Planning on making a Dervish Magnus using the Scimitar with the Dervish Dancer feat. In doing so, I'm dumping all my strength to pump up Dex + Int. However, looking at the Elven curve blade (because I am taking an Elf, easy choice tbh), it has a d10 over the Scimitar's d6 with the same crit range, and I save a feat. But doing so, I'd take a -2 on damage rolls (in essence, -5 if you consider my dex bonus for scimitars as well) unless I take points out of elsewhere to put into strength (which I could do by dumping cha/wis).
I am still leaning for that Scimitar, but with reworking, would the curve blade be better even with less damage modifier?
As an aside question, how useful is the Spell Recall ability for Magnus? (I'm looking at taking Spire Defender archetype, which replaces it)
ECB is dirty. 2-hnd, finessable, excellent d10 damage. If you're gonna burn an EWP, this is the crunch for you.
/ extra points if you killed the former owner of the blade.
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I am still leaning for that Scimitar, but with reworking, would the curve blade be better even with less damage modifier?
Scimitar + Dervish Dance will make you less MAD, so that'd be my suggestion. Sadly, if you're dumping Strength, you can't get Power Attack (and no Piranha Strike with Dervish Dance), but I assume you'll have another source of extra damage?
You're giving up spell combat for that extra 2 points of damage with an ECB, and you have to wait for the agile enchant for dex to damage. Seems like a bad trade for a Magus, especially since Spire Defender only gives you proficiency in light/1H weapons, ECB is 2H.
Become a whip/TrueStrike Magus before giving up one of your strongest class abilities.
Taking lvl 1 as a Dawnflower Dervish, you get to start with Dervish Dance instead of waiting for lvl 3, you get a few rounds a day of +2 atk/dmg with Battle Dance which you can add to with Extra Performance, as well as the light armor proficiency for Spire Defender.
Spell Recall is amazing, like half your level + int lvl 1 power pearls. However, if you're going for damage rather than maneuvers, and are going to give up Spell Recall, I don't know why you wouldn't go Kensai instead. You're stuck with silk robes or haramaki for armor instead of any light armor, but you don't have the strength to wear anything weightier anyways.
Also you can't use spellcombat with an elven curve blade since it is two handed.
Scimitar + Dervish Dance will make you less MAD, so that'd be my suggestion. Sadly, if you're dumping Strength, you can't get Power Attack (and no Piranha Strike with Dervish Dance), but I assume you'll have another source of extra damage?
Neither weapon is light so Piranha Strike is useless.
You're giving up spell combat for that extra 2 points of damage with an ECB, and you have to wait for the agile enchant for dex to damage. Seems like a bad trade for a Magus.
It's actually a d10 vs d6 not a +2 damage.
Especially since Spire Defender only gives you proficiency in light/1H weapons, ECB is 2H.
(Relooking at Elve's weapon proficiency). Okay, did not see that Elves treat ECB as a martial weapon, not as automatically proficient. So the question is only relevant if I go with ECB instead of Scimitar.
Taking lvl 1 as a Dawnflower Dervish, you get to start with Dervish Dance instead of waiting for lvl 3, you get a few rounds a day of +2 atk/dmg with Battle Dance which you can add to with Extra Performance, as well as the light armor proficiency for Spire Defender.
GM has ruled no 3rd party classes.
Spell Recall is amazing, like half your level + int lvl 1 power pearls. However, if you're going for damage rather than maneuvers, and are going to give up Spell Recall, I don't know why you wouldn't go Kensai instead. You're stuck with silk robes or haramaki for armor instead of any light armor, but you don't have the strength to wear anything weightier anyways.
Was planning on taking 1 lvl of Duelist, so I'd get the same benefit without having to give up Knowledge Pool and other spell slots.
It looks like the benefits of ECB are outweighed by the penalties though, so I'll probably go with Scimatar.
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Taking lvl 1 as a Dawnflower Dervish, you get to start with Dervish Dance instead of waiting for lvl 3, you get a few rounds a day of +2 atk/dmg with Battle Dance which you can add to with Extra Performance, as well as the light armor proficiency for Spire Defender.GM has ruled no 3rd party classes.
Actually, Dawnflower Dervish is from Inner Sea Magic (bard archtype) and not a 3rd party class
which averages out to be a difference of 2 damage
Not when you take into account critcals, power attack, etc.
I would just stick with the scimitar. In my opinion, the magus is more for doing large amounts of damage, especially with Shocking Grasp. At level 5, you are essentially doing 6d6+bonus on a 18-20 (15-20 when a arcane point is spent to get keen.). If you take Magical Lineage (Shocking Grasp) and Intensified Spell, at level 10, you would be doing 11d6+bonus, most likely critting on a 15-20 (THAT'S 22D6+BONUSx2!). Then there's the arcana that gives you a free spell when you confirm a critical (Critical Strike). Doing shocking grasp, that's about another 10d6 (32d6+bonusx2). If that manages to crit (I think it only crits on a 20 instead of 15-20 since it's touch, and not your weapon), that's 42d6+x2, or around 150+ damage. From a level one spell.
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As a magus avoid two hand weapons at all costs. ECB is a two hand weapon. Spellcombat can only be used with one handed weapons and spellcombat+spellstrike are the best attack / abilities the magus have.
Individualy they are not that great but together they make this class shine.
@Marthian: Nope, you use the crit range of your weapon for the spell you cast with spellstrike. So if you have a scimitar your crit range is 18-19 , more if its keen. The thing that does not change for the spell is the crit multiplayer, its always x2 even if your weapon's one is bigger.