Here's my lvl 1 playtest: http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/pathfinder/pathfinderR PG/ultimateMagicPlaytest/round3Playtest/lvl1MagusPlaytest.
I'm hopefully going to play Grigori in a regular campaign starting next week. Here's the two-man party. 20-point buy, Core rulebook + APG, no traits + Magus Playtest
10 Str Light Load < 38 lbs < Med Load < 76 lbs
18 Dex init +4
12 Con
16 Int Common, Draconic, Sylvan, Aklo
8 Wis
10 Cha
BAB +1 Combat Maneuver Bonus: 1
•Rapier + Daze + Arcane Pool Enhancement
+4 to hit (+1 BAB, +4 dex, +1 enhance, -2 Spell Combat) d6+1 dmg (+1 enhance), Crit x2 18-2
Attempt concentration check d20+9 vs DC 15
Humanoid Foe with 4 or less HD must save Will vs. DC 14 or takes no action for 1 round.
•Rapier + Burning Hands + Arcane Pool Enhancement
+4 to hit (+1 BAB, +4 dex, +1 enhance, -2 Spell Combat) d6+1 dmg (+1 enhance), Crit x2 18-2
Attempt concentration check d20+9 vs DC 15
Burning Hands: 15' cone, 2d4 damage, reflex save DC 15 for half-damage. May set flammables alight.
•Rapier + Shocking Grasp + Arcane Pool Enhancement + Spellstrike
Attempt concentration check d20+9 vs DC 17
+6 to hit (+1 BAB, +4 dex, +1 enhance) d6+1 dmg +2d6 lightning dmg (+1 enhance), Crit x2 18-2
•Rapier + Arcane Pool Enhancement
+6 to hit (+1 BAB +4 dex, +1 enhance) d6+1 dmg (+1 enhance), Crit x2 18-20
Max HP 14.5 (12.5 Hit Die, +2 con, +2 favored class)
Saves: Fort +4 (+1 con, +3 class) Ref +4 (+4 dex) Will +2 (-1 Wis, +3 class)
AC: 18 (+4 dex, +4 armor) Flat-footed: 14 Touch: 14 CMD: 15 (10 +1 BAB +4 dex)
Feats and Class Features:
Weapon Finesse
Combat Casting (Human)
Light Armor Proficiency, Simple + Martial Weapon Proficiencies (Class)
Cast Spells in Light Armor with No Arcane Failure Chance (class)
Arcane Spell Pool: 4 (1 lvl, +3 Int)
Spell Combat
Spellstrike
Spells/Day
0th: 4 Save DC 14 Concentration DC 15
1st: 3 Save DC 15 Concentration DC 17
Spellbook:
0th lvl: All Magus
1st lvl: Burning Hands, Chill Touch, Enlarge Person, Grease, Obscuring Mist, Shield, Shocking Grasp, Silent Image
Spells Memorized
0th: Ghost Sound, Prestidigitation, Detect Magic, Daze
1st: Magic Missile, Burning Hands, Shocking Grasp
Skills: 12 ranks (2 class, +3 int, +1 racial) x 2
4 Acrobatics +4 dex, -1 Armor, +1 rank
3 Appraise +3 int
0 Bluff
-1 Climb +0 Str, -1 Armor
5/9 Concentration +3 int, +1 lvl, (+4 casting defensively or grappled (feat))
8 Craft Alchemy +3 int, +3 class skill, +2 rank
0 Diplomacy
0 Disguise
3 Escape Artist +4 dex, -1 Armor
2 Fly +4 dex
-1 Heal -1 wis
0 Intimidate
8 Know Arcana +3 int, +3 class skill, +2 rank
7 Know Planes +3 int, +3 class skill, +1 rank
0 Perception -1 Wis +1 rank
0 Perform
3 Ride +4 dex, -1 armor
-1 Sense Motive -1 Wis
7 Spellcraft +3 int, +3 class skill, +1 rank
4 Stealth +4 dex, -1 armor, +1 rank
-1 Survival -1 Wis
-1 Swim +0 str, -1 armor
5 Use Magic Dev. +3 Class skill, +2 rank
Starting Cash 1000gp (2nd lvl)
Cash: 352.6 Gold Weight of Gear: 37.5 lb.
Cost Item lbs Stored
Free Explorer's Outfit 0 Worn
20 Rapier 2 Sheath on Back
8 Kukri 2 Sheath on Chest
250 Masterwk Chain Shirt 25 Worn
Free Traveling Spellbk* - Tashtigo's Backpack
5 Component Pouch 2 Belt
0.5 1 Day Rations - Tashtigo's Backpack
1 Waterskin - Tashtigo's Backpack
8 Ink (1 oz) 0 Backpack
1 Scroll Case 0.5 On Belt
1 Parchment x5 0 Backpack
0.1 Ink Pen 0 Backpack
1 Flint+Steel 0 Backpack
0.8 Signal Whistle 0 Cord around neck
75 Ioun Torch 0 Orbiting head, or tucked in pocket
100 Alchemist's Lab 0 Left with trustworthy PC
20 Alchemist's Fire** x2 2 Backpack
50 Masterwk Backpack 4 Worn
25 Scroll of Mount 0 Scrollcase
25 Scroll of Obscuring Mist 0 Scrollcase
50 Potion of Cure Light 0 Pocket
5 Spare component pouch 0 Tashtigo's Backpack
*See APG
**Made for 1/2 price with Alchemy skill, taking 10.
Arcane Pool (Su): At 1st level, a magus can expend 1
point from his arcane pool as a swift
action to grant any weapon he is
holding a +1 enhancement bonus for
1 minute. For every four levels beyond
1st, the weapon gains another +1 enhancement
bonus, to a maximum of +5 at 17th level.
