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I was thinking about doing a dervish dancer (the bard archetype) with the kensei (magus archetype), but I'm not sure how to go about it.
If it's possible; can the magus become a spontaneous charisma/dex type of caster/fighter? if so, how?
Would it hurt to loose the level of spells from the kensei?
is it (in general) a good idea for a build, or is it a waste of paper? (dps/dpr wise).
I'm not looking for a min/max or OP char, but i do want one that can hold it's own.
If anyone has an advice or info on this, i would be grateful for your help.
Is this PFS? If not, there is a 3rd-party archetype for the Magus called the Cabalist, it has spontaneous casting.
Yep. Spontaneous/prepared isn't really something that can be changed in a class.
Haven't checked whether kensai and cabalist are compatible, but they probably are.
A kensai/cabalist with a 1-level dip into dervish dancer bard would work quite well.
Cha would give you x amount of Bardic Performances more per day that is about it though... Considering that you only have 4 with only a 1 level dip (though you can get more through Extra Performance feat 6 more per feat) that is only 4 rounds per day and with it already costing one move action to start really it is only 3 rounds per day unless you start it when engaged in melee combat.
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Having at least an 11 Cha is also what you would need to be able to use 1st level spells.
Remember access to casting spe3lls of a level requires the casting stat be at least equal to 10 plus the spell level, so 10 for cantrips, 11 for 1st level spells, etc.
IIRC, a 12 gives you one bonus spell for 1st level spells. Not known, but castable, for a spontaneous caster.
why bother with the bard levels at all? just go kensai and focus on dex and int (tiefling is a good option if its available to you)- take weapon finesse @1st and just spend the feat for dervish dance at 3rd. the battle dance looks appealing but the +1 to hit only counteracts the extra point of lost BAB, and it costs a move to activate. plus, you set back your magus spells and abilities...
It also gives a +1 to damage...
Note that for the Dervish Dancer archetype, your bard song is TWICE as effective when used on yourself; +2 to hit and +2 damage, quite decent. I'd say it's well worth it, particularly as it saves on feats.
I don't think so... Honestly it only gives the +1 to hit and damage I don't see how it "doubles up"...
Sorry I meant Dervish of Dawn.
Dervishes of dawn are trained in the use of the Perform skill, especially dance, to create magical effects on himself. This works like bardic performance, except that the performances grant double their normal bonuses, but these bonuses only affect him.
Is the only difference between Dervish Dancer and Dervish of Dawn weapon focused vs spell focused?
1 level of Dervish Dancer may not do anything but it is a solid melee oriented class at higher levels!
Dervish Dancer has 'more' but close examination reveals it isn't really that good. Dervish of Dawn has less and it has some crap but close examination reveals it has some extremely nice abilities.
So being able to cast Cure Serious wounds as a Swift action once beats out an additional attack, another +1 to hit, +1 to AC and Improved Crit feat... I don't think you are using the Elven Curve Blade on your Dervish Dancer... (This is strictly at level 8)
I believe we are talking about a single-level dip, well worth it in my mind to save on two feats, to gain +2 to damage and attack rolls, and to gain one or two extra spells per day.
That I can agree on. And I'm going to leave it at that so as to not de-rail this thread.
if you want to dip, dawnflower dervish (dervish of dawn on PFSRD) is clearly a better route than dervish dancer. as i said previously, dervish dancer is not (IMO) worth dipping- you gain an ability that balances out the BAB you just cost yourself, but have to waste a move action to activate it. dawnflower dervish (while probably an inferior archetype to play to high level) is a decent dip for a build like this- it does set your casting and other abilities back a bit, and knocks another 1 off your BAB (which is already not as good as you would like), but you do get +2hit/dmg from the dance and the dervish dance feat for free (which also saves you from needing weapon finesse)... so it is a viable option.
Remember this is only a one level dip so the total number of Bardic Performances per day will stay at 4 unless Cha mod says otherwise or Extra Performance feat. Harmonic Spell would be a nice way to circumvent having to have a lot of Bardic Performances though and as the OP is playing as a Magus using spells and fighting should be no problem. Good call on that feat.
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Just a note. You can gain extra rounds for battle dance: inspire courage (+2 to hit/dam) with the harmonic spell feat.
Benefit: Whenever you cast a 1st or higher level spell while you are maintaining a bardic performance, you can maintain the bardic performance for that round without expending one of your rounds of performance for the day. In addition, you can switch from one bardic performance to another as a swift action when you cast a spell while maintaining a bardic performance.
At lower levels you would probably get more milage out of extra performance, but in the long run I think this feat might pull ahead. I'm still trying to make up my mind which to go with.
The ability to switch performances doesn't come up much but it can be an absolute life saver when it does.
Lingering performance can also be VERY useful. Far more useful than extra performance
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Also, you might want to consider taking the Magical Knack trait, if you are OK with not taking magical lineage to help with the damage dice of your spells. Wayang spellhunter is a regional, or religional, trait that is magical lineage but not a magic trait essentially if you are sold on reducing that 1 level.
A bard/kensai could be a nice combo, the bard also grants you proficiency with other weapons and with light armor. Darkleaf Studded leather only has a 5% spell failure chance, so when you cast spells (that are concerned with spell fail), you just need to not roll a 1 on the d20.