or spell combat, you usually get a free meele attack in the same round to hit your enemy with your Harm.
The Spellstrike ability allows you to exchange spell effect with the 20/x2
against touch AC - VS - attacking with a longsword 19-20/x2 but having to target normal AC.I am really not sure, if you can actually cast a touch range spell move arround and use you waepon to deliver the touch spell later.
Spellstrike (Su): Whenever a magus casts a spell with a range of touch from the magus spell list, he can deliver the spell through any weapon he is wielding as part of a melee attack. If successful, this attack deals its normal damage as well as the effects of the spell. This ability does not grant the magus a free melee attack—such attacks must be made normally. Alternatively, a magus can make a free touch attack with his free hand instead of delivering the spell through his weapon, as normal.
So you can't cast a spell and attack in the same round with Spellstrike. Now once you have spell combat it is possible, but then you get to the second problem.
I currently can´t cite the source, but I think it was
But if you move and cast touch spell in round 1 and then use your full attack on round 2, I understand you can make both attacks, the first one delivering the chill touch. "as part of a melee attack".
Casting a spell is a standard action, so the magus wouldn't get secondary attacks. So, as a standard action, he can cast a touch spell or cast the spell and also attack with a weapon with both attacks resolved as one melee attack which does both the damage of the spell and the weapon.
At least, that's the way I'm reading it.
Correct reading folks.. that sentence is there just to say that you do not get a free melee attack with a weapon when you cast a touch spell. You can, however, still take the free touch attack that comes with the casting of such spells.
Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing
from http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/pathfinder/pathfinderR PG/ultimateMagicPlaytest/round1/magusPlaytest&page=1#0
To repeat our beloved designer: This sentence is there that you don´t cast a touch range spell, attack with the touch range spell as usuall AND get a free swing.
You might want to read what Jason wrote again...he didn't say that.
You might want to read what Jason wrote again...he didn't say that.
Sorry, thats the way I read it, but I´ll check of course, could you point me to the source ?
You might want to read what Jason wrote again...he didn't say that.Sorry, thats the way I read it, but I´ll check of course, could you point me to the source ?
Correct reading folks.. that sentence is there just to say that you do not get a free melee attack with a weapon when you cast a touch spell. You can, however, still take the free touch attack that comes with the casting of such spells.
Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing
I can see where you might read Jason's quote the way you did, if it were not for the part I highlighted. That right there says you do not get a free melee attack when you cast the spell.
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Hi all, I'm actually the guy responsible for creating the magus here so I thought I would post the character info seeing as how my wonderful DM didn't ;-)
Unnamed Magus of Dying (lvl 5)
20 point buy, Elf
Str 10
Dex 18
Con 12
Int 18
Wis 10
Cha 8
Feats: Tougness, Weapon Finesse: Scimitar, Weapon Focus: Scimitar, Dervish Dance
Arcana: Spell Shield
Spell:
1st: Shocking Grasp, Burning Hands, True Strike, Grease
2nd: Scorching Ray, Mirror Image, Invisibility, Elemental Touch
Equipment: Nothing Magical, a scimitar and chain.
Unnamed Magus of Fire Giant Pwnage (lvl 10)
Str 10
Dex 20
Con 12
Int 21
Wis 10
Cha 8
Feats: Tougness, Weapon Finesse: Scimitar, Weapon Focus: Scimitar, Dervish Dance, Arcane Strike, Spell Focus: Evocation
Arcana: Spell Shield, Arcane Accuracy, Empower Magic
Spell:
1st: Shocking Grasp, Burning Hands, True Strike, Grease
2nd: Scorching Ray, Mirror Image, Invisibility, Elemental Touch
3rd: Slow, Haste, Lightning Bolt, Elemental Aura
4th: Greater Invis, Ice Storm
Equipment: Celestial Armor, Ring of Prot +2, Cloak resist +2, Dex +2, Int +2, +1 Spell Storing/ Keen Scimitar