Does anyone else feel like there aren't that many touch spells on the Magus spell list?
The Magus has this great spellstrike ability but it looks like the best and most obvious choice is Shocking Grasp. This wouldn't be a big deal but the touch spells are very few and far between to the point where I have to drag in third party stuff so that it isn't Shocking Grasp every time all the time.
Or maybe I'm not looking hard enough. I tried to do some deep digging when I made a magus and didnt' want to be Pikachu. I wound up with Frostbite as my go-to which is a great spell against creatures that can take non-lethal damage, but I settled on it because I cant find almost any other offensive touch spell. I'd at least like to see the elemental cycle complete; there's Shocking Grasp and Frostbite, where's the Burning Finger or the Corrosive Touch. (Note I know Corrosive Touch exists aready but c'mon, its the exact same thing as Shocking Grasp only an entire die step worse with nothing to really compensate like Frostbite does, and plus Shocking Grasp can get bonuses to attack. Not cool)
It just feels like the Magus spellstrike ability has two uses really, Shocking Grasp and using Brand to cheat a TWF effect.
Anyone else feeling like this?
You could throw the inflict spells on the list. They are useful touch spells, and, since the class is built on the bard chassis, and bards get the cure spells, it's not that far of a reach thematically. Beyond that, your choices are going to be fairly limited, though if you comb through the list of core spells, you'll probably find a couple of others buried here and there.
At level 1 I see Corrosive Touch, Shocking Grasp, Frostbite and Chill Touch. (Acid, Electric, Cold and Negative energy respectively.) Unless there's more that I missed in the Player Companions or Campaign Setting books I got nothing else.
Third party I've added Magic Mace (touch Magic missile), and Ice Arm. considering that I'm looking at a pool of about 2000 third party spells third party publishers seem to be ignoring spellstrike as well, which is super weak-sauce guys.
At any given level, especially early levels, there won't be much. The only consistent line is the inflict wounds spells. Touch spells are problematic because most casters don't want to use them for a wide variety of reasons. I'm not surprised that most people don't bother with them. Spellstrike is basically on it's own when it comes to making touch attacks appealing. It gets better as you get higher in level, but you're fighting the fact that offensive touch attack spells are definitely amongst the worst supported spells in the system. I suspect Spellstrike was intended to alleviate that to some extent, but by itself, it can only do so much.
At any given level, especially early levels, there won't be much. The only consistent line is the inflict wounds spells. Touch spells are problematic because most casters don't want to use them for a wide variety of reasons. I'm not surprised that most people don't bother with them. Spellstrike is basically on it's own when it comes to making touch attacks appealing. It gets better as you get higher in level, but you're fighting the fact that offensive touch attack spells are definitely amongst the worst supported spells in the system. I suspect Spellstrike was intended to alleviate that to some extent, but by itself, it can only do so much.
Here's my problem there; Magus has his own spell list. If we go through the trouble of making a special list for a class that has an ability that synergizes with a specific kind of spell then why not support it? Not even a powerful option just something that does something. I know why it wasn't supported but what about now?
|
2nd level has Frigid Touch, one of the rare no-save stagger effects, and Elemental Touch, which unfortunately sucks. But it also has Blur/Mirror Image to take up 2nd level slots[well, non Frigid Touches that is] so it kinda compensates.
3rd level comes with Force Punch and Vampiric Touch, neither of which are commonly resistable, and both of which do decent damage and have a nifty side effect(Hehe, uppercutting with Force Hook Punch isn't a bad way to get AoO's).
4th level and up are rather highish level gameplay for a magus, and it gets to a point where it might be better to simply metamagic others up. Flesh to Stone is neat, but beyond that there aren't any real gems in the way of offensive magic.
Also, picking up Spell Blending could help considerably. Aboleth's Lung becomes a fairly serious save-or-die effect, and Touch of Idiocy could considerably wreck someone's day.
Hope this helps some.
At any given level, especially early levels, there won't be much. The only consistent line is the inflict wounds spells. Touch spells are problematic because most casters don't want to use them for a wide variety of reasons. I'm not surprised that most people don't bother with them. Spellstrike is basically on it's own when it comes to making touch attacks appealing. It gets better as you get higher in level, but you're fighting the fact that offensive touch attack spells are definitely amongst the worst supported spells in the system. I suspect Spellstrike was intended to alleviate that to some extent, but by itself, it can only do so much.Here's my problem there; Magus has his own spell list. If we go through the trouble of making a special list for a class that has an ability that synergizes with a specific kind of spell then why not support it? Not even a powerful option just something that does something. I know why it wasn't supported but what about now?
I wondered about that myself at the time. As for why not now, the magus is just one of many options available to players, and while not the least popular, not the most popular either. The demand to support those kinds of spells is higher now, but still not very high.
I will say though that Bladed Dash and Greater Bladed dash are AWESOME and fun spells to play (need to get to the BBEG and look cool in the process? We got your spell, with anime-esque special effects and everything!)
In the race guide there's a first level Magus touch spell in the Ifrit entry. Touch of Combustion. (R-Save or 1d6 fire damage and the target catches on fire. Adjacent enemies have to r-save the next round or take 1d4 fire.)
I will say though that Bladed Dash and Greater Bladed dash are AWESOME and fun spells to play (need to get to the BBEG and look cool in the process? We got your spell, with anime-esque special effects and everything!)
I'm less concerned with Magus spell support and more concerned with Spellstrike support.
Magus already has built-in ways to expand the number of spells useable with Spellstrike:
1) Close Range - any ray spell (like disrupt undead, ray of frost, ray of enfeeblement, scorching ray, etc.) can now be used as if it were a touch spell
2) Spell Blending - use to pick up additional touch (like touch of idiocy), as well as other useful spells (like heroism and twilight knife)
3) Broad Study - not useful for most magi, but a magus 7/cleric (negative energy) 3/mystic theurge 10 can get a lot of use out of it
[EDIT] 4) Taking the feat Experimental Spellcaster (possibly multiple times) can give you some interesting options, if your table allows Words of Power
Eldritch Heritage (Arcane) when combined with the new Spont. Magus lets you grab cool wizard spells too...