Magus / Phalanx Soldier and polearm

[Chevalier83]

Hi guys,

as I understand, a magus with buckler can still use spell strike and spell combat, given that he uses a 1-handed weapon.

Phalanx fighter at 3rd level gets the following:

At 3rd level, when a phalanx soldier wields a shield, he can use any polearm or spear of his size as a one-handed weapon.

As the buckler is obviously a shield, does that mean, that a magus could spellstrike / spellcombat with a spear or polearm if multiclassed to phalanx soldier?

[Darkflame]

if those are the exact wordings i would say yes but when using spellcombat you would lose your shield bonus to AC and are no longer wielding the shield wich would in turn mean you cant use the spear or polearm to spelstrike.

but thats just my thought :-)

[Slacker2010]

Chevalier83 wrote:

As the buckler is obviously a shield, does that mean, that a magus could spellstrike / spellcombat with a spear or pole-arm if multiclassed to phalanx soldier?

Yes but any round that your using Spellcombat/Spellstrike your not going to get the benefit of wearing the shield. That hand is now casting, So you would lose the AC and any other shield related benefits.

[Chevalier83]

indeed, I am just curious, if that is a possible work around to get a magus spellstriking with a reach weapon that actually does some kind of damage (i.e. not being a whip)

[Matt2VK]

Won't work.

Spell strike has a requirement of a light or 1handed weapon.

[Artanthos]

Matt2VK wrote:

Won't work.

Spell strike has a requirement of a light or 1handed weapon.

Spellstrike wrote:

At 2nd level, whenever a magus casts a spell with a range of “touch” from the magus spell list, he can deliver the spell through any weapon he is wielding as part of a melee attack

[Chevalier83]

Yes, I know. Let me repeat that one:

At 3rd level, when a phalanx soldier wields a shield, he can use any polearm or spear of his size as a one-handed weapon.

Buckler can be wielded while spellstriking -> spear / polearm becomes a one-handed weapon because buckler is also a shield -> spell strike with polearm?

Edit: also, the ability in question would be spell combat, rather than spellstrike, as spell combat has the requirement of 1-handed weapon.

[Artanthos]

Chevalier83 wrote:

Yes, I know. Let me repeat that one:

At 3rd level, when a phalanx soldier wields a shield, he can use any polearm or spear of his size as a one-handed weapon.

Buckler can be wielded while spellstriking -> spear / polearm becomes a one-handed weapon because buckler is also a shield -> spell strike with polearm?

Not relevant.

While certain archetypes limit the magi's weapon selection, 1-handed is not a requirement for spellstrike.

[Chevalier83]

Your answer was quicker than my edit: obviously, the ability in question in this scenario would be spell combat; spell combat requires a one-handed weapon and a free hand. Shield and spear makes it one-handed, while buckler would also allow the hand to be used for something else.

If you argued, the buckler is not wielded anymore if the hand is used for spell combat, than what would be, if we adjusted the scenario to be a Hexblade // Phalanx Soldier, wielding the shield with his hair? one hand free (obviously), wields a shield and a one handed weapon (his polearm)

[Slacker2010]

Matt2VK wrote:

Won't work.

Spell strike has a requirement of a light or 1handed weapon.

FALSE, this is Spell combat your thinking of. Spell Strike works even with 2handers

[Matt2VK]

Oops!
I got them mixed up.

Spell strike would allow you to deliver a touch spell with a pole arm or a two hander.
But...Spell strike is completely different ability from spell combat. Spell strike does not allow the magus to make all his normal attack and cast a spell.

[Chevalier83]

That still does not answer the question. Let me rephrase:

Does this ability

At 3rd level, when a phalanx soldier wields a shield, he can use any polearm or spear of his size as a one-handed weapon.

make a polearm a one handed weapon as required for Spell Combat?

If so, would it be sufficient, to use it with a buckler? If a buckler is out of scope, would it work with an additional limb?

[Umbranus]

The 3rd level phalanx soldier ability does work with a buckler.
But as I read it while using spell combat you are not wielding your buckler and thus you do not fulfil the requirement of wielding a shield for the phalanx soldier ability at that time. So this combo does not work.

You could, however, use the shield fighting magus archetype with the phalanx soldier.

[TheSideKick]

why do you want a phalanx soldier so badly?

if you are trying to attack with a reach weapon then do so. it has been proven time and time again that you can hold onto a reach/two handed weapon and spell strike, spell combat no, but you would only lose out on one attack in doing so.

so in conclusion yes you can hold onto a Fauchard for your 15-20 crit range, and still send a shocking grasp through it. but you would not be able to use spell combat.

also no, the phalanx soldier archetype would not allow for you to use spell combat.

