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I am in favor of this class mix, I have not played a magus of any kind though. Elf with an aldori dueling sword or scimitar could provide some nice beats and can fly.
I assume you can not enchant the blade (it gains abilities on its own) so the dex to damage enchant is out, but there is dervish dance or just go off the free upgrading sword plus your magus enhancement abilities which are great.
My concern is our ranged attack options, we probably need a good wand or something.
Elf magus Kensai bladebound
Str 10
Dex 18
Con 12
Int 18
Wis 12
Chr 7
Favored class bonus: hp at all levels
Arcane pool 7
Hp 52
Spells 5/3/1 (1st to 3rd)
Feats:
Bonus weapon focus aldori dueling sword (assuming GM allows the Kensai class ability to count as having the exotic weapon feat)
1 Weapon finess
3 aldori dueling master
5 combat reflexes or a bump to saves
Bonus toughness
7 weapon specialization
Items:
Bracers of armor +2
Ring of protection +2
Amulet of natural armor +1
Belt of dex +2
Headband of int +2
Black blade + 2 it's arcane pool 2
Giving around 27 ac 24 touch and 13 flat footed
I didn't break it down completely but it's a start. Dervish dance and scimitar can easily be swapped in, with 2 unfortunate levels of not using your nifty black blade.
Like what has been said before the diminishing spell casting hurts a lot. However the two archetypes together make a very effective character.
People like the archetypes because it's about a shirtless badass magus who does badass sword work with a Baby Stormbringer which is the bladebound archetype.
Many of them however run into the harsh reality of the cost. Diminished spell casting, armor restrictions, and coupled with the diminished arcane pool that the bladebound archetype demands.
Not that it's a bad combination, but one might want to look at the tradeoffs as well.
i agree with you. starting from LV 1 is def a monster to do. but say u do a lv 17 quest (witch war legacy) and u start at 17?? i was the main damage dealer in the group. of course our paladin was a hospitaler. but man if u take them all the way its worth it. just for like 10 lvs?? would not waste my time
I've tried the aforementioned combination before. Honestly? I had much more fun as a "simple" bladebound magus. You simply sacrifice too much by combining the archetypes, and I've found that spell recall trumps any of the archetypes in UC. Now granted, I know that the same results can be achieved by carrying a fistful of pearls of power wherever you go, but I try not assuming that any particular magic item will be made available, unless I decide to invest in craft feats.
I've tried the aforementioned combination before. Honestly? I had much more fun as a "simple" bladebound magus. You simply sacrifice too much by combining the archetypes, and I've found that spell recall trumps any of the archetypes in UC. Now granted, I know that the same results can be achieved by carrying a fistful of pearls of power wherever you go, but I try not assuming that any particular magic item will be made available, unless I decide to invest in craft feats.
This times a thousand... loosing spell recall is the only reason every magus I play is not a kensai.
I am in favor of this class mix, I have not played a magus of any kind though. Elf with an aldori dueling sword or scimitar could provide some nice beats and can fly.
I assume you can not enchant the blade (it gains abilities on its own) so the dex to damage enchant is out, but there is dervish dance or just go off the free upgrading sword plus your magus enhancement abilities which are great.
My concern is our ranged attack options, we probably need a good wand or something.
** spoiler omitted **
I thought the samething however the Bladebound says that the blades are rapiers or swordcanes, and the dervish calls for the scimitar. I like the idea of the Aldori Dueling sword for the up in damage but some DM's might not go for it.
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I thought the samething however the Bladebound says that the blades are rapiers or swordcanes, and the dervish calls for the scimitar. I like the idea of the Aldori Dueling sword for the up in damage but some DM's might not go for it.I am in favor of this class mix, I have not played a magus of any kind though. Elf with an aldori dueling sword or scimitar could provide some nice beats and can fly.
I assume you can not enchant the blade (it gains abilities on its own) so the dex to damage enchant is out, but there is dervish dance or just go off the free upgrading sword plus your magus enhancement abilities which are great.
My concern is our ranged attack options, we probably need a good wand or something.
** spoiler omitted **
Bladebound actually says, "A black blade is always a one-handed slashing weapon, a rapier, or a sword cane," so you could use an Aldori Dueling Sword if you wished
Edit: Too slow. That is what I get for opening multiple tabs.
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I have been playing this combo in a homebrew campaign and i find it to be quite powerful. I took a katana as my weapon and it makes me the partys best damage dealer. In addition, i have the best initiative and AC, dispite not wearing armor due to kensai bonuses.
The spellcasting loss is not that big a deal, i still have enough spell slots to load up useful spells like shocking grasp, but I found it beter to focus on buff spells rather than blasts. One of the best spells I found myself using was monstrous physique 1, turning into a gargoyle. It gave me improved Str, armor, extra natural attacks, and flight.
My primary Damage output came from combining the bladebound and normal magus weapon enhancing arcanas. I was level 8, yet in combat my sword would easily become a +5 keen with just a swift action. The reduced arcana points hurt some, but you also have less things to spend it on due to kensai removing some arcanas.
