Is there any (ideally PFS legal) way to get Arcane Strike on a pure fighter?
I'm assuming I'll have to dip a level of magus or bard, as I can't seem to find a way and am not exactly sure what spell-like abilities can be used to qualify for these days (I was off the boards for a while and they don't seem to be being used how they were when I left). So this is basically just seeing if there is some obvious method that I am overlooking.
SLA as a prerequisite for arcane strike is dead. No way to have arcane strike with the fighter class to my knowledge.
The only full BAB class that can get Arcane Strike is Bloodrager, I think. You make the most out of both Power Attack and Arcane Strike as a Bloodrager, but fighter. I don't think fighter can do much with magic without magical items, so Arcane Strike is no good.
Build is more for concept than mechanical strength.
I'm really after Deadly Dealer on a fighter, I think I'll just have to start with a level of Card Caster Magus (which I have the book and cards for - so probably should try and get my PFS money's worth out of them) and go fighter from there.
Was hoping to avoid magus, but the few other options would take either 2 level dips or eat feats on top of a dip. Would be easier if Unchained Rogue was allowed Player Companion rogue talents in PFS.
I would go with a bloodrager and pehaps take a 2 level figther dip for feats as well as magic knack trait. I assume the Dream is to make a Card throwing type. The bonus damage from arcane strike and deadly dealer is not really worth it if you dont have full caster level. Some May argue that DD is not worth it at all.
Since the earlier FAQ about SLA allowing you to qualify for things has been removed you can now only gain arcane strike by being an arcane casting class. And since it only scales with caster level, it's really only useful to the Magus or Bloodrager. Maybe sorcerer/dragon disciple.
Point being, you're fighter can't access it without dipping into something else. And even then, it's not worth it mechanically for one extra point of damage.
The hope was to go snap shot route, not to be using spells at all. Gambit styles approach. Might even prove most sense to go old rogue for two levels and get DD as a talent with no magic required - but old rogue just isn't that appealing.
A few spells like shield, jump and expeditious retreat is gonna help on the gambit feel. I think. And others can represent a form of "a ace in the sleeve" feeling of a Martial character.
Since the earlier FAQ about SLA allowing you to qualify for things has been removed you can now only gain arcane strike by being an arcane casting class. And since it only scales with caster level, it's really only useful to the Magus or Bloodrager. Maybe sorcerer/dragon disciple.
It's very nice for Bards, too.
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Honestly, I'm not a fan of Arcane Strike anymore. I used to love it, but the Swift Action gating is really not worth it when you compare it to other swift action abilities that compete with it.
I'd much rather take a swift action attack via a ki point or hurtful than get a small damage boost per attack.
Honestly, I'm not a fan of Arcane Strike anymore. I used to love it, but the Swift Action gating is really not worth it when you compare it to other swift action abilities that compete with it.
I'd much rather take a swift action attack via a ki point or hurtful than get a small damage boost per attack.
It works out okay for a bloodrager. I took Blooded Arcane Strike (eventually) and combined it with Hurtful and Cornugon Smash, and the Cruel weapon enhancemnt to pretty devastating effect.
It's not worth dipping. You dip one level into a caster class and you get 1 measley point of damage for your swift action. Arcane Strike scales with caster level, not character level.Is there any (ideally PFS legal) way to get Arcane Strike on a pure fighter?
I'm assuming I'll have to dip a level of magus or bard, as I can't seem to find a way and am not exactly sure what spell-like abilities can be used to qualify for these days (I was off the boards for a while and they don't seem to be being used how they were when I left). So this is basically just seeing if there is some obvious method that I am overlooking.
Not necessarily. You forget that they have added onto arcane strike- Riving strike.
That is a -2 to saves against spells on anything you hit. This is similar to the evil eye hex (when it fails, since this is only 1 turn; evil eye is considered powerful since it has its effect, even if it fails, and you can get a ton of chances to get it to hit when it is attached to attacks). Combined that with cornugon smash, and you can tank an enemy's saves by -4.
