So I'm thinking about a Skirnir magus
DOOOOON'T!
Ok, seriously, it's just not a very good archetype. It fails pretty hard by pushing the core ability of the Magus--practically the reason to be a magus--Spellcombat to 8th level (not to mention diminishing your casting for practically no reason). If you have to start before 8th level, I would seriously reconsider this.
My question is - does a Skirnir need to WIELD their shield at all times? If so does this mean that they can't cast if they have a weapon in their other hand? It seems like they are designed in a way that mechanically may not work unless they can use their arcane bond while their shield is not readied
"If the object is an amulet or ring, it must be worn to have effect, while staves, wands, and weapons must be wielded."
So, yeah, if it's not readied, you can't cast without making a concentration check, but you also need a free hand until 8th level, so no other weapon unless your chosen shield is a buckler. This is yet another reason this is a bad archetype.
- or if they have a third arm... his 8th level Shielded Spell Combat further confuses things - implying that at that point he can wield his shield and cast spells - but unclear what he can do before then. (per the rules of the arcane bond not just spell combat)
It is unfortunately clear. Before this ability, if you've got your shield readied, you can't cast at all, unless your non-shield hand is open (or you have a buckler).
2) The rules on the Skirnir enhancing his shield as well as his weapon - does this take two swift actions? (so two rounds) or can he pay the costs twice but only take one swift action?
You pay separately, so two different actions.
and if he enhances his shield does it enhance it as a weapon or as armor (or as both?)
He can already enhance weapons, so this ability specifically allows him to enchant it as a shield. You have to choose which one (armor/weapon) when you use your pool, though you could take two swifts to enhance both aspects. Yet another reason this is a poor idea for an archetype.
3) Can you enhance a "named" shield. i.e. a shield that isn't just a +1 or with special abilities. Can you add bonuses (or at higher levels abilities) to a shield that has special abilities - like a Burglar's Buckler or other named special shield?
Yes, just as you can enhance a unique weapon.
1) at a higher level you could replace your arcane bond if you ditch you existing one then perform a ritual one week later plus 200gp/magus level in cost to bond to a new shield which can have existing enchantments
If you don't have your shield then like a wizard arcane bond you get penalties to your spellcasting for not having it.
"If a wizard attempts to cast a spell without his bonded object worn or in hand, he must make a concentration check or lose the spell. The DC for this check is equal to 20 + the spell's level."
2) "a weapon as normal, as well as to his shield, paying the arcane pool cost separately for each. "
Both happen together if your prepared to pay for both , 1 swift
If your asking if enchantment gives both a bonus to shield bash as well as shield AC then the answer is its unclear and your GM would have to decide. Normally the weapon part of a shield e.g. spikes are enchanted separately to a shields defence. Honestly the archetype is so terrible I'd just give you both
3) Yes you can increase the enchantment to a named item but it still has to follow rules for magic items i.e. no greater than +5 enchantment bonus
If your wondering why I called this a terrible archetype its because your giving up spell recall and spell combat which is where the awesome is for a Magus.
Honestly you'd be better off playing a straight Magus and using a shield as your weapon. read the spell combat text
To use this ability, the magus must have one hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic components), while wielding a light or one-handed melee weapon in the other hand.
shield spikes turn a bash attacking into a marital piercing weapon, so that satisfies one handed melee.
Then just take the shield feats your already so far ahead of skirnir by not losing spell combat or spell recall
actually in this specific case I'm planning on dipping Magus - it is a 10th level PFS character so won't have a lot more levels. The reason I"m interested in Skirnir potentially would be to get Spellstrike a level early - and for the occasional value of further enhancing his shield. He would be using a buckler so that offers a degree of flexibility (plus he is among other classes a monk so can actually pull off some interesting moves without any weapon in hand at all or with his hands full.
But that said I do agree that the Skirnir is a somewhat weak archetype - the decreased spell casting seems somewhat pointless - and the delayed spell combat is a bit painful. I don't, however, find the trading of spell recall away as painful as you seem to find it (especially since having an arcane bond is far more flexible than spell recall - if only once per day)
Seems like interpretations vary about how the arcane bond ability of hte Skirnir works - personally as a DM I think I would interpret it as being possible to pay for both enhancements with only one swift action - which is a bit powerful but not overly so (and from a game play standpoint makes things easier to keep track of - since both enhancements would go away at the same time)
Sorry just trying to get my head around the benefit your going for ?
