Gestalt Looking for a class to compliment

[Algar Lysandris]

A Magus (Kensai) (standard rim debuff) going Dex based damage scimitar style.

Currently 10 wis and 14 Cha (can be switched)

Looking for solid defense / offense and damage and decent skill monkey (going for infiltration type of skill set)

I also would like to point out that i Need to have a familiar (and that reduces the choices to wizard / witch / Magus via arcana / Sorc (tattooed) / Arcanist / Shaman

Game is level 3 (i am pretty set on the feat for now)

Currently i went with the investigator to eventually add to damage with the mutagen and the studied combat /strike to bolster my offense along with barkskin

and the 6 skill point per level.

That is for the pro

Con: while i don't see that many the buff to combat from the investigator will come online only around 5th when i can take the investigator talent that lets me use the studied combat at swift action.

So looking heavily at my possible options for class with a familiar i am finding a hard time to figure something i like.

- I only have access to the PFSRD

- Witch brings the familiar some curse to be used out of combat (with the advantages of not requiring spellcasting. Useful to slumber someone without making noises)

-Wizard for the familiar and energy admixture

-Sorc for the orc bloodline to bolster our shocking grasp

-Shaman for the divine spell and familiar

-Arcanist for the familiar and ability to mix spell when on the nedd (don't really see anything else for it)

Any advice?

[Faelyn]

Depending on your weapon of choice and stats... You can take Bard w/ Dawnflower Dervish to get your skills and some awesome combat bonuses.

We need a little bit more info on the character to really suggest a good combo.

[Umbranus]

You can get a familiar via your arcana freeing up your class choices. And, now that the ACG is out, the slayer is a good choice for nearly every martial concept.
Alternatively you can get a familiar through eldritch heritage arcane. While you need two feats to get that you could be a fighter. You get two bonus feats (combat feats). So you can learn two combat feats (weapon finesse and dervish dance) with the bonus feats and use the feats you freed up for skill focus and eldritch heritage.

Going the slayer route you get a slayer talent which you can use to get a combat feat. Even without the prereq if you take ranger combat style.

[Drogos]

My first thought was Dervish Bard. Frees up feat for Dervish Dance, adds damage & accuracy via self inspire, and brings a bunch of skills to the table. Use arcana to get a familiar (could even get one with the feat you freed up).

[Solidchaos085]

You can use your magus arcana for a familiar, anyway, I'm gonna toss my vote for the slayer, it's a solid martial supplement to the magus that also uses it's intelligence for class features.

[Javaed]

You're starting at level 3, so use your Magus Arcana to pick up a Familiar. That lets you free up your class choices quite well.

Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade) - You gain Weapon Finesse and Weapon Focus with a Rapier, use Int and Cha for calculating your Panache Pool and can pick up the Fencing Grace feat for Dex to Damage right at level 1. Full BAB, lots of bonus damage and a large number of situational abilities you'll actually have a large enough Panache pool to use. This is a very strong option. Oh, at level 11 you can spend a Panache point to add your Int as an Insight bonus on an attack roll.

Alchemist - Bombs if you want to switch hit, Vivisectionist if you just want to deal tons of damage. The Mutagen & Extracts can be used for buffs, letting you use your spells purely for damage.

Investigator - Less extra damage than an Alchemist, but you'll rule those skill checks. The damage options available to an Alchemist are still rather nice. Empiricist grants you some nice resistance to Illusion magic.

Slayer - Full BAB, some sneak attack and tons of bonus damage sources. Decent Int synergy too.

[nate lange]

witch is a pretty good combo with kensai... you've already given up armor use so gaining the benefits of being a full caster come fairly cheap. you also get a lot of mileage out of Int so you can pump it high enough to really take advantage of your hexes. you also get a familiar from it, freeing up your arcana for arcane accuracy. finally, if you play to 6th level you can pick up the broad study arcana to gain magus action economy with your witch spells.

if that doesn't sound fightery enough for you, slayer is another good option. it gets you full BAB, d10 hp, all good saves, 6+ int skill points (with probably all the class skills you're looking for), and some Int/Dex synergy.

[Kolokotroni]

swashbuckler definately seems like a good choice, should be on the prd inside a week. Dervish dance already has you in swashbuckling form, so the added damage, skills and combat options will be helpful. Plus a magus with full bab and d10 hit dice is pretty sweet in my opinion.

Alot of other classes mesh well but wont mix action wise. As a magus you will theoretically be using spell combat (a full round action) alot. So another spellcaster will be of limited use. Most of what you will get from the swashbuckler though is automatic, and fits with your chosen combat style.

[Algar Lysandris]

this is what i have so far after talking to the DM

Race Human (that can not be changed)

the weapon is a world custom weapon that is slashing, 1 hand, and finessable

Magus 3 / XXX 3

Str 13, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 20, Wis 10, Cha 14

Level 1 feat Rime Spell ( Human bonus), Weapon Finesse , Weapon Focus (weapon) Magus Archetype Bonus

Level 3 Slashing Grace (ACG)

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So no bard dervish of dawn

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The idea is the bring a class that has a familiar next to the magus so that i can free up the level 3 arcana for arcane accuracy.

