Magus Arcane Pool Class Feature.


Rules Questions


Hi guys, I'm new to this but I have a little problem with this class. One of my players in my campaign is playing a Bladebound Magus, really cool.
But here is the problem with the arcane pool feature of the class. The standard magus says:

"At 1st level, the magus gains a reservoir of mystical arcane energy that he can draw upon to fuel his powers and enhance his weapon. This arcane pool has a number of points equal to 1/2 his magus level (minimum 1) + his Intelligence modifier. The pool refreshes once per day when the magus prepares his spells.

At 1st level, a magus can expend 1 point from his arcane pool as a swift action to grant any weapon he is holding a +1 enhancement bonus for 1 minute. For every four levels beyond 1st, the weapon gains another +1 enhancement bonus, to a maximum of +5 at 17th level. These bonuses can be added to the weapon, stacking with existing weapon enhancement to a maximum of +5. Multiple uses of this ability do not stack with themselves.

At 5th level, these bonuses can be used to add any of the following weapon properties: dancing, flaming, flaming burst, frost, icy burst, keen, shock, shocking burst, speed, or vorpal."

Both second paragraph and the third one talk about the way the magus can spend his arcane pool points to add enhancements to his weapon. But the Bladebound magus archetype has the Black Blade, and it says:

"At 3rd level, the bladebound magus’ gains a powerful sentient weapon called a black blade, whose weapon type is chosen by the magus (see sidebar). A magus with this class feature cannot take the familiar magus arcana, and cannot have a familiar of any kind, even from another class.

Instead of the normal arcane pool amount, the bladebound magus’s arcane pool has a number of points equal to 1/3 his level (minimum 1) plus his Intelligence bonus.

This ability changes the Arcane Pool class feature and replaces the magus arcana gained at 3rd level."

This Black Blade changes the Arcane Pool class feature. Does it only change the number of points of the Arcane Pool (1/2 to 1/3) or also the capacity to spend points to add enhancements to his Black Blade?

I've been arguing with my player and this is so ambiguous.


Super streamlined answer...
As a Bladebound Magus he gets only the (1/3 Magus levels + Int Bonus) for his pool BUT he is free to spend his arcane pool, including on his BB, just like a regular Magus does on their weapon.

Grand Lodge

ShoulderPatch is correct. The new class feature says that it changes the Arcane Pool class feature. It describes that change, "Instead of the normal arcane pool amount, the bladebound magus’s arcane pool has a number of points equal to 1/3 his level (minimum 1) plus his Intelligence bonus." and does not mention any other changes. If it was intended to remove the rest of the ability it would mention the rest of the ability or would say that it replaces it like it does the 3rd level arcana.


Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

Just to help out, When using Archetypes there are two things you need to pay attention to; "Change/Alter" and "Replace".

1) Change/Alter, It uses the normal ability with the following changes, ect.

2) Replace, completely replaces class feature, ability, ect.

I would suggest using this link
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes
Any class you click on you can scroll down to the bottom of that class page and there is a chart listing archetypes and what is Replaced and what is Changed, it makes a good reference.

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