I've never seen or played a Magus. I was reading the class, guide, and advice threads, but I can't understand one thing. If the Magus is constantly casting (spell-striking) in melee, how does he avoid massive AOO's. I see all these massive Shocking Grasp builds without Combat Casting. What am I missing?
thanks
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Well, you can cast the spell outside the reach of the enemy, take a 5 ft step, and deliver the spell.
or you could use the Magus ability that lets you take a penalty on your attack roll up to your int modifier to give you a bonus to your concentration check, although I think that's kinda bad idea.
All in all, casting in a way that doesn't provoke is the way to go.
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Well, you can cast the spell outside the reach of the enemy, take a 5 ft step, and deliver the spell.
or you could use the Magus ability that lets you take a penalty on your attack roll up to your int modifier to give you a bonus to your concentration check, although I think that's kinda bad idea.
All in all, casting in a way that doesn't provoke is the way to go.
Actually, you can cast the spell more than 5 feet from your intended victim, take a single move action to get next to them, and deliver the spell as a free action. Delivering a touch spell in the same round that you cast it is a free action that doesn't provoke.
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Well, you can cast the spell outside the reach of the enemy, take a 5 ft step, and deliver the spell.
or you could use the Magus ability that lets you take a penalty on your attack roll up to your int modifier to give you a bonus to your concentration check, although I think that's kinda bad idea.
All in all, casting in a way that doesn't provoke is the way to go.
+1. Also, casting defensively. Magi don't NEED Combat Casting, as they get plenty of bonuses later to help them.
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Actually, you can cast the spell more than 5 feet from your intended victim, take a single move action to get next to them, and deliver the spell as a free action. Delivering a touch spell in the same round that you cast it is a free action that doesn't provoke.Well, you can cast the spell outside the reach of the enemy, take a 5 ft step, and deliver the spell.
or you could use the Magus ability that lets you take a penalty on your attack roll up to your int modifier to give you a bonus to your concentration check, although I think that's kinda bad idea.
All in all, casting in a way that doesn't provoke is the way to go.
Yeah, but then you can't spell combat.
Also see lunge, Enlarge person, or Force Hook charge.
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Short anwser is..... You don't
If ever you are unsure on how casting defensivly works, just find someone that plays a Magus, they WILL know the rules as they use them every round.
Currently I play a level 7 magus and have devoted a lot to making this check easier.
Sadly if you use your magus ability to get a bonus equal to your int mod and take the same penelty to hit, you will miss, a LOT.
Here is the breakdown for Sebatian, you can check out his sheet Here
My take was to make it automatic as soon as I could.
The DC to cast are as follows.
Cantrip DC 15
level 1 DC 17
level 2 DC 19
level 3 DC 21
In order to do this and still have all the damage output I did the following.
Caster Level +6 (I splashed Unarmed fighter)
Combat Casting +4
Int Mod +3 (this could be higher)
Gloves of Elvenkind +5 (Buy these, seriously, just do it)
This gives me a +18, +19 when casting Arcane mark and Shocking grasp thanks to the trait "Precocious Spellcaster" (Take this)
Anyway thats how I did it, and this is a PFS character so it was played all the way from level 1.
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So you do that arcane mark jank huh?
As long as the archers are doing rapid shot (+1 attack/-2 hit)
And the TWFs are well... fighting with two weapons (+1 attack/-2 hit)
then yep, I will also be useing my class feature to get..... (+1 attack/-2 hit). Only difference is I have to make a concentration check to do it, and they dont.
So you do that arcane mark jank huh?As long as the archers are doing rapid shot (+1 attack/-2 hit)
And the TWFs are well... fighting with two weapons (+1 attack/-2 hit)
then yep, I will also be useing my class feature to get..... (+1 attack/-2 hit). Only difference is I have to make a concentration check to do it, and they dont.
Best come back to an arcane strike comment I have seen. Bravo sir
Yeah, but then you can't spell combat.Actually, you can cast the spell more than 5 feet from your intended victim, take a single move action to get next to them, and deliver the spell as a free action. Delivering a touch spell in the same round that you cast it is a free action that doesn't provoke.Well, you can cast the spell outside the reach of the enemy, take a 5 ft step, and deliver the spell.
or you could use the Magus ability that lets you take a penalty on your attack roll up to your int modifier to give you a bonus to your concentration check, although I think that's kinda bad idea.
All in all, casting in a way that doesn't provoke is the way to go.
C O M B A .... Darn, you're right.
Best come back to an arcane strike comment I have seen. Bravo sirSo you do that arcane mark jank huh?As long as the archers are doing rapid shot (+1 attack/-2 hit)
And the TWFs are well... fighting with two weapons (+1 attack/-2 hit)
then yep, I will also be useing my class feature to get..... (+1 attack/-2 hit). Only difference is I have to make a concentration check to do it, and they dont.
Thanks, I have no idea why people seem to have such a problem with it, but there you go.
Hey Fur
Have you planned your character out further? Where does he go from here?
Quite frankly, not really.
you have to remember that PFS only goes to 12 so there is not a ton of "from here"
however as for feats.
at level 9 I will more then likley take elememtal spell and appy it to my SG, with the trait it stays a level 1 spell and takes care of the few creatures that dont take elec.
Make sure to max out know Planes so you can always know what resistance things have.
Also I make LIBRAL use of Frigid Touch, the no save stagger is HUGE and with a 15-20 weapon that is lasting 1 min 25% of the time.
This would also be a good one for elemental spell. yes the level goes up to 3rd, but well worth it.
Beyond 9 or 10 I have not planned a lot. I run with a sorc every game so I have haste each combat, however if you dont then boots of speed are a must.
with this character my AC is just stupid high for having no armor
Around 30+ most fights. Add to that you can deflect one attack a round and deal damage in the 100+ and you have a really effective character.
Any other questions please feel free to ask.
**Somewhat cheesy tactic**
It is worth pointing out that the combo of spell combat to cast true strike followed by a combat manuver at +20 is enough to get a core book thrown at you.
You dont even need the feats, just eat the AOO, use crane wing to deflect it and watch the GM want to punch you.
You dont even need the feats, just eat the AOO, use crane wing to deflect it and watch the GM want to punch you.
As awesome as Crane Wing is, it is sooooo expensive. >.<
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So you do that arcane mark jank huh?As long as the archers are doing rapid shot (+1 attack/-2 hit)
And the TWFs are well... fighting with two weapons (+1 attack/-2 hit)
then yep, I will also be useing my class feature to get..... (+1 attack/-2 hit). Only difference is I have to make a concentration check to do it, and they dont.
But they have to burn a feat to do it. You have to make a concentration check, which is ridiculously easy since it's a cantrip. And if you don't make it, all that happens is that you don't get your free attack.
It's certainly not game breaking, but it's b~@@+$&$ to all the rogues and archers who have to invest in feats to do the same thing.
If the Magus is constantly casting (spell-striking) in melee, how does he avoid massive AOO's.
Great Maneuvering. Also, even if I can't get a good Shocking Grasp off, I still do have other options (namely Power Attack and Arcane Strike.) Eventually, I'll pick up the Lunge feat and just stab at people with 10 foot reach on a scimitar.
Also, Whip is a nice thing to have (I got it with a racial trait replacement.)