These bonuses can be added to the weapon,
stacking with existing weapon enhancement
to a maximum of +5. This ability counts as
the Arcane Strike feat for meeting any
prerequisites. Multiple uses of this ability do not
stack with themselves
Spell Combat (Ex): At 1st level, a magus learns to cast
spells and wield his weapons at the same time. This
functions much like two-weapon fighting, but the offhand
weapon is a spell that is being cast. To use this
ability, the magus must have one hand free, while wielding
a light or one-handed melee weapon in the other hand. As
a full-round action, he can make all of his attacks with
his melee weapon at a –2 penalty and can also cast any
spell from the magus spell list with a casting time of 1
standard action. If he casts this spell defensively, he can
decide to take an additional penalty on his attack rolls,
up to his Intelligence bonus, and add the same amount
as a circumstance bonus to his concentration check. If
the check fails, the spell is wasted, but the attacks still
take the penalty. A magus can choose to cast the spell
first or make the weapon attacks first, but if he has more
than one attack, he cannot cast the spell between weapon
attacks. The magus must have one hand free to use this
ability, even if the spell being cast does not contain
somatic components.
Spellstrike (Su): At 2nd level, 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
melee attack deals its normal damage as well as the
effects of the spell. Instead of the free melee touch attack
normally allowed to deliver the spell, a magus can make
one free melee attack with his weapon as part of casting
this spell. If used with spell combat, this does not grant
an additional attack.
Human Lvl 2 CG Cleric of Calistra (20 point buy, core+APG, no traits)
16 Str Light load < 86 < Medium Load < 173
13 Dex Init: +5 (+1 dex, +4 feat)
12 Con
10 Int Common
16 Wis
10 Cha
BAB +1 CMB +4 (+1 BAB, +3 str)
Mwk Longspear (Reach)
+5 to hit (+3 Str, +1 BAB, +1 Mwk) d8+4 (+4 1.5 x Str two hands)
Max HP 16.5 (12.5 Hit Die, +2 con, +2 Favored Class)
AC 17 (+6 armor, +1 Dex) or AC 19 (+6 armor, +1 Dex, + 2 shield) CMD: 16
Saves: Fort 4 (+1 con, +3 class) Ref 1 (+1 dex) Will 6 (+3 wis, +3 class)
Feats and Features:
Simple Weapons, Med Armor, Shields except tower.
Improved Initiative (lvl 1)
Dodge (Human)
Proficiency: Whip (Calistra Follower)
Domains: Trickery 1st lvl Domain spell: Alter Self, Power: Bit of Luck
Luck 1st lvl Domain spell: True strike, Power: Copycat
Channel Positive Energy, 3/day, 30' Radius, Save DC 11
Either Heal Living or Damage Undead for 1d6
Bit of Luck (Sp): (6/day) You can touch a willing creature as a
standard action, giving it a bit of luck. For the next round,
any time the target rolls a d20, he may roll twice and take
the more favorable result.
Copycat (Sp): (6/day) You can create an illusory double of yourself as
a move action. This double functions as a single mirror image
and lasts for a number of rounds equal to your cleric level, or
until the illusory duplicate is dispelled or destroyed. You can
have no more than one copycat at a time. This ability does
not stack with the mirror image spell.
Spells Save DC Casting on the Defensive DC
0th 4 13 15
1st 3+Domain 14 17
Memorized:
0th Guidance, Virtue, Resistance, Detect Magic
1st Bless, Cause Fear, Shield of Faith, Domain: Alter Self
Skills 6 ranks: (2 Class, +1 Human)x2 Class Skills in Bold
-2 Acrobatics (+1 Dex, -3 Armor)
0 Appraise
5 Bluff (2 Rank, +3 Class Skill)
0 Climb (+3 Str, -3 Armor)
3 Craft (+3 Wis)
0 Diplomacy
0 Disguise
-2 Escape Artist (+1 Dex, -3 Armor)
-2 Fly (+1 Dex, -3 armor)
7 Heal (+3 Wis, 1 rank, +3 class)
0 Intimidate
- Know Arcana
- Know History
- Know Nobility
- Know Planes
4 Know Religion (+3 Class skill, 1 Rank)
- Linguistics
3 Perception (+3 Wis)
0 Perform
- Profession
1 Ride (+1 Dex)
3 Sense Motive (+3 Wis)
- Spellcraft
3 Stealth (+1 Dex, 2 Rank, +3 Class Skill, -3 Armor)
3 Survival (+3 Wis)
0 Swim (+3 Str, -3 Armor)
Level 2 Gold: 1000 Cash: 178.6 Total Weight: 84.5 lb
Cost Item Lbs. Stored
Free Explorer's Outfit 0 Worn
350 Mwk Breastplate 30 Worn
305 Mwk Long Spear 9 Carried
2 Dagger 1 Belt
1 Waterskin 4 Backpack
0 Grigori's Waterskin 4 Backpack
50 Mwk Backpack* 4 Worn
25 Holy Symbol (Sil.) 1 Worn
0.1 Bedroll 5 Backpack
0 Grigori's Bedroll 5 Backpack
1 Flint+Steel 0 Backpack
.08 Signal Whistle 0 Worn around neck
7 Hvy Wood Shield 10 Slung on back
- Grigori's Water skin 4 Backpack
- Grigori's Rations 1 Backpack
- Grigori's Sp. Book 1 Backpack
8 Morningstar 6 Belt
20 Alch'mist's Fire**x2 2 Pocket
1 Scroll Case .5 Belt
25 Scroll: Comp. Lang 0 Scroll Case
25 Scroll: End. Elmnts 0 Scroll Case
*See APG
**At cost from Grigori
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Looking forward to reading this.
