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So, the Kapenia Dancer is a Magus Archetype that was released in the Varisia Player Companion. It's an archetype that specializes in using the Bladed Scarf, and it allows the Magus to wield a bladed scarf as a one-handed weapon and gives them weapon focus with it for free.
Add in that Bladed Scarves work with weapon finesse, and deal slashing damage, and finally the Slashing Grace feat from the Advanced Class Guide. A Human Kapenia Dancer could be using Dexterity as their damage ability from level 1. And you know what? It makes total sense.
Anyway, just thought I'd point that out.
Don't forget that it adds its int bonus to its AC.
It kinda needs to, considering the Kapenia Dancer forgoes armor proficiencies like the Kensei does. So, in fact, Dex-to-damage is probably the smartest way to go about making one.
Yeah, the Kapenia dancer would be really cool if it weren't for the fact that the viability of the Magus as a class is predicated upon either:
1) crit fishing, which bladed scarves can't do with their 20/x2 crit
2) stacking massive amounts of debuffs onto a single attack, which the bladed scarf is also not well suited for (frankly, very little is, that's why the debuff build dips White Haired Witch).
Plus, the the bladed scarf is best for combat maneuvers (since it has two as special qualities and an ability that harms opposing grapplers), but, a 3/4 BAB class focused on Dex is a pretty bad basis for using Combat Maneuvers.
It's a super cool idea that's great conceptually and awful mechanically.
So take the Agile Manoeuvres feat. That substitutes your Dex for Str when determining CMB.
For added fun, take the Flamboyant Arcana magus arcana in the ACG, and follow up with any Arcane Deed magus arcana from the Swashbuckler's deed list that strikes your fancy (after any necessary pre-requisites, of course).
Weapon Finesse is enough when the weapon is used for the maneuvers.
I agree on that one. This type of magus is more of a mix between a swashbuckler and a magus. In most cases, precise strike is going to be just as potent (and more consistent) than relying on crits.
Of course, one thing that I find odd... The Archetype doesn't have Perform (dance) as a class skill.
Oh, ok, so they get, with two arcana any magus can take, their level added to damage instead of....
...buffing their best damage spell by roughly 30% (via critting on a 15) AND still being totally qualified for precise strike just by using, say, a rapier.
Right.
Edit: and dexed based maneuvers are weak because it is 1) easier to boost str and 2) size boosts are key to maneuvers and those penalize dex.
Just because its not the most optimal amazingest archetype does not automatically make it horrible. Sometimes flavor is better than pure numbers.
I just don't think you should have to give up good numbers for the stuff you think is cool. The fact that there objectively weak archetypes has always bugged me.
How is STR easier to boost than DEX?
Also a magus can be very good and effective without going for spellcrits.
Maxing damage is not the only way to play this game, there are more than enough other 100% viable options that can be effectively played.
How is STR easier to boost than DEX?
Also a magus can be very good and effective without going for spellcrits.
Maxing damage is not the only way to play this game, there are more than enough other 100% viable options that can be effectively played.
Enlarge.
Increases reach, increases strength... decreases dexterity. Stacks with belt or bulls strength. There are other effects/spells that boost strength that also stack.
Dexterity doesn't have as many useful stacking buffs.
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How is STR easier to boost than DEX?
Also a magus can be very good and effective without going for spellcrits.
Maxing damage is not the only way to play this game, there are more than enough other 100% viable options that can be effectively played.
Enlarge.
Increases reach, increases strength... decreases dexterity. Stacks with belt or bulls strength. There are other effects/spells that boost strength that also stack.
Dexterity doesn't have as many useful stacking buffs.
To be fair, Reduce boosts accuracy and dex, and damage die is generally unimportant.
...Reduce increases dexterity and increases strength. Though it does penalize combat maneuvers.
I actually built up a Half-Elf Eldritch Scion (Destined)/Kapenia Dancer that does not seem completely useless. Envisioned her sort of as a belly dancer type character. MAD with DEX/CHA. Heavy focus on diplomacy. Carries very little gear, so strength is dumped pretty low (who needs it).
But again, this character is created based on a flavor, and then figure out the way to make it work. Combat is only one part of the game. Why is it that someone HAS to excel at that part of the game, but all other phases seems optional?
Still, starting off at 1st level, this character hits at +4 with 1d6-1, and still has a couple spells. That's no worse off at 1st than a typical wizard. Having a +10 Diplomacy skill can get your through a LOT of game challenges that the big hunky guys with swords can't deal with as smoothly.
I think the real strength of the Kapenia Dancer archetype is that it can be combined with Hexcrafter AND (if you want) Spell Dancer (elf archetype) to provide you with a fantastic AC (+Int from Kapenia + 2/4 from Spell Dancer) AND Hexes for offensive/versatility/whatever. Take a 1 level dip in Master of Many Styles Monk, pick up Snake Fang, don't wear armor and add your Dex/Wisdom/Int to AC, pick up the Precise Strike arcana and both your scarf AND your Unarmed Strike will qualify for Precise Strike (Snake style allows it to be piercing damage). Pick up Hex Strike for more fun.
I don't believe you can combine Kapenia Dancer with Spell Dancer. Both replace the Armor capabilities of the core magus (the problem being the Kapenia Dancer, since it is in a player companion, is victim to the usual non-standardized way of writing found in many of the 'small books', so it doesn't specifically STATE that it replaces the Medium Armor and Heavy Armor abilities, even though it does state "A Kapenia Dancer is not proficient with armor or shields and suffers the normal arcane spell failure chance when casting magus spells while armored."
I think the real strength of the Kapenia Dancer archetype is that it can be combined with Hexcrafter AND (if you want) Spell Dancer (elf archetype) to provide you with a fantastic AC (+Int from Kapenia + 2/4 from Spell Dancer) AND Hexes for offensive/versatility/whatever. Take a 1 level dip in Master of Many Styles Monk, pick up Snake Fang, don't wear armor and add your Dex/Wisdom/Int to AC, pick up the Precise Strike arcana and both your scarf AND your Unarmed Strike will qualify for Precise Strike (Snake style allows it to be piercing damage). Pick up Hex Strike for more fun.
Combine with Panther Style (MOMS, Combat style master), Frostbite+Rime spell and this archetype combination is an amazing battlefield control nutter.