I have an idea for a Half-Orc Kensai based loosely on Grumph from NPCs by Drew Hayes. His first real spell was a frost attack, so I like the flavor of using Frostbite over Shocking Grasp as my main spell.
Here's what I'm thinking - tell me if this is dumb or effective:
Feats: Power Attack, Enforcer, Hurtful, Rime Spell
Cruel Weapon
What I'm seeing is, at level 7:
Spellstrike with Frostbite causing the fatigued and entangled conditions and activating Enforcer intimidate check. Enforcer (if successful) activates Hurtful for a bonus attack, which activates Cruel Weapon. And I still have an attack from my full-attack action.
In one round I just got off 3 melee hits, Frostbite, and left my opponent Shaken, Entangled, Sickened and Fatigued.
Is that correct? If so, is that a viable strategy, and would a GM want to gut me for all the math? Final question - is it worth burning the swift action on a Magus for an extra melee attack over other swift action options?
4 conditions that all have a -2... my head is boggled at where this is going...
Maybe? It depends if frostbite spellstrike counts as 'nonlethal damage with a melee weapon' or if it still counts as damage from a spell. Ask your GM.
Assuming it works then yes, it's worthwhile. In the first round of combat you may want to cast a defensive spell and spend a point from your arcane pool to enhance your weapon rather than do this, especially if the enemy isn't within a 5' step (normal IME), but you don't need swift actions for magus abilities/spells every round.
Maybe? It depends if frostbite spellstrike counts as 'nonlethal damage with a melee weapon' or if it still counts as damage from a spell. Ask your GM.
Good point. An alternate option would be Cornugon Smash instead of Enforcer, but that would require power attacking, which I wouldn't mind using situationally but didn't want to force against high AC opponents.
you think this math is bad? try sacred geometry.
Never heard of that before... but I just read it. Sounds like an amazing feat for action economy. Sounds like a TERRIBLE feat for enjoying the game of Pathfinder. Sounds like an ABYSMAL feat for the others at the table waiting for you to calculate a prime number 27 different ways. It's like a Summoner with leadership...
you think this math is bad? try sacred geometry.
Luckily, there's an easy way to make that not a problem.
Maybe? It depends if frostbite spellstrike counts as 'nonlethal damage with a melee weapon' or if it still counts as damage from a spell. Ask your GM.Good point. An alternate option would be Cornugon Smash instead of Enforcer, but that would require power attacking, which I wouldn't mind using situationally but didn't want to force against high AC opponents.
Furious Focus would let you avoid the attack penalty on one attack each round.
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Maybe? It depends if frostbite spellstrike counts as 'nonlethal damage with a melee weapon' or if it still counts as damage from a spell. Ask your GM.
I'm one of those who thinks the weapon itself has to deal nonlethal damage to use Enforcer. But even if your GM disagrees with me, you would be limited to attacks where you have charges of Frostbite and your target is susceptible to cold damage. I think it's better to be able to deal nonlethal damage with the weapon itself. Here are some options for dealing nonlethal damage without a penalty.
Traits
Blade of Mercy (religion-Sarenrae): all slashing weapons
Merciful Scimitar (combat): scimitars
Mock Gladiator (social): any one weapon
Feats
Bludgeoner (combat): all bludgeoning weapons
Divine Fighting Technique (Combat-Sarenrae): scimitar
Merciful Bane (general): any weapon currently affected by your Bane class ability
Stage Combatant (combat): any weapon for which you have Weapon Focus
Virtuous Creed, Mercy (general): all weapons
Weapon Special Abilities
Merciful: any weapon