A little feedback on Grigori's prepared spells.
Now that you have three spells, I might seriously consider Shield so you have at least one defensive buff. That would replace Magic Missile.
If you don't want Magic Missile, I'd still consider preparing something else in that slot. Now that you have Spell Strike, putting that in your sword gives you two hits for d6 damage and the possibility of Str damage. As much as possible I try to prepare spells which have extra effect based on level. Magic Missile won't get worth preparing again until 3rd level, if then. Magic Missile is, I think, good at first level and then not great again until 9th level when it finally maxes out. Between then Shocking Grasp and Chill Touch are going to be your bread and butter 1st level spells.
Now that I'm so close to finally getting to play a Magus I've considered putting mine into the Arena of Teeny Tiny Doom. Because of our campaign choice (Serpent's Skull) and the determination that we'll use a 25 point buy, I've made some changes to the one I was playtesting. But then I wonder what I think I'm going to learn that I didn't already garner from your lvl 1 playtest. So, thanks for saving me the work!
APL for parties of less than 4 PCs is one less than the avg. Character level, so that makes CR1 an average encounter for Grigori and Tashtigo. I’ll do three CR1s and a CR2.
Grigori and Tashtigo have been picking their way across the battlefield of cooling corpses, hoping not to find that their missing friend Gilimur is among the dead. As evening falls and the light fails [dim light] they notice that in the distance, someone else is also moving among the bodies, with frantic energy. Thinking that whoever it is might recognize Gilimur by description, Grigori and Tashtigo approach the woman, who, dirty and dressed in tattered rags, looks to be weeping closely over the body of some fallen conscripted peasant.
“Woman,” calls Grigori approaching to 30’, “I am sorry to see your grief, but have you seen a dwarf among the dead?” Strands of lank hair whip around as the ghoul falls cat-like to all fours, half-chewed flesh dropping from her jaw as she growls in warning. Torchlight reflects dully from her dead eyes.
No surprise, initiative runs Grigori, Tashtigo, Ghoul. Grigori doesn’t know that undead are immune to mind affecting magic, so he tries to daze the creature (autofail), draws his rapier, and charges it with a point of arcane pool. Tashtigo tries to identify the foe. The DC is 11 (10+Cr) and a check of 24 (nat 20!) produces three useful pieces of info (1 for success, 1 for succeed by 5, 1 for succeed by 10): High intelligence, Paralyzing touch and Ghoul Fever. “Don’t let it touch you, Grig!” yells Tashtigo. Not wanting to get paralyzed and wake up as a ghoul, Tashtigo tries Diplomacy. “Gentle Sister,” he coos, “we shan’t disturb your meal time, only let us know if you’ve seen our dwarf friend and we’ll be on our way.” The ghoul’s initial disposition is unfriendly DC 22. Tashtigo gets 11 (no modifier). This shifts the ghoul’s attitude to hostile. “prattling meat walk kill eat black blood” she sneers as she moves up to swipe a claw at Tashtigo. The ghoul provokes an AoO from the cleric’s longspear: modified 16 hits the ghoul. Though the ambient light is dim, both PC have Ioun Torches (APG) out, so there is no miss chance. d8+4 --> 11 points of damage, 1 short of max! The ghoul (2 hp remain) nearly impales herself on Tashtigo’s spear in her haste to shut him up. The ghoul hits AC 14, scraping long broken fingernails down Tashtigo’s breastplate.
Seeing the hungry dead seeming focused on Tashtigo, Grigori can’t resist the flank. He uses spell combat with Daze (I know, he doesn’t). The attack barely hits AC 14: (8, +4 dex, +1 enhancement, +1 BAB, -2 spell combat, +2 flank), but the the ghoul gasps and drops (damage 4) as Grigori feels its vertebrae pop apart when he stabs its spine.
Ooh; first shut-out!
APL for parties of less than 4 PCs is one less than the avg. Character level, so that makes CR1 an average encounter for Grigori and Tashtigo. I’ll do three CR1s and a CR2.
Grigori and Tashtigo have been picking their way across the battlefield of cooling corpses, hoping not to find that their missing friend Gilimur is among the dead. As evening falls and the light fails [dim light] they notice that in the distance, someone else is also moving among the bodies, with frantic energy. Thinking that whoever it is might recognize Gilimur by description, Grigori and Tashtigo approach the woman, who, dirty and dressed in tattered rags, looks to be weeping closely over the body of some fallen conscripted peasant.