[Matt2VK]

This is a DM call. I think most DM won't allow it but *shrug* you can always ask.

My understanding of the rules are -
Does the spear or pole arm description you plan on using fall in the one handed or light category?
If yes, you can use it with spell combat, if no, you can't.
The Phalanx ability allows you to use a two handed weapon in one hand. Does not change the weapon type.

Course, this gets into the mess of using a small two handed weapon by a medium size creature one handed. Which I believe there is no official ruling on. If there is a official ruling on this (might have missed it), you could, maybe, use that ruling to defend this position one way or the other.

[Chevalier83]

@ Umbranus: Do you have a definition somewhere for the "wielding" condition? I was asking that myself, but couldn't find anything official so far.

What would you say regarding the additional limb scenario? Would a polearm qualify as a one-handed weapon in that case and could it be used for spell combat?

@ SiedeKick: It's not about me wanting to play this combo, I was just wondering wether it worked. Also, I don't take "no it doesn't" as an argument.

@ Matt2VK: Exotic Proficiency Bastard Sword allows you to use an otherwise 2-handed weapon as 1-handed. Would you argue, that you can't spellcombat with a Bastard Sword given exotic weapon proficiency?

If not, what makes exotic weapon proficiency different from the ability of phalanx soldier?

Also, I don't want to argue, wether this is a realistic scenario, it's about game mechanics ;)

[Umbranus]

Someone (don't remember if it was JJ in his ask thread or another dev in a clarification) stated that you have to attack with a weapon to count as wielding it. In that train of thought I'd say that you have to actively use a buckler to defend yourself to wield it. And you don't do that when you use the hand for somethung else.

Quote:

@ Matt2VK: Exotic Proficiency Bastard Sword allows you to use an otherwise 2-handed weapon as 1-handed. Would you argue, that you can't spellcombat with a Bastard Sword given exotic weapon proficiency?

That is wrong in that the bastard sword is always a onehanded weapon. Even if those, who only have martial proficiency need two hands to use it. In the weapon lists it is under onehanded. If you want to calculate how many hp it has you treat it as onehanded. In every aspect it IS a onehanded weapon. but one with a special that some people need two hands to use this onehanded weapon.

[Slacker2010]

Matt2VK wrote:

The Phalanx ability allows you to use a two handed weapon in one hand. Does not change the weapon type.

I could not have said it better.

[Chevalier83]

So you say "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." refers to the weapon type, and not to the way I actually wield the weapon? Meaning I could play a hexblade and wield a bastard sword with martial weapon proficiency and the hair-limb as a two-handed weapon (getting 2-handed weapon damage bonus), while spellcombating? For me that would make no sense at all.

By the way: Spell combat says explicitely it's comparable to two weapon fighting. If we can have a Titan Mauler wielding two greatswords, couldn't we have a Titan Mauler - Magus combo spellcombating with a greatsword? If so, what's the difference to phalanx soldier ;)

[Umbranus]

As the hair from the prehensile hair hex can't use weapons, no that would not work. All I say is that a bastard sword* is a onehanded weapon no matter how many hands you n eed to wield it.

*as long as it is the right size for you.

[Chevalier83]

Yes, you are right regarding prehensile hair and weapons. Still could hold a shield with it though.

[Chevalier83]

Let me some it up once again:

_____________________________________________________________________
At 3rd level, when a phalanx soldier wields a shield, he can use any polearm or spear of his size as a one-handed weapon.
_____________________________________________________________________

In case a Magus would wield a shield, would a polearm be a one-handed weapon as required for Spell Combat?

_____________________________________________________________________
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.
_____________________________________________________________________

If so, which of the following scenarios would allow the magus to Spell Combat with a polearm:

a) A hexblade using prehensile hair to wield a shield, while spell combating with a free hand + polearm

b) A Magus using a buckler and spell combating with a polearm

[Starglim]

I'm inclined to favour combinations that support using spear and shield. It's been a significant sore point in the rules since at least 3.0.

Chevalier83 wrote:

Let me some it up once again:

_____________________________________________________________________
At 3rd level, when a phalanx soldier wields a shield, he can use any polearm or spear of his size as a one-handed weapon.
_____________________________________________________________________

In case a Magus would wield a shield, would a polearm be a one-handed weapon as required for Spell Combat?

