You will Shock Grasp with your weapon, not the off-hand, so it will be very good that increased threat range.
Alas, I need some help also, same archetypes, but Dervish Dance. Str-13, Dex 18, Con 12, Wis 10, Int 19 and Cha 11. I'm already on 3rd level, looking for a build till 20th though.
I am in the same boat now, in prep for a Jade regent game. Does kensai give enough to warrant loss of spell recall etc...I am worried about the armor class at low level as well.
Personally I would stick with the katana for threat range as Xum pointed out. You will be doing a lot of damage through shocking grasp and I just love those intensified-critical-shocking grasped-hits.
The GM's face was priceless the first time I landed one of those even at low level without intensify. Double damage, no save on the spell.
Strangely, AC has not been a problem for me. I invested in Light Armor pro and Leaf Armor, high dex, and ended up with one of the best AC's in the group at low level.
You (Malthule) are planning strength build, so your mileage will vary quite a bit I'm sure.
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Just lookin for a bit of constructive input on a question I have.
With the serious diminished spellcasting ability that a Bladebound - Kensai archetype will get through his entire career, and given the fact that I will begin playing in a pretty high stat campaign group and focusing on a strength build with power attack, rather than a dex build Magus, I am assuming I should focus more on my damage output with a blade and let my spells (aka Shocking Grasp) serve as supplemental damage ... is this wise?
1st level Magus (Kensai - Bladebound archetype)
Strength 18 (+4)
Intelligence 20 (+5)
Dexterity 18 (+4)Power Attack (-1+2)
ToughnessIs giving up the extra weapon threat range that a 18-20 (x2) Katana provides, to land those nasty 19-20 (x3) from a Falcata worth it to a Magus - Bladebound Kensai build?
(Remember that the Kensai is able to start increasing his damage multiplier with a confirmed crit, starting at level 4 by spending 2 arcane points. With that in mind, A falcata can deal x4 damage very early on ... which is very appealing to me. Eventually with a keen quality on the blade I will criting on a 17-20 for x4 damage. Not bad for also being able to land an occasional x2 shocking grasp with my off-hand as well)
I would think the Strength and Power Attack be pointless; Int and Dex are the key stats right? Power Attack more for a Two-Handed weapon?
Just lookin for a bit of constructive input on a question I have.
With the serious diminished spellcasting ability that a Bladebound - Kensai archetype will get through his entire career, and given the fact that I will begin playing in a pretty high stat campaign group and focusing on a strength build with power attack, rather than a dex build Magus, I am assuming I should focus more on my damage output with a blade and let my spells (aka Shocking Grasp) serve as supplemental damage ... is this wise?
1st level Magus (Kensai - Bladebound archetype)
Strength 18 (+4)
Intelligence 20 (+5)
Dexterity 18 (+4)Power Attack (-1+2)
ToughnessIs giving up the extra weapon threat range that a 18-20 (x2) Katana provides, to land those nasty 19-20 (x3) from a Falcata worth it to a Magus - Bladebound Kensai build?
(Remember that the Kensai is able to start increasing his damage multiplier with a confirmed crit, starting at level 4 by spending 2 arcane points. With that in mind, A falcata can deal x4 damage very early on ... which is very appealing to me. Eventually with a keen quality on the blade I will criting on a 17-20 for x4 damage. Not bad for also being able to land an occasional x2 shocking grasp with my off-hand as well)
Katana:0.85(1d8+X)+0.15(2d8+2X)
Falcata:0.90(1d8+X)+0.10(3d8+3X)X being bonus damage.
Katana comes out to 13.225
Falcata 13.8
Keen:
Katana:0.7(1d8+X)+0.3(2d8+2X)
Falcata:0.8(1d8+X)+0.2(3d8+3X)
Katana:14.95
Falcata:16.1
If you're concerned about higher levels please consult the formula given. Note this isn't that accurate considering different ac values and confirmation rolls.
Normal hit %(Die value+bonus damage)+crit hit %[crit multiplier(die value+bonus damage)]
I am no mathematician but if both weapons are D8, why is Katana:0.85(1d8+X)+0.15(2d8+2X)and the Falcata:0.90(1d8+X)+0.10(3d8+3X) ? And Katana:0.7(1d8+X)+0.3(2d8+2X)
Falcata:0.8(1d8+X)+0.2(3d8+3X)
Rough potential percent chance of each types of damage.
Int and Dex are key from a armor class stand point, seems like these two archetypes together work very well with a dervish dancer build since its dex driven anyway. I've tried to make a kensai/bladebound with a decent strength but stats get super thin quick.