“Woman,” calls Grigori approaching to 30’, “I am sorry to see your grief, but have you seen a dwarf among the dead?” Strands of lank hair whip around as the ghoul falls cat-like to all fours, half-chewed flesh dropping from her jaw as she growls in warning. Torchlight reflects dully from her dead eyes.
No surprise, initiative runs Grigori, Tashtigo, Ghoul. Grigori doesn’t know that undead are immune to mind affecting magic, so he tries to daze the creature (autofail), draws his rapier, and charges it with a point of arcane pool. Tashtigo tries to identify the foe. The DC is 11 (10+Cr) and a check of 24 (nat 20!) produces three useful pieces of info (1 for success, 1 for succeed by 5, 1 for succeed by 10): High intelligence, Paralyzing touch and Ghoul Fever. “Don’t let it touch you, Grig!” yells Tashtigo. Not wanting to get paralyzed and wake up as a ghoul, Tashtigo tries Diplomacy. “Gentle Sister,” he coos, “we shan’t disturb your meal time, only let us know if you’ve seen our dwarf friend and we’ll be on our way.” The ghoul’s initial disposition is unfriendly DC 22. Tashtigo gets 11 (no modifier). This shifts the ghoul’s attitude to hostile. “prattling meat walk kill eat black blood” she sneers as she moves up to swipe a claw at Tashtigo. The ghoul provokes an AoO from the cleric’s longspear: modified...
sweet won, one for the grigger!
wouldnt a caster know something autofailed due to immunity versus made a saving throw and not cast the same spell twice tho?I would think casting a fire spell ona vs one casting one on a rogue with evasion who made his save would "look different"?
wouldnt a caster know something autofailed due to immunity versus made a saving throw and not cast the same spell twice tho?
I would think casting a fire spell ona vs one casting one on a rogue with evasion who made his save would "look different"?
If Tashtigo had ranks in spellcraft, he could have known what Grigori was casting and told him it wouldn't work. Or if Grigori had ranks in religion he would probably know about the immunity. I think it's reasonable to say that after the combat Tashtigo would ask "What were you trying to cast at that ghoul?" so Grigori won't keep making the same mistake in future combats.
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If Tashtigo had ranks in spellcraft, he could have known what Grigori was casting and told him it wouldn't work. Or if Grigori had ranks in religion he would probably know about the immunity. I think it's reasonable to say that after the combat Tashtigo would ask "What were you trying to cast at that ghoul?" so Grigori won't keep making the same mistake in future combats.
I think you handled it perfectly. As far as I'm aware, you know when a targeted spell fails, that is, generally when an opponent passes his save. Presumably, immunity is like that. All Grigori is likely to know is that the spell failed.
3 Drow Warriors:
The ghoul’s final scream seems to linger in the air like a foul vapor for a moment after its destruction. “I don’t know what else is out here tonight, but it knows about us now,” murmurs Grigori. “These lights don’t help our privacy” says Tashtigo, catching the orbiting flame for a moment before sending it spinning again about his head. “But how else will we find Gilimur? Whatever hunts in the dark can probably see us without these, anyway.”
Who is hunting the characters but three Drow warriors Kishk, Tichit, and Corvix, survivors of the battle, eager to add to their score of slain surface dwellers. They require no perception check to see the PCs illuminated by their Ioun torches. Kishk and Tichit make stealth checks to approach to 50’ from the PC, from opposite sides, poisoned quarrels in their crossbows. Covix holds back at 80’. Stealth checks are 22 for Kishk (13 +2 skill, +5 distance, +2 dim light), 31 for Covix, and 14 for Tichit. Perception for the PCs is 13 for Tashtigo and 17 for the magus.
Initiative: 21 Tashtigo, 20 Corvix, 12 Kishk, 10 Tichit, 6 Grigori.
Tash has no action in the surprise round. Covix is holding back, Kishk fires his hand-crossbow at -2 for distance: 16: exactly Tashtigo’s flat-footed AC. Tash takes 3 points of damage and must save vs. poison DC 13 or fall unconscious: he easily makes it with fort 17. Tichit takes a shot at his target Grigori who is also flat-footed: 14 AC: barely hitting, also for 3 hp damage. Grigori focuses on the pain from the small barbed quarrel to fight off the sudden wave of drowsiness (pun!), making his fort save. Grigori charges Tichit “I’ll run you through, fungus eater!” 11 (4 +2 charge, +4 dex, +1 BAB), but the slippery dark elf easily shrugs off his clumsy attack.
Charging with his longspear, Tashtigo can just reach Kishk, who revealed himself making his crossbow attack. Nat 18: Tash’s spear point punches through the drow’s light shield, the arm bearing it, and sprouts from the elf’s back, dark with blood. Corvix calls in undercommon for Tichit to retreat, casts darkness on a crossbow bolt and loads it, and takes a 5’ step back. Kishk slides backwards off of Tashtigo’s dripping longspear and falls in a heap. Tichit attempts to tumble away from the clumsy human 14 (12 +2 dex) vs. Grigori’s CMD 15, so Grigori makes an AoO (15 modified), stabbing the slinking warrior in the throat for 6. Tichit stumbles backward with his hands hopeless at his neck. Grigori looks around for another foe but sees no one.
