Had an interesting idea that inspired an interesting question ...
A Magus needs a free hand to cast spells for spellcombat ... if he is wearing a spiked gauntlet, is the hand considered "free"
I was consideing a Magus Two Weapon Fighter who uses a spiked guantlet as his off hand attack when not using spell combat. He would also have Improved Unarmed so as not to provoke.
So would the spiked guantlet (considered a light weapon) prevent the Magus from having a "free hand" for spellcombat? Seeing that they have armor proficiencies and guantlets come with suits it is kind of a gray area.
Secondly, does a spiked guantlet count toward the "two weapon" rquirement for Two Weapon Defense.
Yes I know the build is not optimized, but I'm going more for style over efficiency.
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Two-Weapon Defense RAW:
"When wielding a double weapon or two weapons (not including natural weapons or unarmed strikes), you gain a +1 shield bonus to your AC.
When you are fighting defensively or using the total defense action, this shield bonus increases to +2."
Eh.. technically I think you can, though personally speaking, I think the spirit of the rule would equate a spike gauntlet to being like having a natural attack. See how your GM feels.
As for spell combat, I think that should work. You won't be needing the Improved Unarmed Attack "Gauntlet, Spiked: The cost and weight given are for a single gauntlet. An attack with a spiked gauntlet is considered an armed attack. Your opponent cannot use a disarm action to disarm you of spiked gauntlets."
gotta bump this as it has now come up in the PFS discussion (asked by me) and was told that a spiked gauntlet cannot be worn and have the hand considered "free". Considering only one poster answered I was hoping on an official (or general consensus) on the issue.
Can a TWF Magus armed with a longsword in one hand and a spiked gauntlet (considered armed for attacking) in the other still utalize spellcombat when not gaining the TWF benefit (extra attack with spiked gauntlet)? When the spiked guantlet is not used as a weapon to attack, is the hand considered "free" for spellcombat use?
If you didn't qmattack with it I'd say it should br considered free. If you did attack that turn then no.
How I understand the Magus it is that your spell is your offhand weapon. Or in other words while you stab stuff with your sword you're casting the spell with the other hand at the same time.
If that hand is occupied deflecting incoming blows (TW Defense) or actually attacking, no matter if with a spiked gauntlet, a sword, unarmed strike, claws or whatever, then you can't use it to cast spells.
I'd be leary about allowing the spiked gauntlet for two weapon defense.But even if I said yes, I'd also have to say that the Two Weapon defense would NOT operate in any round in which you used spell combat, because that "weapon" isn't available to do it's part in the feat.
The only option that allows Two Weapon Defense and Spell Combat is the SpellBlade archetype.
I would totally not argue the loss of the TWD benefit when utalizing spellcombat.
My expectaitions for a round would be:
move action + standard attack = TWD benefit
full round action with full attack TWF benefit = TWD benefit
full round action with spellcombat = NO TWD benfit
I would totally not argue the loss of the TWD benefit when utalizing spellcombat.
My expectaitions for a round would be:
move action + standard attack = TWD benefit
full round action with full attack TWF benefit = TWD benefit
full round action with spellcombat = NO TWD benfit
Ah yes, like you say that should work.
I guess to make sure you have a free hand for spellcombat, just get Armor Spikes and use those as your offhand attack.
But I'd let a spiked gauntlet or cestus work too, talk to your GM though.
Had an interesting idea that inspired an interesting question ...
A Magus needs a free hand to cast spells for spellcombat ... if he is wearing a spiked gauntlet, is the hand considered "free"
I was consideing a Magus Two Weapon Fighter who uses a spiked guantlet as his off hand attack when not using spell combat. He would also have Improved Unarmed so as not to provoke.
So would the spiked guantlet (considered a light weapon) prevent the Magus from having a "free hand" for spellcombat? Seeing that they have armor proficiencies and guantlets come with suits it is kind of a gray area.
Secondly, does a spiked guantlet count toward the "two weapon" rquirement for Two Weapon Defense.
Yes I know the build is not optimized, but I'm going more for style over efficiency.
1. Yes, a hand with a gauntlet or spiked gauntlet is considered "free".
2. You would only qualify to use TWDefense if you choose to TWF, that is to take the minuses to your attack rolls with your full round action.