Samurai / Magus or Cavalier Magus? Am I insane?

[Helaman]

This would be for a PFS character

The Samurai has some nifty perks and gives me an interesting choice of eastern weaponry.

The Cavalier has Emissary archetype which allows full move in medium armour, something that would be helpful post level 7 as a magus.

Both have a good range of skills, skill points and orders to pick.

It would likely be a single level dip.

Is it worth it for a Magus or is the one level hit just gonna do more harm than good?

[Matthew Trent]

Generally I believe you'll be better off going straight magus. Its a very solid class.

If you really want to use a katana (and it's not a bad plan) then just spend a feat and get your Asian flavor by working with the lantern lodge.

[Edgar Lamoureux]

Straight Magus is going to perform better than your hybrid.

[Helaman]

Edgar Lamoureux wrote:

Straight Magus is going to perform better than your hybrid.

I think you nailed it but I am also looking for versatility too, if for nothing else than to aid another on skills and to have some diversity. Both get 4 skill points at level 1 and a good range of skills, including order skills which can include perception.

The Standard bearer archetype can throw a buff on charges in as well as static save vs fear and the cavalier build can take a full round to make everyone capable of sneak attack etc for 3 rounds. With The Emissary archetype I can still move 30 in their chain armour when they hit level 8 which isn't a bad thing...

The samurai isnt so much a team player but gets that eastern high crit weaponry (sick of Scimitar Magi).

Both classes get challenge, and using order of the dragon actually gets two nenefits - one for order (gives allies +1 to hit) and the generic samurai +1 damage or the bonus to hit minus AC of the cavalier.

Any ideas on creating a more versatile magus?

[STR Ranger]

Playing a KENSAI magus archetype will get you that Katana and give some nifty eastern style abilities

[Helaman]

STR Ranger wrote:

Playing a KENSAI magus archetype will get you that Katana and give some nifty eastern style abilities

Yep - did consider that too but the -1 spell per level bites hard as does the lack of armour. At mid to mid-high level games where you have Int and Dex enhancing items the AC of a Kensai is very good, but at lower levels they are asking to just be beat upon.

Playing a blackblade kensai (incidently, not thinking of playing one) is near suicide unless the game starts at level 6+ because the magus will need arcana to compensate for their AC weakness.

Starting states for ANY Kensai has to include dodge and they'll need to be a dex/finesse build rather than a strength build.

Thanks all for the feedback and still looking for more but I am leaning now towards a human samurai magus or a cavalier half elf magus (I like the perception boost and can sacrifice skill focus if worse comes to worse, for Katana use)

[Cheapy]

Yes, you are crazy. Yes, I love the idea.

Strategist might be the best bet, since you won't have a vestigial horse.

But samurai has that nice Resolve ability.

[Spanky the Leprechaun]

I don't have a vestigial horse, just......a certain.....part.....
heh heh.
not the butt.

[Protoman]

What race you plan on playing? Half-elves can swap out adaptability racial trait for a martial or exotic weapon proficiency with Ancestral Arms from APG.

[Kazejin]

If he plans on taking the samurai/cavalier level at first level, then Ancestral Arms breaks even with the human bonus feat; and that's assuming that he even needs to spend a feat on it. If he goes Samurai, he'll already have the proficiencies he's looking for.
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Anyways, Helaman, if you've narrowed it down to human samurai, or half-elf cavalier... I'd go human samurai personally. You's start off already proficient with the katana (among other eastern weapons), the extra skill point each level would compliment the skill goals you mentioned, and having an extra bonus feat to use is never a bad thing. Plus I genuinely prefer samurai over cavalier anyway. That's personal preference though, as the half-elf cavalier does have its own set of perks.

[Helaman]

Kazejin wrote:

If he plans on taking the samurai/cavalier level at first level, then Ancestral Arms breaks even with the human bonus feat; and that's assuming that he even needs to spend a feat on it. If he goes Samurai, he'll already have the proficiencies he's looking for.

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Anyways, Helaman, if you've narrowed it down to human samurai, or half-elf cavalier... I'd go human samurai personally. You's start off already proficient with the katana (among other eastern weapons), the extra skill point each level would compliment the skill goals you mentioned, and having an extra bonus feat to use is never a bad thing. Plus I genuinely prefer samurai over cavalier anyway. That's personal preference though, as the half-elf cavalier does have its own set of perks.

Yeah I went with the Sammy. Took a human to boot.

When he moves into Magus at level 2 he'll have a +5 with his weapon focused Katana... Starting as a Magus he would have had +3 and not gotten to +5 until 3rd level.

The storyline I had for the H/Elf Cav with the Katana proficiency was fun however the Emissaries ability to move full in Medium armour came in a bit too late for me. With a Magus I'd not need it until my overall character level was 8th.

When considering the Samurai, that extra feat and skill point and the free katana prof sealed the deal.

The question I ask myself now is do I go Blackblade or not. Those arcana are what makes the Magus a cut above a fighter magic user but the wealth saved in that 'free' sword helps.