Tashtigo moves over to Grigori and channels positive energy healing them both for 1. Corvix slinks away into the darkness.
These last two combats were a bit easy. Next will be CR2+. Corvix heads back for reinforcements; two giant centipedes and their mite handlers.
Another long combat: Corvix, the drow escapee from the last fight (CR 1/3), and his reinforcements, Uhl the mite (CR 1/4) and his two Giant Ant Worker pets (CR1).
An hour later night has fallen. Tash and Grig navigate by the light of their Ioun torches. Tash has expended 2 of his three daily uses of Channel Pos. Energy, so they’re both at full HP.
Corvix the drow warrior (CR 1/3) has fetched reinforcements: Uhl the mite (CR 1/4) and his two giant ant workers (CR 1). Corvix’s plan is for Uhl and his pets to hide, and to lure the PCs into moving past them. From watching the PCs from a distance in the dark (120’ darkvision) and a sense motive check of 4, Corvix incorrectly guesses that the PCs are looters.
Corvix picks a place 60’ from the PCs such that there is a clump of bodies [difficult terrain] between where he and they stand, preventing a direct charge. The underdark invaders make stealth checks: Corvix 22 (10 +6 distance +2 skill +4 Darkness), Uhl 35, Red Ant 11 (3 +4 distance, +4 darkness), Black Ant 11. Grigori’s perception is 18, Tashtigo’s is 7. Initiative runs Tashtigo 24, Uhl 20, Grigori 16, Black Ant 9, Corvix 8, Red Ant 6.
Tashtigo takes no action in the surprise round. Uhl readies an action to use Doom against a PC who approaches withing 20’. Grigori, pointing into the darkness: “Something’s moving out there, Tashtigo, like a couple of giant bugs.” Grigori readies an action to attack if one enters melee range. Black Ant stays put, waiting for Uhl signal to attack. Corvix takes a long shot using at the flat-footed Tashtigo using a regular quarrel, saving his poisoned quarrel for when the PCs are closer. Nat 8 goes well-wide and alerts the PCs to his presence, if not his exact location, as he’s under cover of darkness “I have already claimed the prize you seek!” he taunts in Elven, a language neither PC speaks. Oh well. Red Ant stays put.
Tashtigo uses a move action to activate copycat and braces his long spear against a potential charge. “That didn’t sound like a bug, Grig.” Uhl readies Doom again. Grigori expends an arcane pool point, 5’ steps closer to the cleric, and casts Shocking Grasp, holding the charge for use with spellstrike. Black Ant nibbles on a corpse. Corvix patiently fires another bolt, judging that the PCs won't hold their ground for long. Since the cleric is protected by the copycat, Corvix fires a black-fletched bolt at the magus 18 (19 +3 attk, -4 distance), threatening a crit, confirming with a 17 (18 nat) for 4 points total. "Should have used poison," thinks Corvix. Red ant scratches in the dirt.
"I'm not standing here getting shot" grunts Tash. "Advance, with Calistra's blessing." Tashtigo channels positive energy (his last for the day) healing 1 point of damage from Grig's crossbow bolt wound. Tashtigo advances 20' toward the direction from which the bolts flew. Uhl readies Doom for if a PC reaches 30'. Grigori advances to just in front of Tashtigo, but behind the point of his long spear. The magus takes up a defensive posture (fighting defensively) and readies an attack upon anything that enters melee. Black ant waits. Corvix fires at Grigori again, this time with a poisoned arrow: nat 3- not even close. Red Ant stays put.
"Keep moving." whispers Tashtigo. He gives Griori a point of temp HP with Virtue and advances another 20', next to the pile of bodies. That puts him 20' from the underdark invaders, triggering Uhl's Doom Spell. Lurching into the light, a tiny misshapen person whines as its hideous head swells and pulses. The cleric rolls nat1 on his save! Unnerved by the vile corrupted fey, Tashtigo takes a --2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. Unable to charge the wicked mite because of the treacherous footing, Grig takes his place again in front of his friend and readies an attack, still holding the charge from the shocking grasp. Black ant looks on blankly. Corvix backs out of the advancing torchlight to 50' and reloads his cross bow with his last poisoned dart. Red ant's antennae twitch.
Tashtigo activates another copycat and uses Bit of Luck on Grigori. "Don't miss." he says. Uhl chucks a dart (13 +2attk) missing Grigori and handles his pets, clicking at them to attack. Grigori steps up to the Black Ant and stabs his sparking rapier at it (modified 11), but with a bit of luck form Calistra, rerolls for 15 (9 +1 enhance, +4 dex, +1 BAB) finding a chink in the Ant's chitinous carapace. There is a flash as the Shocking Grasp spell arcs from the sword to the man-sized insect, for 9 points of combined weapon and electric dmg (9 hp remain). The black ant retaliates, still smoking from Grigori's spell, biting AC 19, which hits, for 7 points, tearing Grigori's thigh muscles with the brutal mandibles in its low black head. Grig is now at 4 HP. Corvix fires his last poisoned quarrel at the wounded Grig (nat 5) curses, loads a normal quarrel, and 5' steps back to 55'. The red ant moves in to attack Tashtigo, provoking an AoO. Nat 20, Calistra be praised! (fails to confirm the crit). The Red Ant loses the end of an antenna (6 dmg) to Tashtigo's spear as it closes to attack. The ant strikes at [random] the copycat, which vanishes.
