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This is an idea I've been refining for a while, and I think I just about have it down, but I'm looking for any tweaks to make it work any better. I'm going to start playing it at level 6 with GM credit, so I don't have to worry about the early levels.
Tiefling
7/19/14/18/10/5
(7/22/14/20/10/5 at level 6)
Traits: Student of Philosphy, Reactionary
Swashbuckler 1: (Weapon Finesse), Piranha Strike
Magus(Kensai) 1: EWP (wakizashi), Weapon Focus (wakizashi)
Magus 2: Armor of the Pit
Magus 3: Magus Arcana (familiar, greensting scorpion)
Magus 4: Arcane Strike
Magus 5: Combat Reflexes
Magus 6: Extra Grit/Panache, Magus Arcana (Empowered Magic?)
Magus 7:
Magus 8: Weapon Specialization (wakizashi)
Magus 9: Magus Arcana (???)
Magus 10: Lunge?
Skills: Acrobatics, Bluff, Diplomacy, Knowledge (arcana, dungeoneering, planes), Perception/Sense Motive, Spellcraft/Sleight of Hand
When I start at level 6, she should have about 27 AC, before using a wand of shield, plus good saves and decent HP (although I'm using the FCB for skills). She'll also be attacking with a +2 keen agile wakizashi with a +11 for 1d6+14/15-20.
I'm still a bit iffy on the arcana and the higher-level feats, since I've never built a magus before. I want this character to focus mostly on combat, with spells as a back-up.
Any suggestions?
How do you have a +4 equivalent weapon at level 6?
Yeah, I'll have the fame for a +1 agile wakizashi, plus a +2 equivalent from the arcane pool ability at the start of every fight.
Bump
So, Swashbuckler just for the free weapon finesse and for access to panache points. I am not so sure that is worth it, but it is not a bad move either.
Be sure to take the fiend flayer archetype on top of kensai. The FCB should go for increasing your arcane pool.
At 5th lvl, take Extra Arcana: Arcane Accuracy instead of Arcane Strike, and take Arcane Strike at 6th lvl. You will not make any use of combat reflexes without a way to provoke AoOs.
Your 6th lvl feat should be intensify spell, make sure you take the magical lineage trait (shocking grasp). It will give you a scalable nova option.
Empowered Magic is fine.
At 9th lvl you do not get an arcana, kensai alters it.
I suggest to take Critical Focus at 11th lvl, so that at you can choose Bleeding Critical and Staggering Critical as your next feats.
Swashbuckler also gives me some class skills (Bluff, Diplomacy, Acrobatics, Sleight of Hand) that I want.
I probably will take the fiend flayer archetype, just because it doesn't cost me anything.
Why do I need to use my FCB for more arcane points? I'll already have a high Int, and without spell recall, I pretty much only need the points to boost my weapon once per combat. I'd rather have the skill points.
I want to use Arcane Strike to focus on boosting my damage. I shouldn't have much use for Arcane Accuracy, because my attack bonus will be pretty solid, and I'm already using the swift action. I also don't want to make the cliched shocking grasp build; I'll have a few prepared every day, but my plan is consistent damage through swordsmanship. Also, the Combat Reflexes works with the riposte and parry from the Swashbuckler level; I might retrain it when I get to level 12 and pick up the extra AoOs from the Kensai ability though.
Good catch on the 9th-level arcana, and a good idea on Critical Focus; I think I might use that.
With your low Cha, I'd consider Signature Deed at 11th for Parry and Riposte, since you have low panache each day. That way, the deflection AND the AoO cost no panache, since it's all part of the same deed.
With your low Cha, I'd consider Signature Deed at 11th for Parry and Riposte, since you have low panache each day. That way, the deflection AND the AoO cost no panache, since it's all part of the same deed.
Signature Deed requires 11 levels of Gunslinger, which I won't have.
Ahh so it does. Thought it was just 11th level.
Any room for Spring Attack? That could be fun.
Maybe, but it kind of defeats the purpose of having a high AC.
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This is an idea I've been refining for a while, and I think I just about have it down, but I'm looking for any tweaks to make it work any better. I'm going to start playing it at level 6 with GM credit, so I don't have to worry about the early levels.
Tiefling
7/19/14/18/10/5
(7/22/14/20/10/5 at level 6)
Traits: Student of Philosphy, Reactionary
Swashbuckler 1: (Weapon Finesse), Piranha Strike
Magus(Kensai) 1: EWP (wakizashi), Weapon Focus (wakizashi)
...
She'll also be attacking with a +2 keen agile wakizashi with a +11 for 1d6+14/15-20.
....You could make him a TWF samurai with the same feats and gear.
BTW, note that Student of Philosophy doesn't work for Bluff [feint in combat].
I personally think Spell Combat is overrated; heck, my wife just straight-up doesn't use it and still does great with her magus.
The best use of it is to get off buff spells and melee attack in the same round (and, per FAQ, you can five-foot between them).
This is an idea I've been refining for a while, and I think I just about have it down, but I'm looking for any tweaks to make it work any better. I'm going to start playing it at level 6 with GM credit, so I don't have to worry about the early levels.
Tiefling
7/19/14/18/10/5
(7/22/14/20/10/5 at level 6)
Two words of caution about the 7 STR and 5 Cha:
1) Watch your carrying capacity. You might want to invest in some mule-back cords in addition to a handy haversack.2) I have twice run into charisma-draining critters in PFS: in the 7-9 tier, they drained for 2d4 each hit, targeting touch AC. Without really, really good saves, your character drops in 1 hit on an average roll. (There are strength-drainers, too, but at least the 7 Str would probably get you through the first attack.)
