I was wondering- can a magus, transformed into a dire tiger, make a full attack action at a -2 penalty and cast a spell? Let's say the spell in question is Stilled and Silenced so there is no mechanical problem in casting a spell while transformed.
I can foresee a couple of problems with this:
1. one of your paws aren't free to "wield" the spell if you make two claw attacks
(well, nowhere in the rule says you need to make the claw attacks with each paws...)
2. you are not truly wielding a weapon that can be wielded as a part of two-weapon fighting; therefore you cannot use Spell Combat while in a form that forces you to use natural weaponry
(biggest problem with the interaction. No twp w/ natural weapon = no spell combat with natural weapon too?)
Three cheers to anyone who can give an opinion this matter ;)
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I'm not sure, but that's definitely got me intrigued. I've seen a few posts saying that you can't Polymorph and continue to do Spell Combat... but I can't recall the reasonings. I'm looking for them, though :)
Notes:
A) You'll also need Eschew Materials, I believe, as your spell component pouch gets melded into your new form.
B) In temporary response to (1): Yes, if you had two claw attacks, you'd have to forgo one of them to cast a spell. Same as if you had two claw attacks, yet wielded a weapon in one of them. You're correct, you don't have to make both claw attacks.
C) Crap, found the issue:
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 off-hand weapon is a spell that is being cast. To use this ability, the magus must have one hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic components), 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 (any attack roll made as part of this spell also takes this penalty). 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 on 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.
Hope this helps :)
EDIT: That all said, off the top of my head, I'd allow any wanna-be Shapeshifting Magi to take Natural Spell (or a "Magus" variant) and let 'em loose.
Perfect. Just the answer I was looking for. I'd have to ask for a houserule if I wanted a shapeshifting magus then. Many thanks, Austin Morgan.
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In that case wouldn't it also rule out using unarmed strikes if you have the feat Improved Unarmed Strike or have multiclassed into monk? I thought natural attacks were considered "weapons" for most purposes.
A Monk's unarmed attacks are considered light manufactured weapons (as well as natural, but that's not important here). Thus, I believe they would work, and I'd definitely allow it regardless of RAW.
Not all natural attacks are considered manufactured weapons, though.
I really don't know much about Improved Unarmed Strike, other than it's a req. for Greater Grapple :P
Spell combat requires a one-handed weapon which deals piercing or slashing damage.
Where are you finding the rule on damage type? As quoted above, just a light or one-handed melee weapon. I don't see any reason a club wouldn't work with spell combat.
1) Full attack action doesn't require you to make attacks with all of the possible actions, you could still hold back an attack to free up that limb for another purpose (IE You can't make a natural attack with a limb that was used to make an attack with a manufactured weapon).
2) Technically you are using a viable weapon, Magus Spell Combat doesn't say anything about it having to be a manufactured weapon and natural weapons are considered light weapons.
You can make attacks with natural weapons in combination with attacks made with a melee weapon and unarmed strikes, so long as a different limb is used for each attack. For example, you cannot make a claw attack and also use that hand to make attacks with a longsword. When you make additional attacks in this way, all of your natural attacks are treated as secondary natural attacks, using your base attack bonus minus 5 and adding only 1/2 of your Strength modifier on damage rolls. In addition, all of your attacks made with melee weapons and unarmed strikes are made as if you were two-weapon fighting. Your natural attacks are treated as light, off-hand weapons for determining the penalty to your other attacks. Feats such as Two-Weapon Fighting and Multiattack (see the Pathfinder RPG Bestiary) can reduce these penalties.
If you want to use spell combat, you'd have the choice of making the spell attack first (using a "claw" limb for example, removing it from the secondary full attack action) with the -2 as the natural weapons are considered light weapons for the purposes of TWF. And then go to the secondary attacks (Bite and claws) with the extra penalties appropriate for the TWF and Natural attack interaction. Or doing it with the full natural attack sequence first (with appropriate penalties) and leaving one limb out to make the spell attack with after, just as it says in the Spell Combat description.
Ooooh, very nice. Thanks for your input, Skylancer4!
Technically you are using a viable weapon, Magus Spell Combat doesn't say anything about it having to be a manufactured weapon and natural weapons are considered light weapons.
Spell Combat doesn't say "manufactured" but it does say "melee weapon" which a Natural weapon is not.
You can make attacks with natural weapons in combination with attacks made with a melee weapon and unarmed strikes, so long as a different limb is used for each attack. (...) In addition, all of your attacks made with melee weapons and unarmed strikes are made as if you were two-weapon fighting. Your natural attacks are treated as light, off-hand weapons for determining the penalty to your other attacks.
That doesn't say it's a light weapon, it says it's a light weapon for determining the TWF penalty. Nothing to do with Spell Combat.