I'm playing a second level Magus now. Elf, Dex based. Dervish Dance on next level and Bladebound Archetype.
I'm pretty good at making builds normally, but this one is eluding me somehow. I'm talking about arcana and feats mostly. The characters idea is to be something of a duelist, he will challenge melee characters as well as spellcasters (so I'm thinking step up chain)
Could you guys help me out with this one?
The stats are pretty awesome considering it's been rolled. So far they are thus:
13 - Str
19 - Dex
12 - Con
18 - Int
11 - Wis
14 - Cha
No, it's not totally optimized, but that's cause there's an RP background, and I live mostly for that.
So, any tips?
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Close range arcana is great for using with spellstrike/spell combat. It lets you get an extra attack with your ranged cantrips riding along.
I've got a similar build for my PFS char, my next arcana I'm thinking will either be Arcane Accuracy or Shield Spell. The arcane accuracy is handy for either hitting something with high ac, or using the bonus then when using spell combat reduce your attack and boost your concentration to make sure you get that spell off that you want. And who doesn't want a shield as an immediate action? Since I usually only get one buff off a combat, I don't always have Shield up, so that arcana would be handy.
I like the idea of shield arcana, I would go for it, just not so sure it's that good cause of the shield spell, it's a first level spell easily usable. Of course, eventually mu Inteligence will be great... but I'm a little adamant. I wasn't going with accuracy at all.... but I've seem tons of people telling me how good it is... so, I'm thinking about that.
I'm really stuck in feats, any thoughts?
Combat Casting, Toughness, Nimble Moves, Dodge, are all good choices. Later on Lunge can get help you use spell combat more often (since it offers a means of extending your reach). Uncanny Concentration may or may not be handy for you. I took focused mind as my trait and between that and combat casting I almost always get my spell off (there was one time when in a grapple I failed to cast).
Nimble moves doesn't work for me. I have that trait, so, I'm not taking combat casting. The games I play go on to really high levels, I don't want a feat that's gonna become redundant.
What about u guys helping me out with a progression till 20th?
And what r your thoughts about the step up chain?
Why doesn't nimble moves work for you?
Anyways this is what I would consider:
1 -- Weapon finesse
3 -- dervish dance
A -- Familiar
5 -- power attack
5 -- weapon focus
A -- Arcane Shield
7 -- toughness
9 -- lunge
A -- arcane accuracy
11 -- improved familiar
B -- weapon specialization
A -- Close Range
13 -- greater weapon focus
15 -- Improved critical
A -- Spell Critical
How do you want to use your spells? That will make a huge difference, as you might want to consider things like spell focus and quicken spell, intensify spell and possibly disruptive spell.
Why doesn't nimble moves work for you?
Anyways this is what I would consider:
1 -- Weapon finesse
3 -- dervish dance
A -- Familiar
5 -- power attack
5 -- weapon focus
A -- Arcane Shield
7 -- toughness
9 -- lunge
A -- arcane accuracy
11 -- improved familiar
B -- weapon specialization
A -- Close Range
13 -- greater weapon focus
15 -- Improved critical
A -- Spell CriticalHow do you want to use your spells? That will make a huge difference, as you might want to consider things like spell focus and quicken spell, intensify spell and possibly disruptive spell.
Thanks for the help. As I said, my char is basically a duelist. He is trying to spread his art. He will have lots of one on one combat with melee chars and spellcasters alike. Of course, this is "character concept" so, I'll be an essential part of the party. There is only one other arcane caster and he is a summoner, so, they will count on me quite a lot, but I'm more of an individualist, as you may well see.
Ahh, Abraham. I'm a Bladebound Archetype Magus, so, no familiar for me :)
In some ways that make everything much easier -- I would consider intensify spell at level 10 then, and replace the familiar arcane with wand wielder. Toppling spell could be a good choice for you as well -- there are just enough force spells for the magus to make it a good choice.
If you choose to take spell blending I would recommend picking up twilight knife -- it's going to flank with you and if you make it a toppling twilight knife you can keep your opponent on the ground while doing nice damage.
