Hi folks,
this is my very first post here on the forums and I'm searching for some advice on my current character build. I have around 25 years of experience with RPG but got just recently in touch with pathfinder. After testing a Zen Archer for 3 days of playing, we had a TPK. So this is like the "real" start for me ;)
Here is our composition so far:
Human Paladin
Human Cleric (Fire/Healing)
Human Sorcerer
Human Bard (or Skald, player has not decided yet)
Elf Rogue (very first time of rpg for the player)
I decided to go for an Elven Magus. We are playing with Advanced Player Guide, Ultimate Magic, Ultimate Combat, Advanced Race Guide, Ultimate Campaign, Ultimate Equipment and the Bestiaries I-IV. Since we don't want to start from scratch the GM allowed us to create lvl 5 chars. This is what I went with:
Elf Magus 5
CG, INI +5
Offense
+1 Scimitar +10 (1d6+6, 18-20/x2)
Defense
AC: 20, touch 15, flat-footed 15 (Mithralchainmail +1, DEX +5)
HP: 34 (8 + 4d8)
Fortitude +4, Reflex +6, Will +4
Spells
0th (4/day): Arcane Mark, Detect Magic, Mage Hand, Read Magic
1st (5/day): Grease, Reduce Person, Shocking Grasp, Shield, Vanish
2nd (3/day): Frigid Touch, Mirror Image (2)
Stats
STR 10, DEX 20, KON 10, INT 18, WIS 10, CHA 7 (+2 DEX from items)
BAB +3, CMB +3, CMD 18
Traits: Magical Lineage (Shocking Grasp), Scholar of the Great Beyond (Knowledge (History)), Weathered Emissary
Feats/Abilities: Lvl 1) Weapon Finesse, Lvl 3) Derwish Dance, Lvl 3) Familiar Arcana, Lvl 5) Intensified Spell, Lvl 5) Weapon Focus (Scimitar) Bonus feat
Skills: Climb (+4), Knowledge (Arcana) (+12), Knowledge (Dungeoneering) (+8), Knowledge (History) (+13), Knowledge (Planes) (+13), Linguistics (+13), Perception (+10, the familiar), Perform (0; had to put 2 points in here for DD), Spellcraft (+12), Swim (+4)
Gear: +1 scimitar, +2 belt of dexterity, +1 mithral chainmail, scabbard of vigor
Familiar: Owl (the plan is to get a faerie dragon at lvl 7 for additional skillcheks, utilities and wand wielding)
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So i guess i can fill up a good damage dealer role here. We have a tank (paladin), 2 cc ddler (rogue and me), two swiss army knives (cleric and bard) and a caster (sorcerer). I know my HP pool is very low for a melee fighter but i wanted some action for our cleric here ;) And i can still cast vanish, grab a longbow and shoot/buff from afar. I took a close look at Walter's Guide to the Magus and decided not to take a certain archetype.
We are a not a min-maxed, instead more roleplaying focused group. Maybe having one battle per day or so and not much special rules applying from GM's side (no enemies that are trying to disarm or grapple you, very few spellcasters, mostly raw amounts of melee fighters like undead, villains and so on). I guess this char can play a decent role in this campaign, having some skills, high burst damage, a few utility spells and a familiar for scouting purposes (and double skill checks). But what do you guys think?
Quick note, Pathfinder 0th level spells (cantrips, orison, knacks) are unlimited use. You prepare four different cantrips and use each one as often as you like. That is unless you house ruled otherwise.
Cantrips: A magus can prepare a number of cantrips, or 0-level spells, each day, as noted in the table above under “Spells per Day.” These spells are cast like any other spell, but they are not expended when cast and may be used again.
the Queen's Raven wrote: Quick note, Pathfinder 0th level spells (cantrips, orison, knacks) are unlimited use. You prepare four different cantrips and use each one as often as you like. That is unless you house ruled otherwise. Ah, thanks for this note! Will edit my first post immediately!
Also I think you need weapon focus Scimitar before you can take dervish dance
the Queen's Raven wrote: Also I think you need weapon focus Scimitar before you can take dervish dance No, the rules say otherwise:
Quote: Dexterity 13, Weapon Finesse, Perform (dance) 2 ranks, proficient with scimitar
the Queen's Raven wrote: Also I think you need weapon focus Scimitar before you can take dervish dance Not Dervish Dance. You are probably thinking of Slashing Grace.
A 10 CON is way too low for a D8 health front line fighter. Any way you can bring it up? I'd suggest lowering your INT. While a 18 INT is very nice for a magus, 90% of the spells you'll use do not require saves.
Try and convince the player to play a bard. :)
If he plays a Skuld, you'll end up declining his rage song as you can't cast if you except.