_____________________________________________________________________
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.
_____________________________________________________________________

Yes, he is using it as a one-handed weapon, not just using it in one hand. He would then be wielding a shield. You seem to have considered this already. He might also try to use a slashing-type polearm as a black blade.

Chevalier83 wrote:

If so, which of the following scenarios would allow the magus to Spell Combat with a polearm:

a) A hexblade using prehensile hair to wield a shield, while spell combating with a free hand + polearm

Yes, as for any additional limb that's capable of wielding a shield.

Chevalier83 wrote:

b) A Magus using a buckler and spell combating with a polearm

edit: I'm going to say no:

Quote:

You can cast a spell with somatic components using your shield arm, but you lose the buckler's AC bonus until your next turn.

When you cast a spell with your shield arm, you're not wielding the buckler as a shield and this combination falls apart.

[Matt2VK]

Shield and Hair, I don't know those rules enough to comment on.

Using the pole arm one handed with spell combat really depends on answering this question.
What type of weapon is it?

If it's found in the light or one handed section on weapons then the answer is yes. If found in the two handed section the answer is no. Does not matter if you're using that two handed weapon in one hand from some ability. As spell combat has a RAW of light or one handed weapons only.
Now by RAI that's between you and your GM. I wouldn't allow it but others might and it never hurts to ask.

[Chevalier83]

Actually, the buckler thing is based on the definition of the wield condition. I am not sure, wether a buckler is wield, when you lose it's AC or not.

Basically, what I have found are two quotes:

Defending Weapon Property: Do I have to make attack rolls with the weapon to gain its AC bonus?

Yes. Merely holding a defending weapon is not sufficient. Unless otherwise specified, you have to use a magic item in the manner it is designed (use a weapon to make attacks, wear a shield on your arm so you can defend with it, and so on) to gain its benefits.
Therefore, if you don't make an attack roll with a defending weapon on your turn, you don't gain its defensive benefit.
Likewise, while you can give a shield the defending property (after you've given it a +1 enhancement bonus to attacks, of course), you wouldn't get the AC bonus from the defending property unless you used the shield to make a shield bash that round--unless you're using the shield as a weapon (to make a shield bash), the defending weapon property has no effect.

—Sean K Reynolds, 06/06/11

Benefit: You can also use your shield arm to wield a weapon (whether you are using an off-hand weapon or using your off hand to help wield a two-handed weapon), but you take a –1 penalty on attack rolls while doing so. This penalty stacks with those that may apply for fighting with your off hand and for fighting with two weapons. In any case, if you use a weapon in your off hand, you lose the buckler's Armor Class bonus until your next turn. You can cast a spell with somatic components using your shield arm, but you lose the buckler's Armor Class bonus until your next turn. You can't make a shield bash with a buckler.

For me an alternate BENEFIT of the buckler is, that the arm can be used to wield something else (in which case you lose the AC Bonus as stated in the description of said benefit). Elsewise, the wearer (wielder?) couldn't use Blinding as an example.

Also, please consider the following magical ability:

Animated: As a move action, an animated shield can be loosed to defend its wielder on its own. For the following 4 rounds, the shield grants its bonus to the one who loosed it and then drops. While animated, the shield provides its shield bonus and the bonuses from all of the other shield special abilities it possesses, but it cannot take actions on its own, such as those provided by the bashing and blinding abilities. It can, however, use special abilities that do not require an action to function, such as arrow deflection and reflecting. While animated, a shield shares the same space as the activating character and accompanies the character who activated it, even if the character moves by magical means. A character with an animated shield still takes any penalties associated with shield use, such as armor check penalty, arcane spell failure chance, and nonproficiency. If the wielder who loosed it has an unoccupied hand, she can grasp it to end its animation as a free action. Once a shield has been retrieved, it cannot be animated again for at least 4 rounds. This property cannot be added to a tower shield.

soooo spellcombat would work with an animated tower shield, but not with an strapped-on buckler?

[Matt2VK]

From my reading of that, the shield while floating would work with spell combat.

Which brings up the question of why you just don't cast the Shield spell and not bother carrying around a shield?

[Pendagast]

the way to make this work is you use a skirnir magus archetype.

however, the frustrating part of it is that you need to be phalanx3/skirnir8 before you can spell combat with a pole arm.... It doesnt really work.

However you want to slice it, can you make it work? with a skirnir yes, but by level 11? yea it's effectively no.