All together, I had a lot of fun playing as as robe wearing death dealer. (in one combat i OHKO'd a T-rex using this guy...)
The only real issue is everyone else at the table making Bleach references when i attack.
I have been playing this combo in a homebrew campaign and i find it to be quite powerful. I took a katana as my weapon and it makes me the partys best damage dealer. In addition, i have the best initiative and AC, dispite not wearing armor due to kensai bonuses.
The spellcasting loss is not that big a deal, i still have enough spell slots to load up useful spells like shocking grasp, but I found it beter to focus on buff spells rather than blasts. One of the best spells I found myself using was monstrous physique 1, turning into a gargoyle. It gave me improved Str, armor, extra natural attacks, and flight.
My primary Damage output came from combining the bladebound and normal magus weapon enhancing arcanas. I was level 8, yet in combat my sword would easily become a +5 keen with just a swift action. The reduced arcana points hurt some, but you also have less things to spend it on due to kensai removing some arcanas.
All together, I had a lot of fun playing as as robe wearing death dealer. (in one combat i OHKO'd a T-rex using this guy...)
The only real issue is everyone else at the table making Bleach references when i attack.
not sure if u have played the Suikoden series, but when i made mine i was going for "Deathblow" George Prime. i would ko creatures whil our paladin and sorcerer took twice as long. they can be epic
That's not what it says. You can select any one-handed slashing weapon or the rapier or the swordcane (both of which are piercing and otherwise would not qualify). Scimitars and even katanas (for that traditional kensai feel) are both just fine.I thought the samething however the Bladebound says that the blades are rapiers or swordcanes, and the dervish calls for the scimitar. I like the idea of the Aldori Dueling sword for the up in damage but some DM's might not go for it.I am in favor of this class mix, I have not played a magus of any kind though. Elf with an aldori dueling sword or scimitar could provide some nice beats and can fly.
I assume you can not enchant the blade (it gains abilities on its own) so the dex to damage enchant is out, but there is dervish dance or just go off the free upgrading sword plus your magus enhancement abilities which are great.
My concern is our ranged attack options, we probably need a good wand or something.
** spoiler omitted **
You made my day . . . I feel stupid but you made my day. Now I need to kill my primary so I can roll my magus into full time use.
i personally would never play this class only because the gm would have to much control over what my character could potentially do. fighting with my sword every time i try to do something the gm may not like... isnt a fun option for me.
The weapon has the same alignment as you so it will often agree with whatever you're doing.
This character is a bladebound kensai and is fun to play. Just replace elven Thinblade with scimitar and everything is legit other than the ultimate race created aellar.
When I read these to archetypes I immeadiately thought: Pathfinder Jedi
So you can use an adori dueling sword for you blade but only scimitar's qualify for dervish dance right?
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I had one of these is a homebrew game I played. I went dervish dance and focused on int and dex. So much damage potential when you crit with a +2 Keen shocking scimitar spellstriking with shocking grasp especially when you can drop 2 arcane points to make it a x3 multiplier... so many d6's so many.
Anyway I found the lower AC an issue in this campaign since our GM started an arms race/play ultra fast and loose with the rules with us (which as a player you can never win) and as such the game just fell apart... That's a side point. But to get around the lower AC issue I took extra arcana then spell blending (the arcana where you pick up to two lower level wizard spell and add them to your spell book as Magus spells)to learn Mage Armor and Darkvision. This brought my ac to a respectable 26 and 30 with shield.
You also get the huge boon of so much extra gold. Since you get the free automatically upgrading magic weapon an adding int to your dex for AC. You don't need to worry about buying those items and are freed up to purchase other items you've always wanted to but needed to save for upgrading arms and armor. This is a great side benefit.
With my character there were also tons of bleach references to the point where when I'd get back up after being knocked out I'd start playing number one and going nova
I am about to start running a bladebound kensai magus in our pf game. Chosen weapon is a katana (he's from Minkai). Any suggestions for starting equipment for a 6th lvl character (16,000 GP allowed)?
I am about to start running a bladebound kensai magus in our pf game. Chosen weapon is a katana (he's from Minkai). Any suggestions for starting equipment for a 6th lvl character (16,000 GP allowed)?
Grab a few pearls of power, those will be your best friend
Blade bound/kensai was going to be my current build, however the DM outlawed using 2 seperate archetypes for the same class. (I know its technically legal by RAW but this was house ruled over unfortunately due to his belief that it would be over powered) any way I chose straight kensai and while the diminished spell casting does suck, if you put your strongest ability score into intelligence and continue to work on that then your bonus spells will out weigh the 1 spell lost per level. I am having no problems keeping up with my spell casting and while I did buy 2 lvl 1 pearl of powers I find I rarely if ever have to use them. Not having to buy armor is a great help in the purchasing magical items department and if you are able to take blade bound as well, not having to buy and upgrade a weapon will help that even more. I would advise against getting mage armor as your magus arcana, just try to tough it out until you can get bracers of armor, use a wand or get a friend. I used my first magus arcana for that spell and sorely regret it now that I have bracers of armor because not only is it a useless spell in my spell book but it was a MA that I can't change out now. My party is 6th lvl and I am the heavy hitter with high ac to match, our caster who originally thought to be a damage dealer has seen that its more effective to boost me and giveI negatives toto enemies than to try and damage the opponents out right. The rogue enjoys the flanking buddy and since enemies see cloth instead of armor up front they immediately go for me first thinking to take out one of the two casters. I am finding that the 3/4 bab at these levels is starting to hurt so I am thinking about diving into eldrich knight in 2 levels to help my to hit.