I'm assuming a 1 level dip on Magus
-free masterwork shield
-arcane bonus for a +1 bonus to shield and a held weapon (unarmed strikes aren't held weapons if you were thinking of using this a a free +1 amulet of mighty fists)
-Spellstrike you get to cast 1 1st level spell and do a single attack with it as your standard action. (what spell are you going for ?)
maybe I'm missing the hidden gem in your idea
1) The Skirnir's arcane bond - which has to be a shield - I assume this means they could have at 1st level a free masterwork shield or if they take this at a higher level they could take a magic shield that they already have as their arcane bond.
Skirnir Arcane Bond (Su): "At 1st level, a skirnir gains a shield (except for a tower shield) as an arcane bond item. This is identical to the wizard class ability, but the skirnir may only bond with a shield, not a familiar or other item."
Wizard Arcane Bond (Ex or Sp): "Wizards who select a bonded object begin play with one at no cost."
So you begin play with a masterwork shield. You can then either enchant it (at half cost, if you qualify) or replace it and bond with an existing magic item.
does a Skirnir need to WIELD their shield at all times?
Nope. But you'll have to make a concentration check if you try to cast without it.
If so does this mean that they can't cast if they have a weapon in their other hand?
Nope. You can cast spells without somatic components without having a hand free.
It seems like they are designed in a way that mechanically may not work unless they can use their arcane bond while their shield is not readied - or if they have a third arm...
Or use a buckler. Or use the light/heavy shield as your weapon. Or wield another weapon which leaves your hand free, like a spiked gauntlet or armor spikes.
his 8th level Shielded Spell Combat further confuses things - implying that at that point he can wield his shield and cast spells - but unclear what he can do before then. (per the rules of the arcane bond not just spell combat)
Without Shielded Spell Combat you cannot use your shield hand to perform somatic components unless it's a buckler.
2) The rules on the Skirnir enhancing his shield as well as his weapon - does this take two swift actions? (so two rounds) or can he pay the costs twice but only take one swift action?
Arcane Pool: "At 1st level, a skirnir can use his arcane pool to grant an enhancement bonus to a weapon as normal, as well as to his shield, paying the arcane pool cost separately for each."
You pay the pool cost separately, not the action cost.
and if he enhances his shield does it enhance it as a weapon or as armor (or as both?)
Whichever you want. You can make it +1 (armor) for AC, or +1 (weapon) for damage. Or, at 5th level, you can do both.
3) Can you enhance a "named" shield. i.e. a shield that isn't just a +1 or with special abilities. Can you add bonuses (or at higher levels abilities) to a shield that has special abilities - like a Burglar's Buckler or other named special shield?
Using arcane pool, I don't see why not. Might be sticky in PFS.
Honestly you'd be better off playing a straight Magus and using a shield as your weapon.
You would need to use a mithral light steel shield or something similar, since you want to get the ACP and ASF% to 0. Many of the shield feats require shield proficiency.
At the level I'm playing it would not be at all for the masterwork shield. Rather it is for:
- arcane bond to further enhance magical weapons and if Skirnir my shield
- spellcasting in light armor for detect magic as well as a few buffs or occasional ranged sneak attack to open up an encounter
(Currently I have a cloak of the hedge wizard for the at will detect magic but that hurts my saves as it occupies the slot a cloak of resistance would have)- spellstrike occasionally for a slight boost to damage from a spell along with using a high crit weapon to deliver it (rapier)
Or if not Skirnir then spell combat for occasional cast then attack (but most of the time I would two weapon fight and/or flurry of maneuvers over spell combat since both offer me more of a likely impact. Most of this characters spell casting would be out of combat buffs and utility spells.
Skirnir does have a somewhat nifty flavor and while this character is a fighter he gave up shield proficiencies (he uses a magical buckler currently)
How many levels of Magus, how many levels of Monk, how many level of whatever else ?