[Darkflame]

Chevalier83 wrote:

So you say "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." refers to the weapon type, and not to the way I actually wield the weapon? Meaning I could play a hexblade and wield a bastard sword with martial weapon proficiency and the hair-limb as a two-handed weapon (getting 2-handed weapon damage bonus), while spellcombating? For me that would make no sense at all.

By the way: Spell combat says explicitely it's comparable to two weapon fighting. If we can have a Titan Mauler wielding two greatswords, couldn't we have a Titan Mauler - Magus combo spellcombating with a greatsword? If so, what's the difference to phalanx soldier ;)

the condition is that you already have 3 hands worth of stuff in your hands a shield and a 2 handed weapon, you cant cast a spell with half a hand. its one or the other.

[Chevalier83]

@ Matt2VK: I did not think about that so far. I just would not think, that a shield spell would count as a wielding a shield, but I could be wrong here.

@ Pendagast: If I wanted to pull this combo with (a) anything above a buckler or (b) using a buckler but not loseing AC while performing the spell combat, that would be true. As one of the benefits for wielding a buckler is, that you can use the hand for something else (e.g. two-weapon fighting or two-handed fighting), I think I already wield a shield

@ Darkflame: I only count one occupied hand, that's the whole point. I do not have a two-handed weapon, as my ability allows me to use a polearm as a one-handed weapon. I also don't have a hand occupied by the buckler, as one benefit states:

"You can cast a spell with somatic components using your shield arm, but you lose the buckler's Armor Class bonus until your next turn."

[Narrater]

you could invest in the still metamagic so you don't lose the shield when casting. Combining it with the lineage trait on your primary damage spell could allow you to consistently perform the attack.

It still is a unusual case that you would likely need prier permission from any DM you game with. Since I could honestly see it going either way.

[Darkflame]

casting the spell would you not wielding the buckler having a buckler strapped to your arm does not make you wield it. and I think its at a GM's discretion. but ruleswise I don't think its possible

[Starglim]

Narrater wrote:

you could invest in the still metamagic so you don't lose the shield when casting. Combining it with the lineage trait on your primary damage spell could allow you to consistently perform the attack.

This wouldn't remove the requirement to have a free hand when using spell combat.

[Narrater]

A buckler doesn't prevent spell casting while being worn. It indicates that the buckler is attached to the forearm not held in the hand. so the hand is in fact free, meeting the requirement for spell combat.

[Pendagast]

there is the arcane spell failure tho

[kyrt-ryder]

^ Unless the buckler is Mithral

[Narrater]

That is true Pendagast unless its made of mithral or your using the still feat. Which is probably the best solution since it would allows the character to keep his shields AC. Considering all the hurdles necessary to get it all to work I would allow it but I can understand why others wouldn't.

I honestly hoped that some of the other books specifically Ultimate Combat would have provided some better options to diversify a Magus's combat options. So every Magus isn't pigeonholed into a one handed blade fighter. So I can appreciate someone trying to step out of that mold.

(edited) Darn Ninja'd

[Chevalier83]

Oh btw, another argument that the buckler is still wield while attacking with a weapon hold in the respective hand:

You will not get bonus or malus specified for simply carrying an item (e.g. if I carry my buckler strapped to my belt, there is no malus). You get a to-hit-malus while attacking with the buckler strapped to your arm, hence you obviously still wield it.

[Pendagast]

Narrater wrote:

That is true Pendagast unless its made of mithral or your using the still feat. Which is probably the best solution since it would allows the character to keep his shields AC. Considering all the hurdles necessary to get it all to work I would allow it but I can understand why others wouldn't.

I honestly hoped that some of the other books specifically Ultimate Combat would have provided some better options to diversify a Magus's combat options. So every Magus isn't pigeonholed into a one handed blade fighter. So I can appreciate someone trying to step out of that mold.

(edited) Darn Ninja'd

The whole thing is tricky, tried doing it months and months ago, but couldnt really make it worth doing.

I think one of the holes bugging me might have been not being able to attack adjacent to you (because a buckler can't bash)...so wanting a light shield and needing a buckler... That's probably it... i got frustrated with it and gave up.

I think something that would be really cool would be a variant of the staff magus with a pole arm instead, using quarterstaff master in a way that the polearm could be used one handed, two handed, whatever...and still be able to store staff charges in it.... I think that would be really interesting

[Jonas El 'Adan]

That sounds like a pretty cool idea for a alternate Magus archetype.