And I am sure there are other things that creative posters can pile on there as well. Being a debuffer is a valuable role, and it can make the wizard with SoS spells love you.
Is it worth a dip and two feats, one feat being basically useless....maybe not.
The SLA reversal kneecapped a lot of builds and it is ironic as with unchained there are even more ways to get SLAs regardless of race
When did the SLA's get kneecapped?
If you are going to dip to get Arcane Strike, you should really consider the Arcane Duelist Bard, since you get Arcane Strike as.a bonus feat at 1st level. Plus you get cantrips, a few spells, and a bit of Inspire Courage.
When did the SLA's get kneecapped?
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The SLA reversal kneecapped a lot of builds and it is ironic as with unchained there are even more ways to get SLAs regardless of race
My suspicion is that the Unchained options were part of the reason for the reversal.
The SLA reversal kneecapped a lot of builds and it is ironic as with unchained there are even more ways to get SLAs regardless of raceMy suspicion is that the Unchained options were part of the reason for the reversal.
I know that my beautiful debuffing reach fighter build got sunk...and you are saying it was for the sake of these systems that were meant to 'save' the fighter and such?
Bah.
The SLA reversal kneecapped a lot of builds and it is ironic as with unchained there are even more ways to get SLAs regardless of raceMy suspicion is that the Unchained options were part of the reason for the reversal.I know that my beautiful debuffing reach fighter build got sunk...and you are saying it was for the sake of these systems that were meant to 'save' the fighter and such?
Bah.
I have no inside information, so I could very well be wrong. But the sudden reversal without any explanation has always struck me as odd.
Out of curiosity, what was your build like?
The SLA reversal kneecapped a lot of builds and it is ironic as with unchained there are even more ways to get SLAs regardless of raceMy suspicion is that the Unchained options were part of the reason for the reversal.I know that my beautiful debuffing reach fighter build got sunk...and you are saying it was for the sake of these systems that were meant to 'save' the fighter and such?
Bah.
I have no inside information, so I could very well be wrong. But the sudden reversal without any explanation has always struck me as odd.
Out of curiosity, what was your build like?
Oh, just riving strike and cornugon strike mentioned above, with reach basics+lunge (good for positioning AoO and getting in more full attacks). Add on basic fighter feats and some will save improving stuff (iron will, half elf for race, a few other things- enough to make even caster clerics a bit jealous until mid levels).
It wasn't complex, and that was an advantage- you just made yourself into an obstacle 25' wide, and made it so that enemies did not want to go any where near it (since -4 to saves- that is murder for almost anything, if you have the right caster backing you up).
You could probably pull a lot of this off with blood rager...but it never comes online anywhere near as early, obviously.
The SLA reversal kneecapped a lot of builds and it is ironic as with unchained there are even more ways to get SLAs regardless of raceMy suspicion is that the Unchained options were part of the reason for the reversal.
I always thought the excuse for that reversal was that spurred fantastic racism in builds as some races got SLAs and others didn't.
The SLA reversal kneecapped a lot of builds and it is ironic as with unchained there are even more ways to get SLAs regardless of raceMy suspicion is that the Unchained options were part of the reason for the reversal.I know that my beautiful debuffing reach fighter build got sunk...and you are saying it was for the sake of these systems that were meant to 'save' the fighter and such?
Bah.
I have no inside information, so I could very well be wrong. But the sudden reversal without any explanation has always struck me as odd.
Out of curiosity, what was your build like?
Oh, just riving strike and cornugon strike mentioned above, with reach basics+lunge (good for positioning AoO and getting in more full attacks). Add on basic fighter feats and some will save improving stuff (iron will, half elf for race, a few other things- enough to make even caster clerics a bit jealous until mid levels).
It wasn't complex, and that was an advantage- you just made yourself into an obstacle 25' wide, and made it so that enemies did not want to go any where near it (since -4 to saves- that is murder for almost anything, if you have the right caster backing you up).
You could probably pull a lot of this off with blood rager...but it never comes online anywhere near as early, obviously.