I've been considering a similar build, so I'll likely steal some ideas from you...I do like Arcane Strike, especially with those gloves of Arcane Striking.
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I personally think Spell Combat is overrated; heck, my wife just straight-up doesn't use it and still does great with her magus.It's really only great for getting pseudo-pounce with blade force hook and bladed-dash. And possibly to help a bit with self buffing.
Honestly, both spell combat and spellstrike could be feats (with medium prereqs) and I wouldn't even expect all Eldritch Knights taking them both.
Action economy rules the game. Spell combat whips action economy around like no one's business. One of the best abilities in the make.
This is an idea I've been refining for a while, and I think I just about have it down, but I'm looking for any tweaks to make it work any better. I'm going to start playing it at level 6 with GM credit, so I don't have to worry about the early levels.
Tiefling
7/19/14/18/10/5
(7/22/14/20/10/5 at level 6)
Two words of caution about the 7 STR and 5 Cha:
1) Watch your carrying capacity. You might want to invest in some mule-back cords in addition to a handy haversack.2) I have twice run into charisma-draining critters in PFS: in the 7-9 tier, they drained for 2d4 each hit, targeting touch AC. Without really, really good saves, your character drops in 1 hit on an average roll. (There are strength-drainers, too, but at least the 7 Str would probably get you through the first attack.)
I've been considering a similar build, so I'll likely steal some ideas from you...I do like Arcane Strike, especially with those gloves of Arcane Striking.
Yeah, I'm not too worried about the Str/Cha drain, because 1) she'll have great touch AC, and 2) I'm OK with her having a weak spot like that. And against those creatures, I can always stay back and use magic missile or something.
And with very light armor and a light blade for a weapon, I should be fine if I get a handy haversack.
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Honestly, both spell combat and spellstrike could be feats (with medium prereqs) and I wouldn't even expect all Eldritch Knights taking them both.
No, just the smart ones.
I personally think Spell Combat is overrated; heck, my wife just straight-up doesn't use it and still does great with her magus.
This is a testament to how excellently the Magus class is designed and how powerful its other abilities are, not an indication that Spell Combat isn't incredibly powerful.
Bumping this, because I'm just one GM credit away from bringing her out to play. Here's what I have now:
Tiefling
7/19/14/18/10/5
(7/22/14/20/10/5 at level 6)
Traits: Student of Philosphy, Pragmatic Activator
Swashbuckler 1: (Weapon Finesse), Piranha Strike
Magus(Kensai) 1: EWP (wakizashi), Weapon Focus (wakizashi)
Magus 2: Armor of the Pit
Magus 3: Magus Arcana (familiar [pilferer archetype], greensting scorpion)
Magus 4: Arcane Strike
Magus 5: Extra Grit/Panache
Magus 6: ???, Magus Arcana (Arcane Accuracy)
Magus 7:
Magus 8: Weapon Specialization (wakizashi)
Magus 9:
Magus 10: ???
Skills: Acrobatics +15, Bluff +18/+6, Diplomacy +14, Escape Artist +15, Knowledge (arcana, dungeoneering, planes) +11, Knowledge (local, nobility) +9, Spellcraft +11, Sleight of Hand +12, Swim +2, Use Magic Device +14
I dropped Combat Reflexes since I had no good way to force enemies to provoke, which opened up a feat slot. Any suggestions?
Pragmatic Activator lets me get good UMD, so I can use mage armor instead of a haramaki, and I'll probably use a wand of longstrider while I'm at it.
I'm still going with Arcane Strike, because I want that extra damage. Though if I get a successful Parry/Riposte, I use up my Swift action and can't use it next turn, but I think I'm OK with that. Arcane Accuracy I'm not thrilled about, but it gives me options against tough-to-hit enemies.
Bumping this, because I'm getting ready to play her for the first time at GenCon. I still don't mnow what feat to take at level 7 (and I'd like to get it nailed down in case she levels up in the middle of the Con). But I think for her second arcana, I'll take Wand Wielder, and use a wand of vanish, which I can use to boost either offense or defense, depending on whether I use it before or after my attack. Thoughts?
First, have you looked at the weight you can lift with 7 STR? that is ridicolous, scarcely you will have a spellbook.
second, storywise would be better to take the magus lvl first, because people does not simply learn the knowledge to cast arcane magic as a wizard.
And of using Spell Combat.Any room for Spring Attack? That could be fun.Maybe, but it kind of defeats the purpose of having a high AC.
True, but combining Spring Attack with Spellstrike isn't bad.
First, have you looked at the weight you can lift with 7 STR? that is ridicolous, scarcely you will have a spellbook.
second, storywise would be better to take the magus lvl first, because people does not simply learn the knowledge to cast arcane magic as a wizard.
With only the lightest of armor, and a single small blade for a weapon, that still puts me well under the 23 lb. light load.
And... learning to use magic is exactly how wizards and magi get their spells. That's why they use Int.
With the updated slashing grace, why not use a Katana or Falcata instead of wakizashi? The loss of piranha strike is offset by Dex to Damage, especially since you won't have a further to-hit penalty on top of the -2 from spell combat.
I'm already getting Dex to damage with the agile weapon property, so the only benefit to getting Dex to damage from a feat is saving myself that one weapon enchantment. But I'll definitely be scouring the ACG for goodies before I play her.
I would be really intrigued to see how this turned out, since I am considering a similar character for a homebrew game. What about another level or two in Swashbuckler? It doesn't look like you're banking on spells quite that much.
What exactly would I gain from more levels of Swashbuckler that would be worth losing the spell progression?