Consider a magus wielding a two-handed weapon with some levels in alchemist giving him Vestigial arm.
By RAW, he cannot use spell combat with the two-handed weapon despite the free vestigial arm.
Spell Combat (Ex)
At 1st level, a magus learns to cast spells and wield his weapons at the same time. This functions much like two-weapon fighting, but the off-hand weapon is a spell that is being cast. To use this ability, the magus must have one hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic components), while wielding a light or one-handed melee weapon in the other hand. As a full-round action, he can make all of his attacks with his melee weapon at a –2 penalty and can also cast any spell from the magus spell list with a casting time of 1 standard action (any attack roll made as part of this spell also takes this penalty). If he casts this spell defensively, he can decide to take an additional penalty on his attack rolls, up to his Intelligence bonus, and add the same amount as a circumstance bonus on his concentration check. If the check fails, the spell is wasted, but the attacks still take the penalty. A magus can choose to cast the spell first or make the weapon attacks first, but if he has more than one attack, he cannot cast the spell between weapon attacks.
1) Are people of the opinion this is RAI with a vestigial arm?
Now imagine a magus with two vestigial arms. Let's say he's wielding a two handed weapon in two of his arms, a one-handed weapon in the third, and his fourth is free.
2) Is the magus allowed to spell combat using his one-handed weapon and his free hand?
A couple things. I'm pretty sure the penalties for two weapon fighting and spell combat would stack. Also, the penalty for fighting with an off hand weapon that isn't light are pretty steep. I think you'd be at -6 on all attacks by then, -4 if your off hand/ spell combat weapon is light.
Even if you are wielding multiple weapons, you are only taking the two weapon penalties if you are trying to get an extra attack per round.
From the core rulebook faq:
Multiple Weapons, Iterative Attacks, and Two-Weapon Fighting (page 202): If I have iterative attacks from a high BAB, can I make attacks with different weapons and not incur a two-weapon fighting penalty?
Yes. Basically, you only incur TWF penalties if you trying to get an extra attack per round.
Let's assume you're a 6th-level fighter (BAB +6/+1) holding a longsword in one hand and a light mace in the other. Your possible full attack combinations without using two-weapon fighting are:
(A) longsword at +6, longsword +1
(B) mace +6, mace +1
(C) longsword +6, mace +1
(D) mace +6, longsword +1
All of these combinations result in you making exactly two attacks, one at +6 and one at +1. You're not getting any extra attacks, therefore you're not using the two-weapon fighting rule, and therefore you're not taking any two-weapon fighting penalties.
If you have Quick Draw, you could even start the round wielding only one weapon, make your main attack with it, draw the second weapon as a free action after your first attack, and use that second weapon to make your iterative attack. As long as you're properly using the BAB values for your iterative attacks, and as long as you're not exceeding the number of attacks per round granted by your BAB, you are not considered to be using two-weapon fighting, and therefore do not take any of the penalties for two-weapon fighting.
The two-weapon fighting option in the Core Rulebook specifically refers to getting an extra attack for using a second weapon in your offhand. In the above four examples, there is no extra attack, therefore you're not using two-weapon fighting.
Using the longsword/mace example, if you use two-weapon fighting you actually have fewer options than if you aren't. Your options are (ignoring the primary/off hand penalties):
(A') primary longsword at +6, primary longsword at +1, off hand mace at +6
(B') primary mace at +6, primary mace at +1, off hand longsword at +6
In other words, once you decide you're using two-weapon fighting to get that extra attack on your turn (which you have to decide before you take any attacks on your turn), that decision locks you in to the format of "my primary weapon gets my main attack and my iterative attack, and my off hand weapon only gets the extra attack, and I apply two-weapon fighting penalties."
—Sean K Reynolds, 11/04/11
Reading spell combat description in the OP I think it's pretty clear you can wield a normal one-handed weapon without additional penalties (except the -2 spell combat penalty). In other words, a magus with just two arms, who is wielding a scimitar and nothing else can spell combat and get his normal scimitar attack at just a -2 penalty. If this magus had armor spikes, he could attack with either at a -2 penalty (just no extra attacks from TWF).