When the SLA reversal happened, I was working on a somewhat similar build using the early entry for Eldritch Knight. Spellcasting during his turn and debuffing reach attacks for AoO's. *sigh*
I always thought the excuse for that reversal was that spurred fantastic racism in builds as some races got SLAs and others didn't.The SLA reversal kneecapped a lot of builds and it is ironic as with unchained there are even more ways to get SLAs regardless of raceMy suspicion is that the Unchained options were part of the reason for the reversal.
If you have a link to any statement like that, I would love to read it. As far as I know, the reason was never mentioned by anyone on the design team.
It works out okay for a bloodrager. I took Blooded Arcane Strike (eventually) and combined it with Hurtful and Cornugon Smash, and the Cruel weapon enhancemnt to pretty devastating effect.Honestly, I'm not a fan of Arcane Strike anymore. I used to love it, but the Swift Action gating is really not worth it when you compare it to other swift action abilities that compete with it.
I'd much rather take a swift action attack via a ki point or hurtful than get a small damage boost per attack.
Oh yeah, and Riving Strike like Lemeres mentioned.
It was a -6 to saves on anything that could be intimidated. The full casters in my group were very happy to have me around.
Wouldn't wearing a (minor) Ring of Spell Storing give a caster level? It says the "wearer" can cast any spell therein, and they're real spells - not SLAs.
If you have a link to any statement like that, I would love to read it. As far as I know, the reason was never mentioned by anyone on the design team.I always thought the excuse for that reversal was that spurred fantastic racism in builds as some races got SLAs and others didn't.The SLA reversal kneecapped a lot of builds and it is ironic as with unchained there are even more ways to get SLAs regardless of raceMy suspicion is that the Unchained options were part of the reason for the reversal.
I heard it in some post there but I think ultimately is conjecture. But pre-unchained is the most reasonable argument as giving access to item creation feats and arcane strike to non-casters is not that op and early access to some PrC just made them not suck
and Gnomes
Granted, Riving Strike is very good. Blooded Arcane Strike also makes it better by removing the swift action while raging. But for non-bloodragers, it's questionable.
Bards & Magi generally have better uses for their swift actions.
Which is why it would have been great for fighters. They rarely have anything to use swift actions for.
And heck...arcane strike was an actual option for rogue to do damage- it turned that terrible magic talent (level 0 spell 3/ day) into something useful since it gave a caster level=rogue level.
Wouldn't wearing a (minor) Ring of Spell Storing give a caster level? It says the "wearer" can cast any spell therein, and they're real spells - not SLAs.
Perhaps but a hardline reading of RAW because it uses the word "cast", but I certainly don't think such is intended.
Wouldn't wearing a (minor) Ring of Spell Storing give a caster level? It says the "wearer" can cast any spell therein, and they're real spells - not SLAs.Perhaps but a hardline reading of RAW because it uses the word "cast", but I certainly don't think such is intended.
In a sense the had it coming by reversing the SLA ruling so badly
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In a sense the had it coming by reversing the SLA ruling so badlyWouldn't wearing a (minor) Ring of Spell Storing give a caster level? It says the "wearer" can cast any spell therein, and they're real spells - not SLAs.Perhaps but a hardline reading of RAW because it uses the word "cast", but I certainly don't think such is intended.
Not really. Especially if you considered the original ruling a mistake anyways.
Not really. Especially if you considered the original ruling a mistake anyways.In a sense the had it coming by reversing the SLA ruling so badlyWouldn't wearing a (minor) Ring of Spell Storing give a caster level? It says the "wearer" can cast any spell therein, and they're real spells - not SLAs.Perhaps but a hardline reading of RAW because it uses the word "cast", but I certainly don't think such is intended.
It made sense (SLA means you do magic) and gave more options without being powerful (seriously it just made some PrCs not suck) and also there was the interesting fluff of having naturally magical creatures using their powers to create items mentioned by the developers themselves (and it went out of the window lol). If this was reversed just by heeding complaining people stuck in the past it's just sad.