Magus: Instant weapon, just add water

[Pounce]

Yes, you read the thread title right.

Basically, I'd like to combine the spell Holy Ice Weapon with the Gnome Magus FCB, so I can sort of have the ultimate "Instant Weapon, just add water" routine.

Gnome FCB wrote:

Add one of the following weapon special abilities to the list of weapon special abilities the magus may add to his weapon using his arcane pool: defending, ghost touch, merciful, mighty cleaving, vicious; allying, conductive, corrosive, corrosive burst, menacing. Once an ability has been selected with this reward, it cannot be changed.

I know that I can do this by getting the trait Magaambyan Arcana, so my options pretty much boil down to being an Adopted Gnome, or a Human with Racial Heritage: Gnome.

I'm considering going dual talent Human with the extra +2 going to Int, but beyond that I'm currently sort of stuck on where to take the concept from there. Any suggestions on where this could be taken?

[Imbicatus]

I'm not really sure what use the FCB really is. The only really decent abilities on the list to add are ghost touch and merciful, and and holy ice weapon negates the need for almost all aspects of ghost touch.

If you really want an Instant Weapon magus, Mindblade does the job better.

[Kurald Galain]

Here's a Magus handbook, enjoy.

Depending on your party, Menacing may be useful. Otherwise, the Magus's main list has a number of good weapon enchantment abilities.

[Pounce]

@ Imbicatus: I prefer the arcane prepared casting over the mindblade, otherwise, good point. I was sort of assuming that the gnome FCB would have more useful options, but I guess not.

@ Kurald Galain: I actually stumbled upon the trait (and thus the idea) from your handbook, hah.

Generally, what I was thinking was simply using Spell Combat -> Arcane Pool -> Full Attack with a boosted Ice Weapon. Kind of like having him be the flip side of the usually sunny side up Sarenraeite - bright and redemptive at day, icy assassin by night.

Incidentially, would Rime Spell work with HIW?
Am I right in assuming that False Focus should work for HIW with the trait, and do you think it would be worth the feat investment?

[Imbicatus]

Pounce wrote:

Incidentially, would Rime Spell work with HIW?

Holy Ice Weapon has the Cold descriptor and does cold damage, so yes.

Pounce wrote:

Am I right in assuming that False Focus should work for HIW with the trait, and do you think it would be worth the feat investment?

It would work. It will save 25gp per casting. That's a small cost to avoid a feat.

[Kurald Galain]

You should be able to stack HIW + Frostbite + Rime Spell + Enforcer, if you want a good debuffing chain.

[Paulicus]

There is a spell called Instant Weapon that you could flavor as ice, especially if you add frost with your arcane pool.

Bonus points, I think the weapon does force damage as well, though I could be mixing that up with an archetype.

[Kurald Galain]

It does. It's also on the Magus spell list.