A staff magus doesn't get any extra defences until 7th level, so your extra defences are coming from the 4th level destined bloodline power until then, and even after to a degree. Mystical focus to use that bloodline power costs 1 swift action/2 rounds & increasing the enhancement bonus of your staff to make the quarterstaff shield defence matter costs another swift action. Which means you don't really have spare swift actions for quickened spells.
Other metamagic is of course a problem for an eldritch scion since making it compatible with spell combat costs a feat per spell. Buff spells are the least likely to need metamagic so maybe your mirror images idea might be a good one?
well, I know little about the Magus. But I am pretty sure the 2 archetypes are compatible.
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You can use a buckler until quarterstaff defense comes online at 7th level.
I always point quarterstaff people at the Spear Dancing Spiral feat because it allows you to use any spear or polearm like a quarterstaff... combine with Quarterstaff Master (free for Staff Magus) and you can have a one-handed finesse reach weapon that does B/P/S damage.
With spell combat and spellstrike you can effectively be getting a free extra attack with spell damage tacked on. The go to spells for Magus builds are usually shocking grasp and frostbite. However, any touch spell will do... including the Arcane Mark cantrip... no spell damage, but you can use it indefinitely to get an extra weapon attack each round. Load up on touch spells (and metamagic'd touch spells) and use Arcane Mark when you're out or want to save something better for a tougher enemy.
For a Staff Magus I'd also suggest getting the Wand Wielder arcana because it works with magic staves... so you could use a staff to cast the spell AND make the attack which delivers it.
I always point quarterstaff people at the Spear Dancing Spiral feat because it allows you to use any spear or polearm like a quarterstaff... combine with Quarterstaff Master (free for Staff Magus) and you can have a one-handed finesse reach weapon that does B/P/S damage.
That's nice, especially because there are 18-20 polearms, but it takes 6 feats (7 if you want reach) to get it all on a Staff Magus.
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What I have in mind is to take the eldritch scion AND staff magus archetypes. The idea I'm aiming for is a light armored warrior who uses the luck bonus to saving throws and AC from destined bloodrager power and the defenses of staff magus to be very hard to kill and then burn spells to kill foes. Is this fundamentally flawed or is this doable?
Yes, this is a good combo. As people said, Staff Magus defense bonus starts at level 7. At lower levels, use spells like Shield or Mirror Image to prop up your defenses.
More than that, what I would like help in is what spells support this concept best? I've considered double shocking grasp in a turn (quickened spell), a scorching ray build, or even mirror images and I just don't know which way to go. And because I don't know what spells to go I'm held up on what feats to take when. Any advice is welcome.
That's nice, especially because there are 18-20 polearms, but it takes 6 feats (7 if you want reach) to get it all on a Staff Magus.
Well, yes. If you want reach on your Magus, there's easier ways to do it. If you're going to use a seven-feat chain to compensate for the downside of Staff Magus, then you're better off taking another archetype instead.
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I always point quarterstaff people at the Spear Dancing Spiral feat because it allows you to use any spear or polearm like a quarterstaff... combine with Quarterstaff Master (free for Staff Magus) and you can have a one-handed finesse reach weapon that does B/P/S damage.That's nice, especially because there are 18-20 polearms, but it takes 6 feats (7 if you want reach) to get it all on a Staff Magus.
I count five;
Weapon Finesse
Weapon Focus
Two-Weapon Fighting
Spear Dancing Style
Spear Dancing Spiral
What are the other 1 or 2? Possibly proficiency, but there are lots of ways to get that. For example, elf Magus can use Elven Branched Spear.
Yes, proficiency (martial or exotic) is the sixth feat, Spear Dancing Reach the seventh. Elven Branched Spear is 20/x3, not exactly what a Magus wants.
For Eldritch Scion without 18-20 weapon, I'd go Desna's Shooting Star.
How does a Staff Magus get proficiency with Fauchard of Nodachi? Half-elf is an option, but that effectively looses the human bonus feat. He could dip, but that has it's own drawbacks.
The way I read it, using Dancing Spear Style always makes the weapon lose the reach feature, but you might be right in that "A weapon wielded in this way loses the brace and reach special weapon features." means only if actually using the weapon as a double weapon. Still 6 feats, so 11th level at the earliest (without dipping).
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How does a Staff Magus get proficiency with Fauchard of Nodachi? Half-elf is an option, but that effectively looses the human bonus feat.
You want human? Military Tradition alternate racial trait.
Tengu? Exotic Weapon Training.
Gnome? Master Tinker.
Item based? Opalescent White Pyramid Ioun Stone (or cracked version if combined with a martial weapon option).
Archetype? Be a Staff Magus / Soul Forger and enchant your bonded weapon with Training (Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Whatever weapon it is).
Et cetera.
Again, you should almost never HAVE to spend a feat on weapon proficiency. There are just too many other ways to get it.
The way I read it, using Dancing Spear Style always makes the weapon lose the reach feature, but you might be right in that "A weapon wielded in this way loses the brace and reach special weapon features." means only if actually using the weapon as a double weapon.
Regardless... Spear Dancing Reach is of little use to a Magus because it specifically only applies when wielding as a double weapon. Ergo, no reason to take that feat.
Tengu and Gnome mean no Human, so again, 9th level (not 11th as I said erroneously in my last post).
The Ioun Stone costs 10k gold, so if we follow the normal WBL guidelines, means you won't have it before 7th level. Since Spear Dancing Style requires Weapon Focus with the chosen weapon, and Weapon Focus requires proficiency, that means no Spear Dancing Spiral until 11th level.
Soul Forger doesn't work well because you can only start crafting at 5th level, which means at the time you level up and thus take your fifth level feat, you aren't yet proficient with the weapon, so again, 11th level. although one could of course take a proficiency feat and craft the training enchantment with Spear Dancing Spiral - that still leaves us with spending a feat on proficiency, plus diminished spellcasting, a lower effective weapon enchantment bonus, and an extreme dependency on a single specific weapon.