[Forcy]

This work!

Herolab allow me to take 3 levels of phalanx fighter and then go magus and use his ability with a polearm

I take Spire Defender archetipe... i gains prficency with Fauchard... thats' an amazing weapon to use... 18-20 crit (15-20 with magus weapon enchant "keen") , reach and trip! And gain dodge and combact expertise without loosing nothing!

Of course.. you loose 3 magus level and caster level... but it's a nice build for a heavy hitting tanking magus!

[Claxon]

Forcy wrote:

This work!

Herolab allow me to take 3 levels of phalanx fighter and then go magus and use his ability with a polearm

I take Spire Defender archetipe... i gains prficency with Fauchard... thats' an amazing weapon to use... 18-20 crit (15-20 with magus weapon enchant "keen") , reach and trip! And gain dodge and combact expertise without loosing nothing!

Of course.. you loose 3 magus level and caster level... but it's a nice build for a heavy hitting tanking magus!

Herolab is not a rules resource and should not be used to justify whether or not something works.

I'm not saying it does or doesn't work, but the argument "Herolab says" doesn't really mean anything.

[Murdock Mudeater]

Forcy wrote:

Herolab allow me to take 3 levels of phalanx fighter and then go magus and use his ability with a polearm

I take Spire Defender archetipe... i gains prficency with Fauchard... thats' an amazing weapon to use... 18-20 crit (15-20 with magus weapon enchant "keen") , reach and trip! And gain dodge and combact expertise without loosing nothing!

Of course.. you loose 3 magus level and caster level... but it's a nice build for a heavy hitting tanking magus!

Regarding the fighter/magnus, not heavy hitting because when you make your spear into a one-handed weapon, you lose the 1.5x str mod to damage. Only advantage here is reach and the small shield bonus gain (small via the buckler route). And for that, you lose 3 caster levels.

As for the spire defender, have you read the class? Spire defender gains proficency with one exotic light or one-handed weapon with the disarm or trip special rule. The Fauchard is two-handed, so isn't a legal choice. I do agree, that Spire defender archetype does gain a lot of feats for very little loss.

[Klorox]

the bucler is not sujet any shield... a magus wit 3 levels as phalanx fighter might use spell combat with a buckler and a pole arm, but not with a larger shield.

[Klorox]

Matt2VK wrote:

Won't work.

Spell strike has a requirement of a light or 1handed weapon.

the phalanx fighter is clear enough, a pole arm is regarded as a one handed weapon... then again it better be a halberd or those touch spells won't work.

[Diego Rossi]

PRD wrote:

Phalanx Fighting (Ex): At 3rd level, when a phalanx soldier wields a shield, he can use any polearm or spear of his size as a one-handed weapon. This ability replaces armor training 1.

Wields. Again, the damned word.

While there are a lot of discussion about that, you normally wield an item when you use it, not when you wear it.

If you cast a spell with a somatic component you need a free hand, if you have your polearm in 1 hand and use the other to cast the spell, you lose the buckler bonus to AC and aren't wielding it. So your polearm revert to a 2 handed weapon and you can't use it with spellstrike.

Same problem with spell combat, you are using your off-hand to cast the spell, so you can't wield the bucker with it, your polearm revert to a 2 handed weapon and you can't use spell combat.

And this is a necro of a 4 years old thread. Check the magus FAQs.

Klorox wrote:

Matt2VK wrote:

Won't work.

Spell strike has a requirement of a light or 1handed weapon.

the phalanx fighter is clear enough, a pole arm is regarded as a one handed weapon... then again it better be a halberd or those touch spells won't work.

Spell combat wrote:

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.

That refer to the weapon category, not on how you wield it. a polearm is a 2 handed weapon, even if you can wield it with one hand.

Being able to wield it with oen hand don't change a weapon designation.

[Murdock Mudeater]

Diego Rossi wrote:

And this is a necro of a 4 years old thread. Check the magus FAQs.

Ugh. I always miss this. Way too easy to mistake old posts for new ones. Kinda feel like posts should be color coated by year, or something.

[Dukasaurus82]

Murdock Mudeater wrote:
And this is a necro of a 4 years old thread. Check the magus FAQs.
Ugh. I always miss this. Way too easy to mistake old posts for new ones. Kinda feel like posts should be color coated by year, or something.

But if a new thread is posted, someone else will say (rightly) that it's a waste of space as there's already a thread on this topic from 4 years ago.