I'd swap the feats a little, at 5th level you won;t get much use out of Intensified Spell, and I think Weapon Focus can be obtained through an item (ioun stone and a Wayfinder for 2,000gp).
I would take Heighten Spell for your bonus spell and Preferred Spell (Shocking Grasp). This allows you to convert any of your spell slots spontaneously into your shocking grasps so you won;t have to worry about preparing them.
With Spell Recall, you can prepare a utility spell like shield or identify, then after it's used get it back and convert it for double spell economy.
Thanks, Kurald. I have already seen your guide! Since it talks about so much stuff my group is not using i didn't payed that much attention to it. But i will do so this evening!
@Matt2VK: Yeah, this is what i have feared. I will try to change up the attributes a bit. Maybe i can switch things up by switching to the bladebound archetype, saving some money on the weapon, sacking the scabbard and buying another +2 (attribute) item.
@master_marshmallow: Couldn't find any ioun stone with this feature. There is one which is giving you proficiency or familiarity - but nothing like a weapon focus (which is required by other feats, too).
I picked up Intensified Spell at lvl 5, because it will come in hand at lvl 6 already. But you are right, i can wait for it until lvl 7 if i find something better. Preferred Spell sounds really good, but i don't understand what Heighten Spell is for ^^ And sadly it's a requirement.
The Wayfinder combined with a cracked Opalescent White Pyramid gets you weapon focus for 2000gp total.
That relies on your GM letting you purchase an Ioun stone with resonance, and relies further on them allowing the cracked stone to have resonance. In PFS, for example, cracked Ioun stones don't grant a resonance power when slotted in a wayfinder. Only the full stone does.
Preferred Spell and Heighten Spell are still the better choices.
Okay, so i guess Heighten Spell has no particular meaning? Like I said, Preferred Spell sounds really good. Will defenitely take this into consideration.
To the Ioun Stones: Where does this rule come from? Seekers of Secrets? Because i can't find it in the rule books stated in the opening post.
anchoress wrote: To the Ioun Stones: Where does this rule come from? Seekers of Secrets? Because i can't find it in the rule books stated in the opening post. PFS rule. But outside of PFS, there are several methods of determining resonance (including rolling at random) so you can't just count on the idea of buying a resonant ioun stone easily.
Thanks for clearing this up for me, Kurald! We don't have been in touch with PFS, still we are a german group of players and even though english is not a problem the consensus was to stick to german rulebooks (which is why i listed them all up in the first post).
Okay, i took your critics into consideration and thought about the low CON rating. I really tried to change it on my char, but the -2 modifier from being an elf was annoying me so hard that i finally tried to make a halfling instead. And to be honest i have a way better feeling with this char! Changes in a nutshell:
- race changed from elf to halfling
- class changed from Magus to Bladebound archetype (losing 2 arcane points but saving 2000 bucks for the weapon AND it is better as well; sure it is not as good as other familiars but we have a fairly big group with 6 players, so all important roles are taken!)
- sacked the scabbard and bought a headband of intellect
In detail:
Halfling Bladebound 5
CG, INI +5
Offense
+2 Scimitar (blackblade) +12 (1d4+7, 18-20/x2)
Defense
AC: 21, touch 16, flat-footed 16 (Mithralchainmail +1, DEX +5)
HP: 44 (8 + 4d8 + 10 CON + 5 Toughness)
Fortitude +6, Reflex +6, Will +4
Spells
0th (4/day): Arcane Mark, Detect Magic, Light, Mage Hand
1st (5/day): Grease, Shocking Grasp (2), Shield, Vanish
2nd (3/day): Escaping Ward, Frigid Touch, Mirror Image
Stats
STR 5, DEX 20, CON 14, INT 18, WIS 11, CHA 9 (+2 DEX and INT from items)
BAB +3, CMB -1, CMD 14
Traits: Magical Lineage (Shocking Grasp), Highlander (Stealth), Fate's Favourite (Luckboost)
Feats/Abilities: Lvl 1) Weapon Finesse, Lvl 3) Derwish Dance, Lvl 3) Blackblade Arcana Replacement, Lvl 5) Toughness, Lvl 5) Weapon Focus (Scimitar) Bonus feat
Skills: Climb (+1), Knowledge (Arcana) (+12), Knowledge (Dungeoneering) (+12), Knowledge (Planes) (+11), Perception (+9), Perform (0; had to put 2 points in here for DD), Spellcraft (+12), Stealth (+13), Swim (+1)
Gear: +2 scimitar blackblade, +2 belt of dexterity, +2 headband of intellect, +1 mithral chainmail
Got worse in concentration checks (+9 instead of +11), but got Adaptable Luck and the Fate's Favourite trait which is great
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