Our GM had said that he'd like it for our characters to reach 30th level. Wow.. not really expecting this due to how long it would take, but we have fast tracked levels recently. Right now I'm a Kensai/Bladebound at 9th level.
So that being said, what would you do if you could reach level 30?
I'm sure that at this level of play, we'd have lots of Antimagic fields or Dispelled effects or creatures immune to magic, in order to create a challenge. So you'd need to plan for something like this to keep your character skilled enough to survive or at least function w/out spells etc...
My original plan was to make just a Kensai who would become renowned for his skill with his blade. Someone who lived up to the fame of Weapons-Masters in novels. I planned on not maxing out Kensai and grabbing 5 levels of Duelist and 1 level of Inspired Blade before I heard about this reaching 30th level. Right now I've got the Arcane Deed stuff from Swashbuckler to mimic some of that class and planned on using some more. I've got a 22 INT right now and a 20 DEX so anything I do choose would need to be able to feed off that.
There's so many choices out there... But what I really want to stick with is the "Greatest Swordsman" theme, but have loads of things I can do besides that. Investigator has lots of INT based stuff dripping with usefulness, Duelist has a lot of flavor for what I want and will still get 5 levels minimum even though I know Swashbuckler is a better class.
I've been playing this guy as someone who hides the fact he's out for himself and always scheming in the sidelines. Using magic to trick others into thinking I'm someone I'm not, doing dastardly & underhanded dealings when the party isn't around, using the legal system for profit... I'd like to maybe create an Alter-Ego of sorts and go all Dark Knight but without the tendency for "The greater good" & "Kindness of my heart" antics.
Anyway, the best I can think of right now is Kensai 16/Inspired 1/Duelist 5/Investigator 8. I'm interested more in abilities/skills gained that are useful no matter what I choose to do.
What would you do with your Magus past level 9 if you could reach 30th level?
Wow, level 30. That sounds epic.
First a few questions.
Why the 1 level dip in Inspired Blade?
Why the 5 levels of Duelist?
Investigator I could see, but would still avoid it.
Is the GM allowing advancement in a class beyond 20? If so, how are they handling things like the arcane pool that has a max put in? And spells?
Without those answers, my build would be something along the lines of Kensai Bladebound Magus 20/Swordlord 10. Of course talking the Dueling sword as the focused weapon and the black blade.
This plan does focus HEAVILY on the sword techniques. The fluff around the prestige class also makes them more like elite society, less common man picking up a sword and doing fancy flourishes. So any skills that complement the Noble going off and playing swordsman.
if I knew the game was going to reach level 30...first:
What kind of rules are you using past level 20? are you using the epic rules? The suggested advancement from pathfinder? Because there is big difference between everything advance normally to just getting some bonuses every so levels.
Anyway a magus with 30 levels and 9 of them are already magus:
Level 20 Magus/1 Swashbuckler/Eldritch Knight 9. So I keep up with the caster level progression, full bab if the progression is normal past level 20 and can get the high level fighter feats for my intelligent weapon.
If I could have more then 20 levels as a Magus, I'd retrain all my Magus levels to full caster levels, since after 18th level no other class comes remotely close to being as relevant as them. And if you're playing with the Epic Level Handbook rules, Epic Spellcasting wins everything, forever, since before anything started.
Eldritch Knight 10 would be pretty amazing, but you aren't proficient in all martial weapons as a Kensai.
I don't think you get much from skipping around.
Kensai 20 and then Investigator 10, Inspired Blade 10, Duelist 10 or even just something simple like Slayer or Fighter 10 would all work.
Have you considered Monk since you're already not wearing armor? Master of Many Styles maybe? As hard as it is to use, Kirin Strike could be pretty powerful for you, and there are obviously other styles that could help.
Not sure what rules he'd use to have us at 30 or if using epic books etc...
The dip into Inspired Blade is for the free feat and to gain weapon profs, armor profs, and 8 Panache points for 1 level dip. It'd give me a chance to retrain a feat because it gives me a feat I already have now. I've got Arcane Deed for opportune parry/riposte & precise strike. They use my arcane pool points, dipping gives me 8 panache to use towards those and future deeds gained through arcane deed arcanas.
Duelist 5 gives me the Riposte ability at level 5, it let's me burn AoO's to strike at foes that I have previously parried, using Opportune Parry from swashbuckler deed.
I have considered Monk, I've got a 14 wisdom, but I'm not lawful in my alignment. Sohei for 6 levels would be cool, Far Strike Monk for 5 levels also would be great. Ninja would be fun too. Kirin Style might be worth looking into.
eldritch knight for 10 levels wouldn't hurt either...
I too am playing a Magus (Kensai/Bladebound), and have been thinking what to do if we go past 20. I don't qualify for Eldritch night unless I want to dip Fighter 1 but not liking that option. The other option I have been considering is Shadow Dancer. I wouldn't get more spell levels but evasion, uncanny dodge and several other abilities would definitely compensate for that.
Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special
Save Save Save
1st +0 +0 +1 +0 Hide in plain sight
2nd +1 +1 +1 +1 Evasion, darkvision, uncanny dodge
3rd +2 +1 +2 +1 Rogue talent, shadow illusion, summon shadow
4th +3 +1 +2 +1 Shadow call, shadow jump 40 ft.
5th +3 +2 +3 +2 Defensive roll, improved uncanny dodge
6th +4 +2 +3 +2 Rogue talent, shadow jump 80 ft.
7th +5 +2 +4 +2 Slippery mind
8th +6 +3 +4 +3 Shadow jump 160 ft., shadow power
9th +6 +3 +5 +3 Rogue talent
10th +7 +3 +5 +3 Improved evasion, shadow jump 320 ft., shadow master
Shogahin
mplindustries wrote: Eldritch Knight 10 would be pretty amazing, but you aren't proficient in all martial weapons as a Kensai.