Sure. I was assuming you were talking about using two weapon fighting and spell combat in the same round. If you are alternating rounds, I don't get the point of getting the extra arms. Just use your one handed weapon with two hands in the rounds you don't cast.
The idea is to be wielding a two-handed polearm (fauchard) in two hands, a one handed weapon in the third (scimitar) and have the fourth hand free. Can you spell combat with the fauchard (i.e., get my full bab attacks and cast a spell)? Can you spell combat with the scimitar? I don't think my DM will subscribe to the idea that you can start spell combat with your hand off the weapon, cast your spell, and the add it back to the weapon... I subscribe to the idea that the intent of spell combat is that the spell casting hand is free during the entire full round action.
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Interesting, I will keep an eye on this.
Can't help but think the pc would be better off with a straight caster level in one class or the other, especially given kthey are both 3/4 classes. They do share the same stat needs though. Maybe the versatility could be worth it. Is either class trained in shield use? I like the extra arm to hold a shield for me but I get it from multiclassing with Ftr or Bbn for the full bab.
Two handing a one handed weapon is not just as good. D8=4.5, 2d6=7, 1d12=6.5.
Anyone try the scizore d10 weapon with the magus? Since they need a free hand for the spell casting, it might not be as bad with a pf that also uses a shield. Anyone with xp on that? Even then, d10=5.5, less than the high damage weapons.
Is either class trained in shield use? I like the extra arm to hold a shield for me but I get it from multiclassing with Ftr or Bbn for the full bab.
Mithral is only +1000 gp for the shield and makes it so a shield has no armor check penalty -- easily obtainable after a level or two and relieves the need for proficiency (in the example above, it's actually intended for the magus to be wearing a buckler on the scimitar arm, or wield a light shield instead of scimitar...). You can always go Skirnir magus I guess if you want proficiency in order to take the shield feats.
Anyone try the scizore d10 weapon with the magus? Since they need a free hand for the spell casting, it might not be as bad with a pf that also uses a shield.
Perhaps a good option for the first few levels (before you can purchase a mithral buckler +1), but I would think buckler + weapon is ultimately superior (scizore can only ever grant +1 shield bonus, buckler can be further enchanted and allows you to do other things than just wield a weapon in your hand).
Can you spell combat with the fauchard (i.e., get my full bab attacks and cast a spell)? Can you spell combat with the scimitar?
I think the intent is that when Spell Combat says "attacks with his melee weapon" it's referring to the "light or one-handed melee weapon in the other hand."
Following that (supposed) intent, I would not allow SC with the fauchard. The scimitar is fine.
Can you spell combat with the fauchard (i.e., get my full bab attacks and cast a spell)? Can you spell combat with the scimitar?I think the intent is that when Spell Combat says "attacks with his melee weapon" it's referring to the "light or one-handed melee weapon in the other hand."
Following that (supposed) intent, I would not allow SC with the fauchard. The scimitar is fine.
So just to be clear, you believe (and I agree with this...) that by RAW the four handed magus (two hands on fauchard, one on scimitar, one free), can spell combat using the scimitar as his main hand and the free hand as his (light) spell casting hand?
Let's say he makes his scimitar attacks, and casts shocking grasp with his free hand. Can he spell strike with his fauchard?
In other words, if the magus had a bab of +6/+1, can he make an attack with his scimitar at +6, an attack with his scimitar at +1, cast shocking grasp, deliver the spell via the fauchard at +6 (all attacks have the -2 spell combat penalty applying). From my reading of RAW, this seems legal...
So just to be clear, you believe (and I agree with this...) that by RAW the four handed magus (two hands on fauchard, one on scimitar, one free), can spell combat using the scimitar as his main hand and the free hand as his (light) spell casting hand?
I think so.
Let's say he makes his scimitar attacks, and casts shocking grasp with his free hand. Can he spell strike with his fauchard?
Reluctantly, that's how it looks to me. My gut reaction is to not allow use of the fauchard at all during spell combat, but I guess I would allow a spell like spiritual weapon or something normally, so since he's cast the spell legally, and he could otherwise use the fauchard legally, that it's legal.
It smacks faintly of cheese, but I think that's how I would run it. (Anything with multiple arms seems a bit wonky, though)