Not familiar with Toppling Spell. Wand Wielder is really that good?
I don't intend on getting spell blending.
What are you guys thoughts on the Step Up Chain and Combat Reflexes? The way I see it, it's awesome against casters, thought about disruptive, but being unable to get spellbreaker it kinda gets pointless, right?
disruptive spell is a metamagic feat -- not the fighter feat. It forces a concentration check on a caster affected by the spell that has disruptive feat put on it. I'm not convinced that spell casters will be around often enough to justify step up -- though it is useful in a number of situations... AoO's don't seem to happen that often either in my opinion and as such I've rarely had need of combat reflexes for AoOs.
About feats:
#Heigthen Spell
#Preferred Spell
#Intensify Spell
#Empower Spell
#Elemental Spell
#Spell Perfection
#Quicken Spell
#Weapon Focus
#Greater Weapon Focus
#Weapon Especialization
#Critical Focus
#Arcane Strike
#Staggering Critical
#Spell Focus
#Greater Spell Focus
All are great feats for a Magus.
Add Magical Lineage (Shocking Grasp and Chain Lightning), or Heirloom Weapon (Scimitar) and Magial Lineage (Shocking Grasp) for a great combination with the metamagic feats.
Really nice stuff so far, thanks guys.
Arcane Strike works with Arcane pool and the black Blade?
Preferred Spell I'm unfamiliar with. And quicken will rarelly be usefull, except for the Spell perfection one.
What spell would you take for Spell Perfection?
Also, I'm thinking about getting magical lineage at 9th level, what spell would you take to benefit from it then?
I dont see spell penetration in any of these builds. That feels like a recipe for lots and lots of resists.
I would probably spell perfection dragon's breath myself -- but there are several good choices.
Arcane Strike works with Arcane pool and the black Blade?I don't see why it wouldn't.
They had some ambiguous language in the playtest but it got removed in the final write up I believe... double check to be sure.
-James
Arcane strike should work as the damage bonus is untyped in the feat. The black blade strike is also untyped. The arcane pool is an enhancement bonus.
James-
Your build is using Elf as the race and NOT bladebound, is that correct? You took an arcana at 3rd which you don't get since you gain Black Blade at 3rd level.
I think you should take a look at Vampire's Thrust from undefeated fighter. You can't take it till level 13, but on the Magus it's very potent. You heal 1/5th the damage you deal out. On a spellstrike that crits that becomes a lot of health.
James-Your build is using Elf as the race and NOT bladebound, is that correct? You took an arcana at 3rd which you don't get since you gain Black Blade at 3rd level.
True, I don't care much for bladebound.
If you want an intelligent sword, go get one.. it'll work better than the black blade for the most part.
I'd rather a magus use a spell-storing weapon as I see it meshing better. You can use greater magic weapon and then arcana pool to make sure the weapon is top-notch.
The rest of the arcana pool is best spent recharging spell casting... at 4-10 it gives back 1st level shocking grasps and at 11+ it gives back vamp touches and force hooks, if not the occasional 5th level spell. Moreover it lets you burn a GMW for your weapon (perhaps 2 if you want a defending weapon in there for AC) and then use the slot for other things (say the aforementioned vamp touch, et al).
But to each your own, I just don't see the black blade delivering as well as a normal intelligent weapon could.
-James
I do like the idea of the Black Blade, it's very stylish and fits my char. Besides, it can be normally enhanced, so, it can get some neat abilities. And the loss is very small considering. There is no AWESOME Arcana I can get at that level anyhow and the arcane pool set back can be improved through feats and some high inteligence. I may be wrong though.
Personally I'm a fierce proponent of the wand wielder arcana, one of the things that people complain about the Magus is it's high nova potential, and wand wielder and a few low level wands helps offset this. Shield, grease, true strike, obscuring mist are just a few 1st level spells that don't really improve with level or by intelligence modifier (especially true strike), so are all viable options.