Magus---(Blackblade-Kensai) Can this work?

[Salarain]

Hello everyone

I wanted to know if these two Archetype (Blackblade and Kensai) can work.

The race I am trying out is the Dhampir.

The stats roll are 2x18, 17, 16, 15, 14.

Level starting at 7th.

Weapon of choice is the Katana.

[LazarX]

Yes, they can work but remember that the penalties from both archetypes apply. i.e. you have no armor proficiencies, diminished spellcasting, lesser arcane pool etc. The kensai gives up a lot of the magus spellcasting flexibility for his gifts.

Nice point spread, I've known players who could roll stats like that.

[Kieviel]

Yup, these two will work together and with stats like that should work very well!

Keep in mind that just because you don't get armor prof right off the bat doesn't mean you can't pick them up later from a feat or multiclassing ;-)

[Edgar Lamoureux]

I actually have a character similar to that, but with a 20 pt buy. In any case, they work very well together, IMO. The diminished spellcasting hurts, but you should be fine.

When my group used to roll, I used to roll like that all the time. I'm partially the reason we use point-buy now.

[Malthule]

Kieviel wrote:

Yup, these two will work together and with stats like that should work very well!

Keep in mind that just because you don't get armor prof right off the bat doesn't mean you can't pick them up later from a feat or multiclassing ;-)

Honestly with this build and stats like he has, I don't think he should waste feats on armor proficiencies. Ring of Protection, Bracers of Armor, & Natural Armor is gonna work well since the Kensai adds Intel to Dex to determine AC.

[Stéphane Le Roux]

Salarain wrote:

The stats roll are 2x18, 17, 16, 15, 14.

With this roll, a monk could work. A kensai is far better.

I would use the falcata instead of the katana (with diminished spellcasting and without spell recall, "crit threat 15-20 for touch spells" won't come into play often).

[Salarain]

Stéphane Le Roux wrote:

Salarain wrote:

The stats roll are 2x18, 17, 16, 15, 14.

With this roll, a monk could work. A kensai is far better.

I would use the falcata instead of the katana (with diminished spellcasting and without spell recall, "crit threat 15-20 for touch spells" won't come into play often).

I understand about choosing a Monk class, but I am burnt out playing Monks. Monks is over kill. Not as fun any more. I am trying out some thing new for a change.

[Turin the Mad]

Bladebound kensai is an archetype just made to go together. Take extra arcane pool once or twice, an extra arcana or two and use the arcana to pick up the nice goodies to amp your attack roll, blade enchantment options and the pool touch with arcing and thunderous. Empower arcana is an option, Silent and Still spell are almost mandatory and Quicken spell for True Strike add icing on the Cake. The "double capstone" is a nice bonus if the campaign goes long enough.

Add in the double-stat bump for initiative to see your magus going first more often than not. UMD as a class skill is the topper on the cake.

Hopefully you're able to buddy up with a full BAB character - tag team everything! :)

[LazarX]

Kieviel wrote:

Yup, these two will work together and with stats like that should work very well!

Keep in mind that just because you don't get armor prof right off the bat doesn't mean you can't pick them up later from a feat or multiclassing ;-)

However even if you do pick up armor proficiency, you wan't get the immunity from ASF. That's not included with proficiency. And you'd lose cunning defense. I'd simply use mage armor and shield spells to make up for it.

[Salarain]

LazarX wrote:

Kieviel wrote:

Yup, these two will work together and with stats like that should work very well!

Keep in mind that just because you don't get armor prof right off the bat doesn't mean you can't pick them up later from a feat or multiclassing ;-)

However even if you do pick up armor proficiency, you wan't get the immunity from ASF. That's not included with proficiency. And you'd lose cunning defense. I'd simply use mage armor and shield spells to make up for it.

The Magus do have access the Shield spell but not the Mage Armor. Mage Armor is not in it Spell List or Paizo may have missed too add Mage Armor to the list?

[james maissen]

Salarain wrote:

The Magus do have access the Shield spell but not the Mage Armor. Mage Armor is not in it Spell List or Paizo may have missed too add Mage Armor to the list?

You can pick it up as an arcana at 6th level along with another 1st level spell, try UMDing a wand of it whenever, or simply rely upon another PC to cast it on you.

-James

[Kieviel]

Actually you do get to use canny defense while wearing light armor. So some light, mithral armor would be still be useful.

[LazarX]

Kieviel wrote:

Actually you do get to use canny defense while wearing light armor. So some light, mithral armor would be still be useful.

But you do become subject to arcane spell failure as a kensai.

[LazarX]

Salarain wrote:

LazarX wrote:

Kieviel wrote:

Yup, these two will work together and with stats like that should work very well!

Keep in mind that just because you don't get armor prof right off the bat doesn't mean you can't pick them up later from a feat or multiclassing ;-)

However even if you do pick up armor proficiency, you wan't get the immunity from ASF. That's not included with proficiency. And you'd lose cunning defense. I'd simply use mage armor and shield spells to make up for it.

The Magus do have access the Shield spell but not the Mage Armor. Mage Armor is not in it Spell List or Paizo may have missed too add Mage Armor to the list?

They probabably saw no reason to do so since every other archetype has access to armor up to at least a chain shirt at 1st that would give the same AC bonus.

[Seraphimpunk]

so...

at 3rd level, he's got 1 + int arcane pool , and its a +1 weapon.
and he can spend a point from his pool at add a +1 enhancement to his weapon ( upping it to +2 for a minute ), and/or he can spend a point to get +1 damage for a minute as a free action. so for 2 points, his +1 weapon becomes +2 to hit/+3 to damage ?

and if he's got the arcane strike feat, then next round he can use a swift action to get another +1 to damage ?

just checking what stacks.

[Seraphimpunk]

and arcane pool can still be used to grant any weapon he's holding a +1, so if he has proficiency from another class or ability, he could still poof a +1 bow or something, and arcane strike it. ne?

[JAF0]

My bladebound kensai has magical haramaki - no armor penalties and still gets the canny defense. since you can magic it up to +5, and still use shield spell, it is better than mage armor and doesn't take a spell slot to increase your ac. My stats are not as good as yours, but it the archetype mix still makes for a kickass character.

[Katy_Thrace]

so, what do you all feel about a bladebound kensai/ninja into arcane trickster? would (i think) still grab a 6th level spell, as well as get 8d6 sneak attack. im seriously considering this, and am hoping somone out there has experience with this?

[AndIMustMask]

LazarX wrote:

Kieviel wrote:

Actually you do get to use canny defense while wearing light armor. So some light, mithral armor would be still be useful.

But you do become subject to arcane spell failure as a kensai.

there are 0% asf armors (armored kilt, haramaki, and silken ceremonial armor).

i like me some mithral parade armor personally--while it still has the 5% (meaning you fail on a natural 1, how fitting) spell failure, it's small enough that it shouldnt haunt your days. also gives a nice fluff-based bonus to diplomacy and intimidate when you have the right kind.