Anyway...
Diego Rossi wrote:
"If you cast a spell with a somatic component you need a free hand, if you have your polearm in 1 hand and use the other to cast the spell, you lose the buckler bonus to AC and aren't wielding it. So your polearm revert to a 2 handed weapon and you can't use it with spellstrike."

Well, that would be fine & relevant if a Magus using Spellstrike cast their spell into their weapon using their "other" hand, but they don't.
When using Spellstrike with a one-handed weapon in one hand, the spell is cast into the weapon using the hand holding the weapon, or either hand when wielding it two-handed which is also an option with Spellstrike. So Spellstrike would work 100% with this concept, even if Spell Combat doesn't.

That's why you revive a 4 year old conversation.

[Klorox]

I'll agree to disagree with you Diego... abilities such as the phalanx fighters do turn 2handed weapons to one handed weapons so far as you are concerned. That's the rule I'd apply as a DM and that I'd argue for if the DM is uncooperative (likely before completely changing my character concept because DM's are often a stubborn lot)... the general classification of weapons bows to the particular application... I know, when my players learn of this opinion, I'm probably opening myself to some pretty broken exotic combos, but I feel this is right... or is there an actual FAQ stating black on while that being able to wield a weapon from a certain category like it were a different one (2hd weapon one handed, TWF a one hand weapon like it were light...) does not allow use of feats or class abilities that require a weapon of the new category?

[Diego Rossi]

Dukasaurus82 wrote:

Murdock Mudeater wrote:

And this is a necro of a 4 years old thread. Check the magus FAQs.
Ugh. I always miss this. Way too easy to mistake old posts for new ones. Kinda feel like posts should be color coated by year, or something.

But if a new thread is posted, someone else will say (rightly) that it's a waste of space as there's already a thread on this topic from 4 years ago.

Anyway...
Diego Rossi wrote:
"If you cast a spell with a somatic component you need a free hand, if you have your polearm in 1 hand and use the other to cast the spell, you lose the buckler bonus to AC and aren't wielding it. So your polearm revert to a 2 handed weapon and you can't use it with spellstrike."

Well, that would be fine & relevant if a Magus using Spellstrike cast their spell into their weapon using their "other" hand, but they don't.
When using Spellstrike with a one-handed weapon in one hand, the spell is cast into the weapon using the hand holding the weapon, or either hand when wielding it two-handed which is also an option with Spellstrike. So Spellstrike would work 100% with this concept, even if Spell Combat doesn't.

That's why you revive a 4 year old conversation.

You have a little problem.

If you cast a spell with a somatic component one of your hand is used up for the whole round, at least as far as attacking with that hand go or getting a shield benefit.
As you need to use your polearm as 2 handed weapon (you aren't wielding a shield, so you don't benefit from phalanx fighter), you are trying to re-use the same hand again to attack. Essentially you are trying to use 3 hands of effort and run afoul of this FAQ:

FAQ wrote:

Armor Spikes: Can I use two-weapon fighting to make an "off-hand" attack with my armor spikes in the same round I use a two-handed weapon?

No.
Likewise, you couldn't use an armored gauntlet to do so, as you are using both of your hands to wield your two-handed weapon, therefore your off-hand is unavailable to make any attacks.

And that is why before reviving a 4 years old thread you check the FAQ and try to get up to date with had been said about them.

Note: swift spells and some other swift action don't run afoul of that.

[Dukasaurus82]

Magus:
Spellstrike (Su)
[See FAQ]
At 2nd level, whenever a magus casts a spell with a range of “touch” from the magus spell list, he can deliver the spell through any weapon he is wielding as part of a melee attack. Instead of the free melee touch attack normally allowed to deliver the spell, a magus can make one free melee attack with his weapon (at his highest base attack bonus) as part of casting this spell. If successful, this melee attack deals its normal damage as well as the effects of the spell. If the magus makes this attack in concert with spell combat, this melee attack takes all the penalties accrued by spell combat melee attacks. This attack uses the weapon’s critical range (20, 19–20, or 18–20 and modified by the keen weapon property or similar effects), but the spell effect only deals ×2 damage on a successful critical hit, while the weapon damage uses its own critical modifier.

Phalanx Soldier:
Phalanx Fighting (Ex)
At 3rd level, when a phalanx soldier wields a shield, he can use any polearm or spear of his size as a one-handed weapon.
This ability replaces Armor Training 1.

Why would these not work together? Obviously shields have an arcane spell failure chance with Magi that needs to be taken into account, but the ability can be used.