
Lauste |
Good evening, I need a breakdown of attack economy for ranged spellstrike using a bow and rapid shot.
My DM says that spell combat, and therefore spellstrike is a full attack action, and I cannot two weapon fight with a bow, as it is a two handed weapon. I only get one attack with the spell attached.
As I understand it, spell combat is a full round action that gives me a free attack as part of my full attack action with a -2 to all shots,
(one shot from spellstrike, one shot normal arrow) and rapid shot applies, adding a third shot but modifying all of my shots in total by another-2.
(One shot from spellstrike, one shot from rapid shot, one shot normal attack) at -4 to all shots.
He goes on to explain that rapid shot is a full attack action, and so is spell combat, and thus I can either take one shot with spell combat or two shots with rapid shot.
Please help me clarify this is an understandable manner?

doomman47 |
Spell strike is a free attack when you cast a spell at whatever action it takes to cast the spell, spell combat allows you to cast spells in a full attack making each attack have a -2 penalty but applying the spell to one(or multiple depending on the spell) of the attacks. Eldritch archer does not need a free hand to do spell combat unlike a normal magus so they can use it with a bow or any ranged weapon. You are fully capable of making more than one attack with the ranged spell combat.

UnArcaneElection |

First, use this miniguide to get an understanding of normal Magus action economy (and even after reading both the rules and this miniguide, it's still real easy to get confused with it). Then note that (as doomman47 posted) Eldritch Archer modifies BOTH Spell Combat and Spellstrike to work with ranged weapons, even when you have to hold them in both hands (like a bow), but Ranged Spell Combat and its combination with Ranged Spellstrike work with ranged attacks the same way as normal Spell Combat and normal Spellstrike work for a normal Magus. Also note that this DOESN'T work for Myrmidarch Magus, which gets both normal Spellstrike and Ranged Spellstrike, but doesn't get Ranged Spell Combat and keeps normal Spell Combat.

Meirril |
According to the way the Feat and Spell Combat are worded, the GM is technically correct. You aren't performing a Full Round Attack so you shouldn't be able to use Rapid Fire.
But there is an FAQ answer that says you can, found here.
Also Rapid Shot isn't an action at all. When you do a Full Attack Action you get to apply Rapid Shot. Rapid Shot isn't a separate action but part of a full round attack.
So to recap as a Magus if you decide to do Spell Combat it is a full round action. You can do 1 spell strike which if you cast a ranged touch attack gives you a free ranged attack at full BAB but with the -2 for doing Spell Combat. You can do the spell before or after your normal attack routine. You are allowed to benefit from abilities that trigger off of doing a full-attack action, such as haste and rapid shot. All of these attacks are also affected by the -2 modifier from choosing to do spell combat.
And all of this is modified by your archetype ability from Eldritch Archer to work with a 2 handed ranged weapon.

Lauste |
Thanks to each of you, it makes it very clear, but I would like to understand the motion of actions my character is having to take, ie:
Taking a hand off the bow to cast a spell with either the bow hand or the free hand, pulling out an arrow and attacking with the second shot, then applying rapid shot and pulling out a third arrow to fire.
A full breakdown ensures at which point the two types of full attack modifications are applied.

Meirril |
Technically speaking Eldritch Archer's modifications of Spell Combat say you don't need a free hand so you don't take any hands off the bow while you perform somantic components. You just sort of gesture with your bow and one of two things happens. (assuming you cast without being interrupted, you need to cast defensively!)
If you cast a ranged touch spell (or modify a spell to act like one), or a ray or some other spell that qualifies to be attached to your ranged attacks you get 1 free attack that launches an arrow (bullet, whatever ammo the weapon uses) and if it hits the spell does its effect to the target.
If you cast any other spell it goes off like any other spell. So stuff like buffs, fireballs, and other spells that aren't being channeled into ranged attacks fall into this category.
The spell casting comes either before or after doing your full-attack routine.
Just a reminder, any modifiers you take that say they effect all attacks you perform this round should be applied to all attacks. So the -2 from Spell Combat and the -2 from Rapid Shot will effect the free attack you get from casting a ranged touch spell, and all of your normal attacks. Depending on what you are fighting, it might not be worth taking all of those negatives to your attacks.

UnArcaneElection |

^. . . And you're 3/4 BAB. On the other hand, Blade Tutor's Spirit can help take out some and eventually all of the penalty for Spell Combat and Rapid Shot.