I was just scrolling through the forums and saw a number of wishes for a 3+(whatever) ability for the Magus. Something along the lines of what a cleric's domain or a wizard's school provides. I don't know if this has been suggested yet. If it hasn't, love to hear feedback, and if it has, then I'm just adding my support. ;)
How about a 3+Int/day ability along the lines of the spell-storing weapon ability. Maybe the Magus could choose any spell they know to store in the weapon as a standard action, having it stay there until discharged in a successful melee attack (using the normal penalties from the spellstrike class ability). The spell wouldn't have to be prepared ahead of time (sort of a spontaneous aspect), so the Magus could have a little more variety in their prepared spells and by extension their spellcasting side while keeping the theme of the class. It would also prevent a miss and loss of the spell from being a day ruiner at low levels.
And yes I know there are some wording issues that would have to be cleaned up with the penalties since it wouldn't be a cast/swing, but I think this would clear up at least some of the worries.
Heck maybe it wouldn't have to be spells, but special Magus abilities chosen like alchemist discoveries that the Magus could add on, like choosing one that deals 1d6/howevermanycasterlevels of a chosen energy type; or one that adds less damage and exhaustion or no damage and negative levels. Or healing, or paralyzation, or poison, or abiltiy damage, or whatever.
Anywho, I kind of like the idea so tell me what y'all think.
I do just want to add that overall I really like this class. Yeah there are some issues, but not nearly as many as what I see people complaining about. No the Magus isn't likely to be as deadly in melee as a straight Fighter, but does it really have to be with all the other options for coolness it has? Personally, I don't mind slightly underpowered characters as long as the group is having fun. As far as I am concerned it is all about how you play rather than how much damage you can do. I think the Magus is a great character design with a few rough edges that need to be cleaned up. (And by the way I love the spell list, just needs a little tweaking and a few more touch spells.)
ah well *bump*
It's a thought. The issue with spell storing us it will allow a magus to really nova an attack when coupled with spell combat. If it were to work I think limitations such as, only 1 spell could be stored at a time. It had to be cast by the magus. Also It could only be a touch spell. At least those are the constraints I would put on it. Grant it at first level as a replacement for spell strike.
I completely agree. Thanks for fleshing that out. Forgot to add that stuff in.
I also thought it might be interesting to include greater and lesser "stored spells." The main ones would be the ones equivalent to spells, dealing more damage and greater effects. Those could be set at standard or move actions depending on what the game designers wanted. These would then require a turn to set up before the attack (standard for "spell," standard action for attack on the following turn), or at least make the attack require a full round (move action for "spell," standard action for attack). The lesser abilities might do less damage or lesser effects, but only require a swift action so they can be made with the attack on the same turn. An example might be: standard action to store "exhaustion," or as a swift action store "fatigue."
last bump just to try