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I've been thinking about creating an NPC Magus assassin type who specialises in using a garrote. Being a spellcaster seems the simplest way to relatively consistently qualify for the 'target unaware' requirement for using a garrote (by sneaking through obscuring mist or being invisible or whatever), after all, and the Magus Maneuver Mastery arcana allows him to emulate full BAB for grappling attacks. So far so good, but then a couple of rules related doubts popped up:
1) Does having a 'BAB equivalency' for a specific maneuver qualify for the BAB prerequisites for Feats using that manuever? The FAQ on Monks says it qualifies (with FoB in the Monk's case, but the idea is there) for Feat effects, but would that extend to (in the case of a Magus with the Maneuver Mastery arcana for grappling) the BAB requirement to select Feats such as Improved Grappled and the like?
2) The FAQ on the Magus and Spellstrike makes it clear you can use it via any melee weapon (not the 'free attack' aspect when we're talking a grapple-based attack, of course, but the 'delivering via a weapon' aspect when the Magus is already holding the charge), but for those touch spells which grant multiple touches how often does a touch get discharged? I'd imagine every time you maintained the grapple via the grapple combat maneuver roll (which is a type of attack), but is there any other information around to confirm or deny this conclusion?
For 2) I understand there's some debate on whether a normal grapple qualifies for spellstrike as a 'weapon attack' or not, but a garrote is clearly a weapon so it'd be weird if the Magus couldn't channel touch spells through it for some reason (not that being weird ever stopped a ruling before, but still...).
How do you intend to cast a spell while wielding a two-handed weapon?
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How do you intend to cast a spell while wielding a two-handed weapon?
He doesn't: he casts a multi-touch offensive spell, then draws his garrote and discharges the spell's touches via that weapon (as per the FAQ on Spellstrike you can drop, draw, and generally mess around with weapons without discharging your held touch spells if you're a Magus).
Otherise, I'm not sure on the rules of casting then readjusting your hands though I think spell combat and maybe strike specified needing one hand open...
Spell Combat needs the open hand. The 'discharge through a weapon' aspect of Spellstrike doesn't state that it does anywhere I can see.
Could you link to the FAQ please?
Doesn't spellstrike put the spell into a weapon you are WIELDING? If you are holding a garrote in one hand (allowing you to cast) then you aren't wielding it, and it thus does not qualify for spellstrike. However, if you are wielding it properly, then you don't have the free hand to cast the spell.
You could cast the spell, then pull out the weapon, but then you can't use Spellstrike (as you were not wielding the weapon at the time you activated spellstrike/cast the spell). Even if you could, it would mean you couldn't sneak up to the enemy to make the attack that round.
(Also, good luck sneaking up on the target after casting a spell with a verbal component.)
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(Also, good luck sneaking up on the target after casting a spell with a verbal component.)
That's the beauty of holding the charge. The guy waits down an alley (or whatever) where he knows the victim walks home at night. Maybe he gives himself a little more cover with an obscuring mist spell a little in advance of the target's predicted arrival, maybe he plans to stick to the shadows... whatever. He casts his touch offensive spell and... waits for the victim to show. There's no time limit on holding the charge, as long as you don't discharge the spell or cast a new spell.