What was the reasoning behind Eschew Materials? Is this a big benefit for a magus? ( I don't follow too many Magus builds)
Greg
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Truthfully, Eschew Materials isn't that important. It gets rid of the need to have a spell component pouch. That's really it. Anything above the gold limit on Eschew Materials, and you have to have the component, regardless.
In regards to the build, i would take Magical Lineage Shocking grasp, if possible, so you can put on intensify, and then get something like Empower or Maximize to use with it instead of getting Extend. Elemental Spell(Acid) wouldn't be bad either, now that I think about it.
Edit: The Black Blade enhance bonus scales, imo, extremely well, especially since you can use it with your Arcane Pool for keen, speed, or whatever you need.
The intelligent item can be difficult, but a black blade often has goals that run alongside, at least alignment-wise, with the magus's.
With a belt of Con, he'll be plenty survivable. He's not going to be the best damage, but he'll be able to go on, and on, and on at higher levels. with that spell perfection, you can start with your first level slots, and if necessary move up as the day progresses. You'll have plenty of spells/day, especially if you get a ring of Wizardry. Personally, I would have gone with a Dex Magus with Dervish Dance, but this looks feasible, if not downright effective.
I guess I would try to rework feats to pick up Weapon Focus unless that is an auto for a blackblade.
Anything to improve hitting with that bigbaddaboom gotta be good, right?
Greg
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Now that I think about it, don't go for Arcane strike either. Use that for weapon focus or Extra Arcane Pool. Arcane Strike lasts a round and uses your swift action. It is also mechanically weaker than your Arcane pool enhancement option.
Edit: Also, how are you going to be allocating your arcana? Those can have a big impact on your build.
If you're using Extend Spell for buffing, you want to get a metamagic rod for that, really.
Also, Intensify is +1 spell level. That's... kind of a waste, really, with spell perfection.
Take Maximize Spell, and use Spell Perfection to add that for free. A Perfected-Maximized Intensified Shocking Grasp would be pretty nice for a 2nd-level spell slot. Remember, by that level your spell recall ability will work 2:1, so you'll only need one Arcane Pool Point to recall a 2nd level spell, anyway.
(Use your Arcana to quicken one of these on a round you do spell combat, too, for 3 attacks including Spell Combat.)
OR take Elemental Spell. Since you apply the free metamagic to your Perfected Spell as you cast it, this gives you more versatility in that you can cast the original electric SG OR your elemental SG as needed. This is a LOT less powerful overall (Elemental Spell is another really cheap metamagic) but could be useful if you never get to know ahead of time what you'll be fighting.
One more thing: Magi can indeed live without Combat Casting. It's a little hard in the beginning, but your INT is high, and with Spell Recall your spells aren't THAT valuable, so if you lose one once in a while... eh. And if you really need to get a spell off, you can Spell Combat and take the penalty to hit for the bonus to concentration. AND your Caster Level vs Spell Level ratio only gets more favorable as you level. I'm not saying that Combat Casting is a bad feat, but it's certainly possible to live without it.
Now that I think about it, don't go for Arcane strike either. Use that for weapon focus or Extra Arcane Pool. Arcane Strike lasts a round and uses your swift action. It is also mechanically weaker than your Arcane pool enhancement option.
Edit: Also, how are you going to be allocating your arcana? Those can have a big impact on your build.
In fairness, Arcane Strike is an untyped bonus, so it stacks with the Arcane Pool enhancement :D.