Shopping List for a 4-level Magus?

[Mr. Shiny]

Background: We've just started the second book of Serpent's Skull, and we're able to use our 'downtime' to spend our accumulated gold before we hit the jungle.

My character is a Chelaxian Magus (Bladebound) who uses a rapier. At the moment, I don't have a single magic item equipped (other than a few charges left on some wands from book 1). I'm the primary arcanist for the party, but I'm also a 2nd-tier melee combatant.

Because of the Black Blade, I don't really need magic weapons, and (I'm metagaming a little here, given what I know about patterns of treasure in the APs) I'm assuming that I'll be able to find most generic items (+1 prot rings, amulet of nat armor, etc) throughout the course of the Path.

I've got quite a bit of gold (~10,000 gp) saved up, and I'm trying to think of some specific items to shop for/have made. This is my first time playing a Magus, so I'm very much open to ideas. All I've got written in my notes so far is "get some Pearls of Power..."

Any suggestions?

[Mr. Shiny]

bump?

[LazarX]

I've yet to use pearls of power on my Magus as she can't really afford the time to bust them out to recharge. Remember that you have to use them on the spell you just cast last round, so their utility in the middle of combat is somewhat limited.

Get scrolls of those first level utility spells you never bother with normally, like Mount. and if you have a decent UMD score check the wizard lists for things that have occasional use, like Floating Disk.

And yes you're a bladebound magus and you've got your baby stormbringer. Consider getting a masterwork composite longbow fitted to your strength bonus. It'll still have more range than any spell you'll have for awhile. When the enemy's 150 foot away and closing on you, that gives you a couple of rounds to inflict some damage on them.

And it wouldn't hurt for you to get a bashsing weapon to also have in reserve. Your blade may be black and scary, but not to something with dR5/bludgeoning.

[TGMaxMaxer]

Doesn't have to be last round, only that -day-.

Pearl of Power:

This seemingly normal pearl of average size and luster is a potent aid to all spellcasters who prepare spells. Once per day on command, a pearl of power enables the possessor to recall any one spell that she had prepared and then cast that day. The spell is then prepared again, just as if it had not been cast. The spell must be of a particular level, depending on the pearl. Different pearls exist for recalling one spell per day of each level from 1st through 9th and for the recall of two spells per day (each of a different level, 6th or lower).

[Bristor Gwin]

LazarX wrote:

Remember that you have to use them on the spell you just cast last round, so their utility in the middle of combat is somewhat limited.

Lazar, I don't think that's correct:

Pearl of Power
This seemingly normal pearl of average size and luster is a potent aid to all spellcasters who prepare spells (clerics, druids, rangers, paladins, and wizards). Once per day on command, a pearl of power enables the possessor to recall any one spell that she had prepared and then cast that day. The spell is then prepared again, just as if it had not been cast. The spell must be of a particular level, depending on the pearl. Different pearls exist for recalling one spell per day of each level from 1st through 9th and for the recall of two spells per day (each of a different level, 6th or lower).

[Stome]

Pearl of power 1 is never a bad investment for a magus.

Quick runners shirt is a pretty good item for the cost ( 1/day spend swift to get a move actions.)

I don't know if cloak of resistance is one of those common items in APs but if not that is good for anyone.

Handy Haversack is another of those good for anyone items.

Gloves of Arcane Striking is interesting and has its uses if you have arcane strike.

[Artanthos]

Without knowing your specific build plans it is difficult to advise on gear.

That said: look into acquiring a mithral breastplate. You can cast while wearing it now, though you'll suffer the -1 ACP on your attack rolls for a few more levels.

Gloves of elevenkind are useful if your worried about concentration checks.

Pearls of power are always useful.

Consider a headband / belt for stat increases.

[TGMaxMaxer]

To the OP.

Quickrunner's shirt, if it's not banned by GM (some do).

Jaunt Boots, depending on the way your GM rules it(standard to activate or use activated, it's up to debate on the boards).

(Cracked or Flawed) Vibrant purple Ioun stone (2k spell storing item, to be charged with something divine, or shield)

Dex/Str belt, depending on build. (or the monkey belt for the prehensile tail for rod holding later on)

Wands for Weaponwand spell.

+1 on the Alternate bludgeoning weapon type
+1 on the Str bow of the highest you can get, or 3k for an adaptive one if you are str based and plan stats changing.

[LazarX]

Artanthos wrote:

Without knowing your specific build plans it is difficult to advise on gear.

That said: look into acquiring a mithral breastplate. You can cast while wearing it now, though you'll suffer the -1 ACP on your attack rolls for a few more levels.

Gloves of elevenkind are useful if your worried about concentration checks.

Pearls of power are always useful.

Consider a headband / belt for stat increases.

You'll still suffer the arcane spell failure chance. While it may be treated as light armor for some purposes, it's still at it's heart medium armor, and any armor you're not yet proficient in as a magus means you incur Arcane Spell failure chance.

[Stome]

"Most mithral armors are one category lighter than normal for purposes of movement and other limitations. Heavy armors are treated as medium, and medium armors are treated as light, but light armors are still treated as light."

Spell failure is most certainly a limitation.

[Bigtuna]

Well look for loot to cover the problems with the magus.

AC:
Buy best armor you0 can get you hand on.
Buy a wand of shield - so you always can buff your AC when need be, and still have a few spells for damage.
Since you know you gonna change armor around lvl 7 - either buy the mithral breastplate now, or buy jingasa of the fortunate soldier (UQ) and the +1 insight to AC Ioun stone. Those items stay with you...