Tashtigo 5' steps and bounces his spear point off of the black ant's tough exoskeleton, his aim thrown off by the lingering dread from the ugly mite's curse (would have hit if not for the doom). Uhl throws another dart at the cleric, exactly hitting AC 17, stinging Tash with a painfully barbed dart for 2. Uhl gurgles, pleased with himself and sure his drow masters will reward his battle prowess. Trusting to his shield spell and the protection of Nethys, Grigori forgoes casting defensively and uses spell combat with burning hands. The rapier attk glances off the huge insect's back (nat 9). Casting burning hands provokes a miss from the black ant (nat 3), and a cone of crimson and yellow flames floods over the dumb beast, which fails its Ref save (7 +0 ref), charring for 6 points (3 remain). The nearly mindless black ant worker presses its attack, ignoring the ichor seeping from its burn wounds. Back to back nat 20s for the confirmed crit on Grigori! Rearing up unexpectedly, the steaming black ant grasps Grigori's head between its powerful jaws and crushes him into unconsciousness: 12 points puts him at -1. The Ioun Torch drops at his feet as he slumps face-first to the ground. Corvix ululates in spiteful approval and fires again at Tashtigo, bouncing a quarrel off the the cleric's breastplate. The red ant dents and scrapes Tashtigo's armor (16 vs. AC 17).
Risking it again, Tashtigo activates his third copycat and loses his memorized Cause fear to heal Grigori again. The red ant slips in a puddle of blood (nat 2). Calistra's forbearance restores 7 hp to Grigori, restoring him to 6hp. Proud of his pets and urging them on to more violence, Uhl throws a fourth dart at Grigori, which flies over the fallen magus's head. Grigori returns to his feet as a move action and spits out a mouthful of soil, then pierces the black ant's faceted eye (10 +6 attk) for 4 hp, destroying the creature's tiny brain. The black ant twitches and then lies still. Corvix coolly continues to send crossbow bolts into the dirt at the PCs' feet (modified 9). The red ant, confused by Tashtigo's copycat, snaps wildly at nothing (nat 2).
Tashtigo 5' steps away from the red ant and misses it with his spear. Uhl moves around 5' behind his remaining pet and throws his next-to-last dart at Tashtigo, (not the copycat), planting a second black barbed dart in him for a harassing 1 point of damage (11 remain). "Ow!" complains Tash. Grigori moves between the red ant and his friend and ineffectually slaps the armored hide with his rapier (nat 6). Corvix calmly fires at Tashtigo, perfectly content for all his allies to take the hits; nat 20! The bolt passes through what would have been Tashtigo's throat, but it's the copycat instead. The red ant, searches with its good antenna for a way past Grigori's magical shield coming up short with a nat 5.
Tashtigo activates his fourth copycat and manages to stab the red ant for 5 points of damage (7 hp remain) despite Uhl's curse (13 -2 doom +5 attk). Uhl throws his last dart, sticking yet another one in Tashtigo for 1 hp (10 left). "Bleed, giant!" Croaks Uhl in undercommon. Tired of the tiny wicked creature, Grigori uses spell combat with Daze. First the attack on the red ant hits (nat 17) for 3hp (4 left). Next the check to cast defensively passes. Uhl's huge head spins under the effects of the daze (nat 3 to save). Corvix fires at Tashtigo because he is not in melee and so it easier to hit. The bolt flies into the dark (nat 6). The wounded red ant slashes at Grigori (nat 20) and would have confirmed the cit if it didn't have to work around the invisible shield. Grig takes 4, leaving him shaky at 2 hp left.
Over-eager to take the fight to the drow, Tashtigo plants his spear in the ground next to the red ant (nat 1). Uhl stands gaping, his muscles locked. Grigori concentrates on finishing off the red ant. He hits AC 16 (would have missed with spell combat) for 6 points of damage, spraying himself with the dying insect's blood. He then moves up next to the ugly mite, daring him to throw another dart. Corvix can see that Grig is hurt and eager to finish him off, bounces a bolt off of Grigori's shield spell (19 +3 attk -2 distance), which would have been a crit if the cautious drow had been one range increment closer.
Hoping to keep his friend alive, Tashtigo pulls and reads his obscuring mist scroll, so that the PCs have total concealment against Corvix. Grigori, enraged and bloody, Slashes Uhl with his rapier (7 +6 attk, passes miss chance) for 2 hp, a gash across the creature's bloated face. Uhl attempts to acrobatics-tumble back into the mist (modified 13) failing to beat the magus's CMD, and so provoking an AoO. The AoO connects and Uhl rolls unconscious into a pile of corpses. Corvix, having seen both ants die and hearing Uhl cry in pain, bolts off across the battlefield and hides in the night.
I will be starting a game at lvl5 with the new Magus tomorrow :)
Did you take my advice and ditch Magic Missile for Shield? The top of the page doesn't have that prepared.