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Removed some posts and replies to them. Try to be courteous to your fellow posters plz.
Joegoat - just a heads up - EK prestige class requires that you be proficient in ALL martial weapons. Kensai are only proficient in simple weapons and a SINGLE martial or exotic weapon. You'll have to take a single level dip into fighter, barb or ranger as well to get that prestige class.
Wouldn't I be able to just take martial weapon prof. As a feat instead of level dipping?
Martial Weapon Proficiency feat only gives you proficiency with a single martial weapon, unfortunately. You need that class dip to get proficiency with the entire range of martial weapons.
my bad, I think paladins get all martial weapons as well... so that gives you another class choice to dip into.
Nope, because martial weapon proficiency only gives proficiency with a single martial weapon.
Edit: Ninja'd while reading the thread.
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I used the kensai archetype because I was going for a jedi feel to it. Abilities like Arcane Redoubt and greater to use my shield spell to add to my touch AC, reflex, and evasion. I would wear no armor ever, and just rely on dex, sword with intelligence, shield, and deflection bonuses to give me AC. I even dipped into the eldritch heritage feat for the protean blood line power reality warp to stop projectiles like Neo from the matrix, lol.
I have a rules question that is likely to affect my kensai. If I use my sword, charge with flaming for example to deliver a mirror strike, assuming I hit, but roll abysmally on the flame damage and get a 1, does that mean neither opponent takes any flame damage or do they each take 1 in addition to half the weapon damage? I know 1/2 rounded down would be 0, but on damage, normally the minimum is 1 even if the result is less than 1. But this is magic so I'm just not sure.
Anyway, anyone want to chime in on this? - because knowing how I usually roll, I'll be getting lots of 1's, lol.
Another question on the magus - using shocking grasp through the magus' weapon - Do you still get the +3 to hit with your melee strike if the foe is wearing metal armor or is that only for the touch attack if you deliver the spell with your hand?
nvm the last question - got that aynswered already.
Throw in 4 levels of monk and go master of many styles. You get bonus style feats (crane being awesome for the build) and now you get to use dex, int and wis to add to your AC. You can get some really defensive builds out of that combo.
If built right you can have crazy AC at low levels.
by third level my Tiefling
<Fighter 1, Magus (Blade-bound/Kensai)2 >
I'm using Lamellar cuirass armor, gaining a +3 from dex, +3 from Int, and +2 Natural Armor (yay Tiefling feat!)
That's AC: 20 before spells..
when combat starts I cast Shield and (If I have a chance too) use my Accelerated Drinker trait to chug a shield of faith potion as a move action (heck if a target is within 5' I can step in and get an attack off)
3rd level with a 26 AC is nothing to laugh at...
ok I have to suck up a 5% chance of spell fail.. I can live with that for now..
I plan on getting Mithral Kikko armor (4,030gp) which, once I enchant it, will allow my AC to get to "stupid"... I also plan on picking up the Arcane Armor Training feat at some point.
In combat I use a Katana, Power Attack, and Furious Focus (my first attack is always two handed.. unless they assign a speed to going from one handed to two handed I'm golden)I can put out some sweet damage which only gets better once I toss in a shocking grasp.
fewer Spells? Pear of Power = Win :o)
If you can get your UMD skill up? Wand of Mage Armour is great at 750gp! To help your UMD? Buy a masterwork tool (can be a focusing crystal or a book of common command words or whatever) at 50gp and its +2 circumstance bonus, and there is a cracked Ioun Stone that gives a bonus to +1 UMD as well. It think its either 200 or 400gp.
Ohhhh hold up.
1) what Ion stone are you talking about? oh please tell me it's PFS legal!
2) is the masterwork tool a rule listed anyplace? I'm so going to use this, but I need to make sure I can point it out to the GM.
Possibly starting a pure kensai at level 1. Wanna make it awesome.
Traits: Both Wayang Spellhunter (Frostbite) and Magical Lineage (Shocking Grasp) look good.
Str 14
Dex 16
Con 12
Int 18
Wis 9
Cha 7
My to hit won't be awesome, just ok.
AC at level 1= 10+2(Haramaki+Armored Kilt)+3(Dex)+1(Canny Defense)=16.
Lvl2=17 (2 canny)
Lvl3=18 (3 canny)
Lvl4= 20 (4 canny +1 magic armor)
So AC will be OK but not great.
First buff will have to be shield spell.
Now what feats to take?
At some point will need Arcane Accuracy to help him hit.