Staff Magus Question

[Ellessen]

I had always assumed that the somatic component of a touch spell was the action of making the touch attack or included that as part of the somatic component. Therefore if that portion of the somatic component can be replaced with the weapon it seems logical that all of the somatic components can be done with a weapon to me.

If this interpretation is viable then is it still necessary to have your off hand free to use Spellstrike in conjunction with a full attack action of a Quarterstaff wielder? Specifically if that full attack was Two Weapon Fighting thus having the first off hand of the TWF attacks also being a touch attack?

The reason I ask is because it seems that the Staff Magus Variant would lend itself to this particularly style since the Tripping Staff feat and the Tripping Twirl feats both give precedence for Spellstrike being use while both hands are on the weapon.

The clause about needing one hand free even if the spell has no somatic component for Spell Combat does not make sense to me and seems like an unbalance handicap at first glance.

[Grick]

Ellessen wrote:

I had always assumed that the somatic component of a touch spell was the action of making the touch attack or included that as part of the somatic component. Therefore if that portion of the somatic component can be replaced with the weapon it seems logical that all of the somatic components can be done with a weapon to me.

Nope. You get a free touch attack as part of casting the spell, but it still needs somatic as usual. (Unless it's Stilled, in which case it has no Somatic, but still grants a free attack)

Ellessen wrote:

If this interpretation is viable then is it still necessary to have your off hand free to use Spellstrike in conjunction with a full attack action of a Quarterstaff wielder?

It never has been. Spellstrike lets you deliver the spell with a weapon. You might need a free hand to cast the spell initially, but after that, you can use both hands as you like. If you have prepared a Stilled spell, you could cast it with both hands on your weapon then use Spellstrike to deliver the spell with your 'free' attack. Since a dev (James Jacobs? I can look it up) said that putting a hand back on your weapon is a free action, you can let one hand go, cast a spell, put your hand back, then use the weapon two-handed with Spellstrike. (Spellstrike, not Spell Combat)

Ellessen wrote:

Specifically if that full attack was Two Weapon Fighting thus having the first off hand of the TWF attacks also being a touch attack?

Not sure what you mean.

You can cast Shocking Grasp, and hold the charge (or if you miss with the free attack). The next round you could full attack with whatever weapon(s) you want, and the first one to hit discharges the spell. (Or not, your choice, Spellstrike is an optional ability) Spellstrike lets you deliver the spell through any weapon you are wielding.

Ellessen wrote:

The clause about needing one hand free even if the spell has no somatic component for Spell Combat does not make sense to me and seems like an unbalance handicap at first glance.

Spell Combat (not Spellstrike) lets you two-weapon fight with a one-handed weapon, and your free hand which casts spells. This does seem kind of weird if you're casting Still Spells, or Spells with no Somatic component, but that's just how it is. Fortunately, the staff magus can wield his quarterstaff one-handed during rounds when he's using Spell Combat, so it's not that bad.