How did you like it? Feel like a bit more of a combat bad ass with the extra protection or wish you had MM for more damage?
I did take your advice. Grigori cast shield in round 5. Over the course of the combat, the shield spell caused (2d4 + 2d6 + 4) points of damage to miss that would have hit Grigori if he had not cast shield. Considering that he ended the combat with 2 hp and the cleric has completely expended his daily healing, I judge that shield was an effective use of a slot and a standard action.
Playing Grigori does not feel very badass. His big attack, spellstrike with shocking grasp, did 9 points of damage. For comparison, a 1st lvl greatsword fighter with 16 str and power attack does 9 damage minimum (2d6 +4 str +3 power attk). It is fun, though.
What struck me about this battle was the usefulness of 120' darkvision at night.
OK, last lvl2 playtest. Haggard the tiefling apprentice necromancer has been sent by his master to pick up some fresh corpses from the battlefield. Particularly, the master wants dwarf or gnome corpses. Haggard's master loaned him a wand of Magic missile and three human zombies for the errand. Each zombie is dragging a body, one of which belonged to the PC's friend Gilimur.
By luck, the gods' intervention, or DM fiat, Grigori and Tashtigo spy the four figures laboring in the distance in the pre-dawn twilight.
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Playing Grigori does not feel very badass. His big attack, spellstrike with shocking grasp, did 9 points of damage. For comparison, a 1st lvl greatsword fighter with 16 str and power attack does 9 damage minimum (2d6 +4 str +3 power attk). It is fun, though.
1st level is alway tough for caster types like the Magus. A Bard or Inquisitor would be unlikely to be doing much more damage now.
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If you swap to scimitar at level 3 and take the Dervish Dance feat (in one of the extra paizo books somewhere), you can add your dex to damage instead of your strength. The feat lets you use a scimitar as a finessable weapon AND add dex to damage so long as your off hand is empty, which it technically is.
Sadly, if you're going to be a dex based magus, the best choice will always be the scimitar until paizo comes out with some rule/feat that allows other dex weapons the same privelage (at least by RAW standards. We've houseruled the feat to apply to any finessable weapon already).
This will add 4 more base damage alone given your build which will help bring the hurt.
Edit: The feats in the Qadira Sourcebook. Prereqs are easy to meet. Prerequisites: Dexterity 13, Weapon Finesse, Perform (dance) 2 ranks, proficient with scimitar
Aaargh! Grigori and Tashtigo had the Tiefling down to a single HP before I remembered their resistance to fire. I will start the encounter over again.
If you swap to scimitar at level 3 and take the Dervish Dance feat...
You are quite right, of course. Dervish Dance is a good deal for a magus. unfortunately, my DM has set the Core Book, APG, and Magus Playtest as the three sources for PC building material.
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You are quite right, of course. Dervish Dance is a good deal for a magus. unfortunately, my DM has set the Core Book, APG, and Magus Playtest as the three sources for PC building material.
Not even Piranha Strike from Serpent's Skull Players Guide? Without at least one of those you are going to have some problems with damage. That's sad times.
Looking forward to the playtest.
After the previous fight, Grigori drinks his healing potion, gaining 2 HP back, putting him at 4. Tashtigo uses his last non-domain first level spell to heal him for another 6, bringing him to 10. Grig has used all of his 1st level spells. Tashtigo is at 10 hp. Tashtigo’s only 1st level spell left is Alter Self. He has 5 uses of Bit of Luck and 2 uses of Copycat left. He has used his scroll of Obscuring Mist.
Since Haggard and his zombies are making no attempt to be stealthy, and Grigori and Tashtigo have light sources, no one is surprised. As Grig and Tash approach through the pre-dawn gloom, Haggard has the zombies drop their corpse burdens and stand between him and the closing humans. Haggard holds his wand close by his side.
When Grigori and Tashtigo get within 60’, they realize that three of these people are dead. Tashtigo’s religion check of 14 identifies them as zombies and reveals DR 5/slashing. He whispers this to Grogori, who sheaths his rapier and pulls out his kukri. Tashtigo drops his spear, pulls his dagger and an alchemist’s fire.
“All we want is the dwarf.” Grigori calls, pulling an alchemist’s fire and moving to 30’. “Leave him or I’ll cut your ears off.” Grigori attempts to intimidate Haggard (15 +1 cha). 16 Beats Haggard’s (10 +HD +wis) by 5, so he is demoralized for two rounds (shaken). Naturally, this initiates hostilities. Initiative runs Grigori, Haggard, Orc Zombie, Female Human Zombie, Tashtigo, Male Human Zombie.
Grigori chucks his alchemist’s fire at the Orc zombie, (7 +4 dex, +1 BAB, -4 distance). The toss goes astray, dealing splash damage to the female human zombie 1 pt. The shaken Tiefling backs up 10’ and casts Grease on the ground behind the zombies. Grigori recognizes the spell being cast and warns the cleric to watch his step. “Kill them.” hisses Haggard, pointing at the PCs. The orc zombie lurches forward toward Grigori, hands outstretched. [Nat 3] Much too slow for the magus. The Female Human Zombie follows suit with no more success [nat 5]. Tashtigo moves up 20’ to support Grigori but, slowed by his armor, is still 10’ behind. Tash chucks his alchemist’s fire at the female human zombie [17 +1 dex, +1 BAB, -4 distance]. White fire spreads over the animate corpse when the ceramic flask crashes into her exposed sternum. She takes more points of fire damage (6 hp remain), and what was left of her hair and rags catch the flame. The male human zombie does not have a straight line to charge at Grigori because the other two zombies are in the way. He shambles forward toward the PCs, ending up flanking Grigori with the burning zombie woman.