That is correct which is why an earlier poster put 1 level of swashbuckler into his build.
Yeah, eldritch knight 9/something with all martial weapons 1.
I can't think of anything better than super high level spellcasting.
If you want, you could start moving in that direction a bit earlier. Use the magus arcana that lets you use spells from another spellcasting class.
Once you have what you want from Magus, it's time to go after 9th level spells.
With that many levels I could also grab some Horizon Walker for terrain bonus & dominance abilities too.
LazarX wrote: mplindustries wrote: Eldritch Knight 10 would be pretty amazing, but you aren't proficient in all martial weapons as a Kensai.
That is correct which is why an earlier poster put 1 level of swashbuckler into his build. Yeah, but the problem is that who cares about 9 levels of EK? The capstone would be the entire point for a Magus. The rest is just full BAB and like three feats. But competing with that 10th level capstone of awesomeness, you've got the Kensai capstone, which is also excellent.
If it was just "Kensai Capstone or EK Capstone?" I could choose easily (EK), but it's not. It becomes "Kensai Capstone" or "EK Capstone and 10 'eh' levels."
So, yeah, I think you might be better off getting more immediate benefits with the extra 10 levels.
Thinking along same lines on the capstone. Kensai 20/Inspired Blade 1/ Duelist 5 and 4 levels of something to give perks/feats or enhance my swordsman theme.
Will the DM allow 3.5 stuff? If so, the Swiftblade might be a nice pick. It's a Haste-centric class; full BAB, abilities progress from free Extend on Haste to free Quicken on Haste to Haste can't be dispelled (but can still be countered, unfortunately) to their real capstone at 9th level, an extra standard action when Haste is up. Hit/AC/Reflex bonuses too, which are always nice. Drawbacks are 6/10 casting and the pre-reqs: Dodge and Mobility. Ugh.
Abjurant Champion is another nice 3.5 prestige class; five levels, each level adds 1 to the AC of any Abjuration effect (Shield actually becomes decent at +9 AC), grants auto-Extend for Abjurations, auto-Quicken for Abjurations, the ability to turn spell slots into various bonuses (to hit, to damage, etc.), and the capstone, can track caster level by BAB. Full BAB class, good Will saves, full caster progression. Combat Casting as a pre-req, which is again kind of annoying.
First step though is really to find out what his plans are. Epic rules, can progress a class past 20, go find a new class, something else entirely?
I remember Abjurant Champion from 3.5, that is an amazing class for any Gish. I might have to see if I can track down that book again. Was it in the Complete Mage book?
kestral287 wrote: First step though is really to find out what his plans are. Epic rules, can progress a class past 20, go find a new class, something else entirely? This about a gazillion times over.
Having played beyond 20th twice (up to 23rd and 31st) and GM'd up to 30th once in campaigns (vs single shots/short lived stuff of various sorts - all in pre PF times) this is probably the single biggest question otherwise any planned builds/ideas may simply not be possible under whatever rules are in fact in use.
The Magus can get higher level spells because of spell blending. Its not much but its legit. A feat for one to two spells.
stealthymonkeyman wrote: The Magus can get higher level spells because of spell blending. Its not much but its legit. A feat for one to two spells. Spell blending only lets you cast other class spells in Magus spell slots, which are still capped at Sixth level.
Level 20+? Rocket Tag EXtreme anyone?
CRB: Beyond 20th level, Spellcasting wrote: Spells: A spellcaster's caster level continues to increase by one for each level beyond 20th level. Every odd-numbered level, a spellcaster gains access to a new level of spell one above his previous maximum level, gaining one spell slot in that new level. These spell slots can be used to prepare or cast spells adjusted by metamagic feats or any known spell of lower levels. Every even-numbered level, a spellcaster gains additional spell slots equal to the highest level spell he can currently cast. He can split these new slots any way he wants among the slots he currently has access to. At the rate it describes (some might think it's only for full casters, but paladins came with that book, so the intent is for all spellcasting classes) your Magi will have 11th level spell slots by level 29. With spell blending, you'll be able to cast any spell that a wizard could, albeit with less ability to add metamagics. You could continue with Magus (which requires houserules for what abilities you'd get at what levels), or you could prestiege. Prestiege classes that advance arcane spellcasting:
Eldritch Knight (a more primitive version of yourself, but it continues fighter training, bonus feats, and full bab with 9/10's spell progression)
Arcane Trickster (requires at least 2 levels of dipping to enter for the sneak attack requirement)
Arcane Archer (For ranged characters... though 2 levels could be helpful for throwing out anti-magic fields at a distance)
Dragon Disciple (More for spontaneous casters or strength based characters)
Loremaster (can be a free feat every odd level, but 1/2 bab)
Combined with liberal use of spell blending, you'll be a true melee wizard.
But if you want to focus on being the physical side of things, there's tons of different directions you could go.
Have you considered just doing Weapon Master Fighter? It goes right along with your existing theme.
Serisan wrote: Have you considered just doing Weapon Master Fighter? It goes right along with your existing theme. If it came down to what to grab for my 30 levels, I'd go Kensai 20/Inspired Blade 1/Eldritch Knight 9 before I'd grab levels in Weapon Master Fighter. OR just stay Kensai 29/Inspired Blade 1 assuming I can still gain new Arcanas every 4 levels & bonus feats every 6 like the magus does from 1 to 20. This would be a far better option I think along with the rules in the CRB for spellcasters beyond 20th level.
The spells that can be gained & used are just too good to pass up. Right now I'm Kensai 12/Inspired Blade 1.
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