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It doesnt seem that good over the magus class. It gives +1 for arcane casting each level after first. But the fighter side seems really weak to me, 1 bonus feat at 1st, 5th, and 9th levels, and you add your EK levels to fighter levels for determining Fighter feats prerequisites. Spell Crit seems good but the only fighter thing that seems somewhat good.
Is there something I'm missing about the Eldritch Knight?
I doubt you're missing anything. I'm not sure whether you know that it's an old import, and it's not really trying to be anything powerful. D&D 3.5 had a plethora of prestige classes, most of them not really impressive, IMO (I did not play D&D 3.5, but I am happy Paizo prefers to use archetypes).
The nice thing I can say about it is that you can customize it a little. I mean, I guess the warrior side is pretty much going to be fighter, but you can choose sorcerer or wizard for the arcane side. And back in the context of 3.5 there were probably plenty of other substitution choices. But in the context of Pathfinder, I personally wouldn't consider it.
Here's an article at WotC's site about it, which discusses it, which sheds a little bit of historical light on the subject.
So Magus is basically your Pathfinder go-to class for a "gish" fighter/caster combo. Eldritch Knight is basically invalid now for most intents and purposes.
I don't think the Eldritch Knight is really worth it anymore since the Magus came out. I tried forever to make the EK work, and the magus is just easier.
I thought the same thing, but then I saw someone put up a guide for the EK and pointed out that the EK won't do what the Magus does but it has it's advantages too. Full BAB being one of them, and access to higher level spells being another.
Thing is, the class just isn't as optimized as Magus, but that doesn't mean it's worth less either, they are just meant to do different things.
as Range Fighter is EK +AA > Magus
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Darth Grall is 100% correct. The Eldritch Knight doesn't do what the Magus does, but he has access to a bag of tricks the Magus can never hope to match.
If you're going for a damage dealing arcane warrior, then yeah, Magus is definitely the way to go. But if you want a spellcaster that CAN enter into melee combat, I'd definitely go with Eldritch Knight. Remember, he gets access to 7th, 8th, and 9th level spells, something the Magus NEVER gets access to, and he gets access to a full arcane-spellcaster spell list (Bard, Sorcerer/Wizard, Witch), not the diminished list of the Magus, which is cut down for a very specific focus. This means that the Eldritch Knight, for combat purposes, gets access to spells like Beast Shape, Elemental Body, and loads of extra combat helper spells, PLUS spells like the Wall spells, illusions and enchantments, and LOTS of others.
Eldritch Knight is a spellcaster who can do melee combat with a little preparation. Magus is a melee combatant, through and through, but doesn't have very much in the way of utility (he can, but at the sacrifice of a lot of combat prowess).
High level I'd lean toward the EK for that Gish feel. If your games never make it past about 7th I say stick with Magus.
My 2C
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I've been having great success as an Eldritch Knight in PFS. You just have to understand that despite the similar appearance, the EK and the Magus are two very different things.
The EK is a wizard who doesn't have to retreat when enemies close to melee. He has the option of mixing it up with his sword instead of his spells. He shifts back and forth between lobbing fireballs and hacking with a sword as needed. He's an opportunist to the max, using whatever capabilities are most advantageous on a turn-by-turn basis.
The magus, however, is a melee class. Sure he has spells (even a little utility!) but at his core, he's just a melee damage-dealer. He's basically like a barbarian who uses shocking grasp instead of raging Power Attack.
If you try to build an EK who novas the BBEG from 5ft away, then yeah, you're going to see how much better the magus is. But if you try to build a magus who always has a solution for the situation at hand and is never wishing he was in melee instead of at range (or the other way around), you'll see just how obsolete the EK isn't.
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I'm glad my guide was referenced :D
I promise to continue working on it after I finish my getting master's degree (which happens in a week :O )
+1High level I'd lean toward the EK for that Gish feel. If your games never make it past about 7th I say stick with Magus.
Sweet sweet validation. ;-)
I agree with Jiao-Long. An Eldritch Knight has alot more flexibility, and is functionally different. The lead-in to EK also helps to define the EK in a large way. A Paladin-Sorc will be quite different from a Barbarian-Witch or a Fighter-Wizard, with different focuses.
Also, with EKs, there are spells available to you that the Magus doesn't have, such as the many polymorph spells (I actually rather like monstrous extremities for the long duration), and at higher levels you should have more spells to burn each day too. In fact, between higher-level quickened spells and cold ice strike, I suspect that a high-level fully-buffed EK built for blasting has a decent chance of matching the nova capacity of a Magus of the same level, whilst still having a wider range of options to choose from.
And last but not least, check out some of the new combat feats available to humans (and half-elven) fighters. There are some really nice ones there. Don't underestimate the value of being able to pick fighter feats with either the Magus OR the EK.
I'm glad my guide was referenced :D
I promise to continue working on it after I finish my getting master's degree (which happens in a week :O )
What's your degree in. I got my Masters in Industrial Organizational psychology last December.
@fiddlesgreen:
When they previewed Martial versatility on ARG, i commented how level 10 EK can take it if they chose 1 level of fighter for their martial requirement :D
Also, Half Elf Sorcerer-based EK with Paragon Surge? Oh yes.
@TCG
I'm getting my master's in Transportation Engineering.
Very well - for the kind of Gish I like to play (melee damage dealer below 12th level), the Magus is better.
That would be my assumption also.
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I wouldn't stop you either.
EK is still a solid option, just doesn't fit your playstyle.