The heavy use of Spell combat is what is delaying the power up to attack and damage to 5th level for the investigator.

also the game while moving fast will be leveling slowly so 5th level is in like 2 years...

Hence my dilemma on what class to compliment the magus. I feel like a full bab class like the slayer wont compliment it much as SA will we hard to place (GM is rather good with BEEG placement) and (an other point) is that i've played all the core / base class... (yup i know) so trying really hard to find a possible synergy with something i haven't played. and my preference are the 3/4 caster or the full caster.

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Here is something that could be different and maybe interesting:

Unlettered Arcanist.
it nets me some interesting spell on the witch spell list + familiar.

For the level 1 and level 3 Arcane exploit i could do Blood arcanist (for a full blood line arcana and powers: the go to bloodlines would be the one that give me a +1 to electricity (for shocking grasp). Or any other for suggestion like the great Rakshasa blood line for infiltration or the imperious (for the moral bonus if i can find one to spam) or the verdant for its arcana to buff up nat armor since i am bound to cast spell on myself (shield / mirror image / displacement etc..)

or do the School savant for the admixture school and have less to worry out cold and electricity resistance.

[Zathyr]

Well if your other class gives you any bonus feats at all, then the Extra Arcana feat can get you the familiar and you're not down anything. It's better than Eldritch Heritage (Arcane) unless you're planning on going for the Improved or Greater versions.

Personally, if you want an infiltrator type skill monkey meshed with your Magus that can also get you some bonus damage: Ninja. You've got enough charisma for it. If/when you hit 6th level, you can get Ki Arcana to share your point pools. Also, you are a ninja. If you take a small-sized familiar it can really help get your flank on, or just be invisible basically all the time, because both Magus and Ninja are great at that. Did I mention you would also be a ninja?

[Algar Lysandris]

problem with the ninja is that i don't think you can use the ki boost to gain that 1 extra attack when making a Spellcombat action (but is does qualify as a full attack action for haste)

that and ki vanish to place those SA dice are the mane source of the ninja's damage (and it can get quite effective to if you take the offense / defense rogue trick in order to up your AC)

so besides the skill it would be just for that vanishing + SA trick...

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What do you all think about adding the warpriest to the magus ? (since it is not up on the SRD i can't really have an idea)

[Hawktitan]

Another option at the cost of two feats is eldritch heritage. You have the charisma for it. You can make up for the feats by picking fighter, netting yourself full BAB out of the deal.

Though the simplest way since you are a magus anyway is probably the arcana.

[Genuine]

Why not run with a Diviner?

With wizard levels, you don't have to stretch at all for a familiar - grab the little dino or the scorpion for an additional +4 init.

The diviner's school power is a major boost when you've already got your dex high - uncanny dodge has nothing when you can consistently beat everyone's initiative rolls. You always get to act in any surprise round, and just with the right familiar and that dex you'll have a +8 on your initiative. Improved initiative and reactionary easily bring that to +14. Trust me, winning rocket tag is a great plus.

Also, the additional spellcasting wouldn't hurt - at level 3 you'll already have a couple level 2 spells. And if you pick a wizard/sorc spell that's on the Magus' list you'll be able to spell combat without Broad Study.

[Zathyr]

Warpriest is up now. Just today, I guess.

I don't think it's a good gestalt, IMO. Same HD, skill points, saves, and BAB. The class abilities aren't bad, but for yet another 2/3rds spellcasting class to mix with magus, I don't think it offers enough compared to other classes.

You'd mentioned wanting to be an infiltrator/skill monkey, which is why I suggested ninja. If you don't like that, then you probably don't like rogue. Slayer is up now too so I suggest giving that a look. It would be a pretty solid choice. Bard is the true master of skill monkery, and while it could work I think other things mesh better. A fighter with the Lore Warden archetype might not be too bad - fewer skills but more than the base fighter (or magus) with better hit die and BAB and tons of bonus feats. None of the ranger's combat styles really go well with the magus. Ask your DM if an urban barbarian could cast spells in their controlled rage?

If you want more spells, in addition to all the things that have been mentioned, I'd also like to point out the Divine Strategist archetype for cleric which can, down the line, get you some more out of your int.

[Zilfrel Findadur]

don't listen, go MONK or Swashbuckler.

[Algar Lysandris]

this looks is what i am probably going to add:

Magus 3 / Arcanist 3

Str 13, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 20, Wis 10, Cha 14

Level 1 feat Rime Spell ( Human bonus), Weapon Finesse , Weapon Focus (weapon) Magus Archetype Bonus / Arcanist Exploit : Familiar

Level 3 Slashing Grace (ACG) / Arcana: Arcane Accuracy / Arcanist Exploit: Bloodline Development (Rakshasa) : Silver tongue

The 5th level Arcanist exploit would be to gain a wizard scholl power: Admixture