Concentration?
Unless you invested feast/traits in concentration you should still be having problems using spellcombat defensively - so the gloves of elven kind are pretty nice.
There is also 2 other items in UQ that gives +2 concentration for 5000 gp.
alternatively you could take wand wielder at lvl 6 and the buy a wand of shocking grasp - not for the dam, but for the extra attack with spellcombat and the lack of AoO.

Pearls of power.
I don't know your build. but if you want to use spellcombat you should:
a) be able to hit things
b) not be a glasscanon

So i would fix AC before starting on pearls of power. Yes i know pearls of power are tempting - but what the use of extra spells, if you can't make the concentration check? or stay in melee because your AC is to low...
You will find a cloak of res sooner or later - but it'¨s cheap ´, and useless right now.
And the perhaps just one pearl of power...

[Dragonamedrake]

Alot of miss information on this thread. Pearls of power are great investments for a magus. What Traits did you choose? With the right trait you can cast an Intensified Shocking Grasp (Maxs at 10d6 instead of 5d6) as a first level spell. Those Pearls will be useful for a long time.

Mithral armor is a great idea. Magus tend to be squishy in early levels. Concentrating on Defense early and Offence once you get higher level is a good practice. Shore up your weaknesses and then expand upon your strengths. Plus the enchants are cheaper.

[Bigtuna]

+2 Chain shirt (4250)
+1 cloak of res (1000)
4 x wand of infernal healing (3000)
1x wand of shield (750)
1x pearl of power (1000)
Anything left? alchemist fire for the swarms - there's always a swarm...

More boring but you'll be happy...

[Slacker2010]

I have pearls so that I can use my shield spell for every battle. Fixes the AC problem, also like mentioned before, get Gloves of elvenkind, this fixes the concentration problem.

[Thefurmonger]

Gloves of elvenkind are expensive at 7500 but a +5 to cast defensivly is solid gold for a magus.

[Darigaaz the Igniter]

Bigtuna wrote:

+2 Chain shirt (4250)

+1 cloak of res (1000)
4 x wand of infernal healing (3000)
1x wand of shield (750)
1x pearl of power (1000)
Anything left? alchemist fire for the swarms - there's always a swarm...

More boring but you'll be happy...

Swap the +2 Chain Shirt for a Mithral Breastplate. Same AC bonus, only a -1 ACP, cheaper to further enchant. Downside is it costs 150gp more and you'll be taking a -1 to attack rolls until magus 7, though if one of your traits is armor expert then you're gravy.

[Morgen]

You could spend some cash and flesh out your spell book a bit, that could come in handy later. Even buy a few that are a bit higher level so you can settle into them more gently. A few more mundane and alchemical items probably would help in the AP from what I've heard, a Haversack is always really nice to have.

Saving up for some good medium armour since your getting closer to your medium armour casting might not be a bad idea either.

Also perhaps look at things inside of the adventure path that your GM might recommend. Maybe there is something you could buy of fund that would make things more interesting in the game.

[Bigtuna]

+2 Chain shirt (4250) +6 AC
Mithral breast plate (4350) +6 AC

But if you plan to take heavy armor prof at lvl 7 and buy a
Mithral Fullplate (10.650) then - I would buy the chain shirt so you don't suffer ACP.
If you plan to wait for heavy armor prof to lvl 13 - Mithral breast plate it the better choise. But then buy some Ointment, Armor (30 gp) - alot really that reduces ACP for 8 hours. A cheap way to get +1 to hit/+1 ini/+1 to alle dex/str based checks.

[LazarX]

It's medium proficiency at level 7, Heavy comes in at level 13.

[Artanthos]

But you could choose to spend a feat at level 7.

[Mr. Shiny]

Artanthos wrote:

Without knowing your specific build plans it is difficult to advise on gear.

Thanks for the insight everyone!

S: 10
D: 18
C: 12
W: 10
Ch: 8
I: 17

I started the AP with a chain shirt, and it's been working so far. My current AC is a 20 (or 24 with a shield spell). It's one of the higher ACs in the party, plus I've been able to buff with Mirror Image for the last few combats. At the moment, I'm satisfied with this (and I'm presuming some generic rings and amulets will increase this down the line).

My saves are all +5. Hasn't been a big problem (so far) with those, and I'm assuming some cloaks will be found in the future.

I've been utilizing the cast/5-foot step/attack technique for the most part (or prepping spells while Vanished); I took the +2 concentration trait and got a NPC boon for an additional boost. Right now, I've got to roll fairly poorly to fail the defensive cast.

As I mentioned up top, I'm the only arcanist in the party (archer ranger, spear ranger, knife rogue, monk, buff cleric), so I've somewhat been thrust into the 'blast platform' role in the last few big combats, with Magic Missile being quite helpful from a distance. I've only used one spellstrike 'nova blast' so far (and that was with Vampiric Touch!) Hence, I'm trying to boost spellcasting ability with the Pearls.

I've currently got a (mundane) bow; while I can't use any Str bonus from a composite bow, being able to enhance it with an Arcane Pool point has been helpful so far.

[Bigtuna]

oh potion of lesser restoration - a few of them. They are cheap. And removes all kind of bad things...
Sometimes you just can't wait for the divine caster to make time, and once you are hit with fatigue, ray of enfeablement (or what is it call the one that targets dex) - these little things comes and saves the day...

Ah Dex based - not kensei?
Then bow! You'll be almost as good to hit with it as your sword...
But still keep the AC up.

[Artanthos]

With an 18 dex, stick with the chain shirt. You might want to look at eventually getting an agile bow.

Since your not Kensai, you should have spell recall. You can recover 1st level spells as a swift action by spending a point of your arcane pool.