Grigori takes a 5’ step so that he is only adjacent to the burning zombie, expends an arcane power pool point (his last of the day) and hacks at her with his heavy curved kurkri, using spellcombat with Daze. The slow-moving undead makes no effort to avoid the blow [nat 16] and Grigori adds a crack to her already fractured skull (2 pts of dmg). Grig fails the check to cast defensively. Still intimidated by the magus, Haggard levels his master’s wand and hurls a spectral pair of bone-white force jaws that bites Grigori for 4 hp (magic missile) [6 left]. The burning woman reaches for Grigori, flames curling her dead face into a sneer. The grab attempt provokes an attack from Grig, who lops off half the reaching hand with his kukri (3 pts of dmg) [1 remains]. The orc zombie also reaches for Grigori, almost as if wanting to ask him a question. Grigori has already taken his AoO, so the orc zombie makes his grab (14) against Grigori’s CMD of 16 (phew) and fails. On Tashtigo’s turn, the woman zombie burns further, collapsing as her body burns beyond usefulness. The cleric moves up to 5’ away from the orc zombie, pulling his other alchemist fire as he moves. He throws, (16 +1 dex, +1 BAB) cracking open the deadly missile in the dead orc’s face, which takes 2 points. The male human zombie grasps at Grigori as if falling and seeking his support. Grigori has no AoO left. The touch attack misses (nat 8).
“Tainted Coward!” curses Grigori at Haggard, using spellcombat with Daze to attack the burning orc zombie while trying to prevent more magic missiles. The zombie is easy to hit (AC 12) but the magus can’t make much headway with his kukri, dealing only 2 pts of damage again. The concentration check passes this time, but Haggard easily passes his save with a nat 20. Haggard identifies Daze being cast and bluffs: “That magic doesn’t work on Tieflings, fool!” Bluff check 9 fools neither PC. Losing confidence in his zombie servants, Haggard backs up 30’ across the battlefield and points the wand at Grigori again, this time dealing 3 points of dmg to the knife-wielding magus [3 pts left]. The orc zombie grabs at the injured magus, heedlessly provoking an AoO. Grigori parries the dead brute’s advance, chopping sideways into the thing’s neck for 5 points of dmg [3 pts remain]. At the beginning of Tash’s turn, the flames from the alchemist’s fire again burn the orc, consuming the rest of the chopped and charred corpse. Noting that Grig is covered in magic missile spectral bite marks, Tashtigo passes up pursuing the tiefling and hacks at the remaining zombie with his dagger for 7 points of damage. The male human zombie tries again to throttle Grigori (14 +4 CMB) this time locking his cold bony fingers around the magus’s thin neck.
Grigori gasps toward Haggard “You’ll die first, Fiend!” Grigori uses spell combat with Daze. First the attack roll (AC 13: 14, +2 dex, +1 enhance -2 grappled, -2 spell combat) works on disemboweling the zombie for 5 points. The zombie’s animating force is driven out of it by the two character’s knives [12 hp, -7 Tashtigo’s dagger, -5 Grig’s kukri] and its fingers release as it slumps into the mud. Then the concentration check to cast while grappled succeeds (nat 16), forcing Haggard the tiefling to save vs. the Daze [nat 1!]. “Kill the wizard!” gasps Grigori. Haggard would have acted next, but he is locked in place by the Daze, the point of his wand wavering in space. Tashtigo runs around the greased area, reaching the wizard, but is unable to attack in the same round.
Grigori does a run action around the greased area and reaches flanking position with Tashtigo. Haggard attempts to cast Expeditious retreat defensively: Nat 6, the spell fizzles, “I yield, I yield!” cries the perfectly unwounded apprentice, and drops his master’s wand at the PCs’ feet.
So entertaining! And a close fight, to boot.
I think I would really like to see a controller type Magus tested out. Maybe next time I have some free time I will try it.
So entertaining! And a close fight, to boot.
I think I would really like to see a controller type Magus tested out. Maybe next time I have some free time I will try it.
Glad ppl like the playtest. What are you thinking for the controller-magus?
Glad ppl like the playtest. What are you thinking for the controller-magus?
Taking advantage of affecting more than 1 target with different actions.(much like Grigori did while attacking the zombie and casting Daze on the wizard)
Not focusing on melee damage output, so INT could get a little boost, increasing DCs for things like Grease, Flare Burst, Hydraulic Push, Color Spray, Glitterdust, Pyrotechnics, etc
Weapon Finesse on Sickle, Flail, Whip, try for trip/disarm. Hopefully he wouldn't stink too much. This is actually where his feat tax would be, becoming efficient with combat maneuvers.
The unfortunate part is a real lack of "Touch of ___" spells (idiocy, weakness come to mind)