RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Type of weapon used and the free hand requirement.
Have seen way too many people trying to use a 2handed weapon in one hand or use a 1hander with two hands using the free action to remove a hand, cast spell, free action to re-grip weapon. Both of these are not allowed by RAW but if you read just part of the text, you can get away with it.
More specifically, you *can* do this for Spellstrike, but not with Spell Combat, and therefore not with the combination of the two.
The devs said using cantrips for spell combat is allowed, they have NOT (and have said so) made an official ruling on arcane mark. so they arent saying you can or you can't because their feeling is there is no power issue here, leaving it up to the DM. I say no. for plenty of good reasons above. IF you wouldn't do it in combat normally, you're not going to do it in combat to gain a 'mechanical' paper advantage, That's a player decision, not a character decision, no one in combat is going to take time, every six seconds, to write their name on someone during a fight, especially if it distracts them enough to get hit. Since they wouldnt do this during spellcombat at 1st level there is o reason they would suddenly start doing this at 2nd level because they discoverd they could channel their grease pen through their sword now (it still means distracting them and risking getting their clock cleaned, and has no way doing any damage) For those reasons it's a rules exploit.
With the arcana 'close range' you can use several cantrips to spell combat/spellstrike all day long) (disrupt undead and ray of frost come to mind)
This thread is obviously going nowhere, but I like to talk, so I'll still add my two cents.
If you compare a level 2 finesse Magus to a level 2 finesse TWF Rogue, you have essentially traded sneak attack for VERY limited spellcasting. You get two attacks and (assuming you cast shocking grasp) an extra 2d6 damage, while the rogue gets two attacks and an extra 2d6 damage if he's sneak attacking. You trade the restriction of having to sneak attack for only being able to do it a handful of times per day. Considering I think rogues are underpowered to begin with, this makes magus at least as underpowered, even if you interpret all of their abilities the most in their favor. This is before even considering the concentration checks you have to make.
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I think it's spurred not necessarily from the magus being OP, but a misunderstanding at conundrums table as to the count of action economy.
Spellcombat/spellstrike doesnt give you two attacks AND a spell, the SPELL IS one of those attacks, and spellstrike is just moving it from off hand to weapon hand.
Not giving MORE actions.
So for example you could NOT:
Cast shield, and attack twice with your sword, since there is no attack in shield to be transferred over.
This is why, IMO light, will not work either. There is no attack to the spell light.
as to the whip thing, im not saying you cant mark your bad guy all you want, Im saying your not getting the mechanical advantage of an attack to do it with. At least not at my table.
I also allow wand wielder to be used with spell strike/spellcombat, which is how I believe it's intended to work
just compare it with monk flurry of blows.
I think it's spurred not necessarily from the magus being OP, but a misunderstanding at conundrums table as to the count of action economy.
Spellcombat/spellstrike doesnt give you two attacks AND a spell, the SPELL IS one of those attacks, and spellstrike is just moving it from off hand to weapon hand.
Not giving MORE actions.So for example you could NOT:
Cast shield, and attack twice with your sword, since there is no attack in shield to be transferred over.This is why, IMO light, will not work either. There is no attack to the spell light.
Any touch attack can be used. Any. Touch. Attack.
Light or Arcane Mark works, its effect is added after weapon damage.And Arcane Mark isnm't a name but a symbol: it could be Z if you are Zorro.
I think it's spurred not necessarily from the magus being OP, but a misunderstanding at conundrums table as to the count of action economy.
Spellcombat/spellstrike doesnt give you two attacks AND a spell, the SPELL IS one of those attacks, and spellstrike is just moving it from off hand to weapon hand.
Not giving MORE actions.So for example you could NOT:
Cast shield, and attack twice with your sword, since there is no attack in shield to be transferred over.This is why, IMO light, will not work either. There is no attack to the spell light.
Any touch attack can be used. Any. Touch. Attack.
Light or Arcane Mark works, its effect is added after weapon damage.And Arcane Mark isnm't a name but a symbol: it could be Z if you are Zorro.
it can be up to six characters... so it can be a Z, it can be more than a Z.
Regardless it's still casting a spell, still subject to an AoO and has no combat effect other than to find a rules loophole to gain an extra attack, which is not the intent.
It doesnt matter if you right Jason or J it doesnt take any longer, or go any quicker, it's the act of casting the spell for no other reason than to take advantage of an extra attack, which I have ruled is against the purpose and the intent of the use of the ability.
You keep trying to stress "attack" and I agree with you, there is no attack in light or arcane mark.
