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So I was looking into the Bladebound Magus Archetype and realized something.
A normal Magus gets 1/2 lvl + Int Arcane Pool at 1st level. Now looking at the Bladebound archetype it says that it gets 1/3 lvl + Int Arcane Pool but it also states that this ability replaces the 3rd level Magus Arcana.
Does this mean:
1- That you have 1/2 lvl + Int till 3rd level and then it changes to 1/3 lvl + Int?
2- That you gain an additional 1/3 lvl + Int at 3rd level?
3- That you gain 1/3 lvl + Int at 1st level onward?
The rules are not very clear and don't say anything about replacing or adding on to the initial arcane pool. And since you don't even gain the Black Blade ability till 3rd level it is a little confusing.
The Bladebound archetype replaces your 3rd level magus arcana.
You also have a lessened arcane pool.
Your arcane pool is always 1/3 level + Int modifier, as an archetype is what you are for all of your levels in that archetype class, even if you haven't reached the 'replaced feature' yet (in this case, the 3rd level arcana).
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The Bladebound archetype replaces your 3rd level magus arcana.
You also have a lessened arcane pool.
Your arcane pool is always 1/3 level + Int modifier, as an archetype is what you are for all of your levels in that archetype class, even if you haven't reached the 'replaced feature' yet (in this case, the 3rd level arcana).
Yep, if you are going to choose an archetype, you have to choose it at first level. And of course since you always round down in Pathfinder, your arcane pool size will be exactly the same size at levels 1 and 2 as it would without the black blade archetype.
I agree, they probably should have separated the bit about the 1/3 per level into a separate ability with the normal "This replaces the Magus's normal arcane pool ability"
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So I was looking into the Bladebound Magus Archetype and realized something.
A normal Magus gets 1/2 lvl + Int Arcane Pool at 1st level. Now looking at the Bladebound archetype it says that it gets 1/3 lvl + Int Arcane Pool but it also states that this ability replaces the 3rd level Magus Arcana.
Does this mean:
1- That you have 1/2 lvl + Int till 3rd level and then it changes to 1/3 lvl + Int?
2- That you gain an additional 1/3 lvl + Int at 3rd level?
3- That you gain 1/3 lvl + Int at 1st level onward?
The rules are not very clear and don't say anything about replacing or adding on to the initial arcane pool. And since you don't even gain the Black Blade ability till 3rd level it is a little confusing.
it doesnt matter when their pool changes, since when you take the black blade archetype you only have 1+int mod points anyway. the 1/2 or 1/3 before hand can never come up (unless some prestige class in the future changes that)
if it really matters to you, its the 1st one, but it since it happens before 4th level, there is never an opportunity for it to make a difference
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You also have a lessened arcane pool.
But no where does it say that you have a lessened arcane pool. It just states that you get 1/3 lvl + Int. It never states that it replaces the 1/2 lvl + Int.
To everyone who says that it doesn't matter. It does if #2 was what was intended.
#2 would be giving you both 1/2 lvl + Int and 1/3 lvl + Int. Now I don't think this is intended by RAW it doesn't say anything about replacing the Magus Arcane Pool ability, just that it replaces the 3rd level Magus Arcana. Which means you should have both abilities.
So you would actually be getting:
Level - Arcane Pool
1 - 1 + Int
2 - 1 + Int
3 - 2 + 2x Int
4 - 3 + 2x Int
Etc.
Now again I don't think this is intended but both as a player and a GM it is how I read it.
And if you look at other classes that have changes to the numerical values to a core feature of the class it usually specifically states that it replaces the original numbers, this one does not.
And also I would like to note that I am just asking cause I have a player who is looking at potentially playing a Magus and is interested in the Bladebound archetype. I want to make sure that I am interpreting it correctly so that he can play the class correctly.
And as a side note I would like to mention that I know how an archetype works. But archetypes don't replace abilities without stating that they do and this one doesn't state at any level.
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"The bladebound magus’s arcane pool has a number of points equal to 1/3 his level (minimum 1) plus his Intelligence bonus." Thats how many it has. Period.
it doesnt say "in addition to", it alters the number it has. at levels 1 and 2 yes a magus has 1/2level+int. after that point it becomes 1/3level+int.
so soon as you get the black blade it alters your pool.
i dont see how you can interpret that as "add this to the existing pool"
it doesnt really need to be any clearer IMHO, but i guess it could be clearer
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"The bladebound magus’s arcane pool has a number of points equal to 1/3 his level (minimum 1) plus his Intelligence bonus." Thats how many it has. Period.
it doesnt say "in addition to", it alters the number it has. at levels 1 and 2 yes a magus has 1/2level+int. after that point it becomes 1/3level+int.
so soon as you get the black blade it alters your pool.
i dont see how you can interpret that as "add this to the existing pool"
it doesnt really need to be any clearer IMHO, but i guess it could be clearer
But it also doesn't say that it replaces the normal amount that you get. All I am saying is that it should be clearer. I personally would never allow a player to add them together but I would also like to make sure that that is the way it is intended to be.
All I am saying is that it is kind of odd that they would deviate from the normal "as if", "replaces", or "functions as" wording that they use for all of the other archetypes abilities. Especially if they meant for it to replace the key feature of the class. They only time they use the usual wording is when is states:
"This ability replaces the magus arcana gained at 3rd level."
I don't understand why everyone just says it replaces the standard when it doesn't state that it does. I personally think it should but RAW doesn't state that.