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So I am planning out my new Magus and I want to give him the Arcane Deed Magus Arcana ability to add Precise Strike to my Magus. Here is the info on the ability:
Arcane Deed (Ex)
Prerequisite(s); Flamboyant arcana
Benefit(s); When a magus takes this arcana, he can pick any one deed from the swashbuckler class feature as long as that deed can be used by a swashbuckler of his magus level. The magus can use that deed by using points from his arcane pool as the panache points required for that deed. Even if he gains a panache pool through another means, the magus is not considered to have at least 1 point in his panache pool for the purpose of deeds selected with arcane deed, and his effective swashbuckler level for determining such a deed's effect is 0.
A magus can take this arcana multiple times, each time gaining a new deed.
So the last line in the benefits paragraph says that the effective swashbuckler level for determining such a deed's effect is 0, but does that mean that since Precise Strike adds precision damage equal to your swashbuckler level that it would be useless, or is it just in reference to that last bit about gaining actual swashbuckler levels? I just want to clarify this so I do not do something silly in the future.
It's useless. They really nerfed the ability into "Why ever take this?"
They wanted the base swashbuckler class to have a reason to exist, and instead of making it good they made all the "copycat" archetypes and class features worse.
I strongly advise allowing the pre-errata version which is pretty much the same except it uses the magus level as the swashbuckler level, therefore making it actually good.
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They wanted the base swashbuckler class to have a reason to exist, and instead of making it good they made all the "copycat" archetypes and class features worse.
So far, my experience with the basic Swashbuckler is that it is rather good. I have one that is great at being a face, can wade into combat as a tank with a high AC and draw the agro with little fear, deal some serious damage, and overall is just a really awesome PC with great abilities. But yeah, sucks they just nerfed all the copy abilities. I like the one that gives parry and ripose though so I might still go with that one.
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Anyone else want to chime in on this? I am actually rather enjoying what people have to say here. :)Most classes that are intended to do damage have a primary mechanic to aid that (rage, weapon training, sneak attack). For swashbucklers, the mechanic is precise strike. Allowing magi, who already have spell combat and spellstrike for damage mechanics, to poach precise strike for minimal cost was obviously not intended. The original wording was ambiguous (it didn't grant a swashbuckler level but didn't explicitly set it to zero), so they made it more explicit. Unfortunately, several other deeds got caught in the crossfire, making arcane deed pretty bad overall.
Basically, it was a design mistake to make precise strike a deed because then when other classes poach deeds, you probably need to nerf the swap, making it useless. It would have been better to make precise strike a separate feature.
Yeah, I get what you are saying here. The big thing is that Precise Strike goes on for as long as you have at least one Panache, while Spellstrike and the Arcane Pool are temporary, lasting just the round they are used or a minute. Having something that would always be around as long as you had one resource around would be cool but a bit OP i must admit.
Anyway, if I ever manage to get this Magus up to level 12 I can take the Arcane Deed to get Evasive, since that ability is so freaking awesome.
Forgive me for reviving a franken-thread, but I thought it might be better than making what would be a duplicate question.
My question is about the prerequisite for Arcane Deed: Flamboyant Arcana. (WARNING: Logic argument follows)
Flamboyant Arcana gives you Opportune Parry & Riposte and even goes so far as to restate the fact that if you have at least 1 panache remaining after spending the point for the parry, you get a free riposte as an immediate action.
Flamboyant Arcana, by itself, makes ZERO mention that you are not considered to have "at least 1 panache remaining". As said above, it actually even restates the bonus effect of Opportune Parry & Riposte (in the Arcana's own entry, no less), which requires that you do have that panache remaining.
AND, remember, it's the prerequisite for Arcane Deed. Which means you get access to a deed with a bonus effect dependent on your remaining pool points BEFORE a later deed-granting arcana says you are not considered to have pool points remaining for deeds with additional effect requiring remaining pool points.
Meaning if you only ever took Flamboyant Arcana, you'd never-ever know about this problem until someone says "Nah-uh! You can't do that!". So my question is... Can't you? Since, you know, the restriction comes in a later arcana?
If you do not take Arcane Deed, which imposes a restriction, are you in fact considered to have pool points remaining for Flamboyant Arcana's Opportune Parry & Riposte?
As Flamboyant Arcana by itself does not make any mention of such a restriction.
I have a question: is there any rule stating this feat doesnt work on deeds introduced via an archetype. Like an azatariels whimsical riposte for example.