| hiiamtom |
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I got to thinking how I would do a Magus in 5e with the great options for gishes available, but I couldn't think of a good way to translate it into a Fighter archetype but it just didn't work. There is a clear desire for something between Bladesinger and Eldritch Knight that really is only met by muliclassing warlock right now - so I made a Magus based on the Warlock structure.
Looking at my first pass, it could be massaged into a Patron but it would be really pushing it. It's more akin to an alternate class from Pathfinder than anything.
It's not perfect and the archetypes (called Elements) are severely lacking, and it needs a spell list (I plan on mixing the wizard with warlock and a little paladin to add rituals and use some appropriate combat spells for the class).
| Petty Alchemy RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 16 |
So, there's a lot of strong things here.
Being able to steal a Wizard's school ability is extremely powerful (divination Portent, or abjuration Ward). A lot of other great features from other classes are here too, and the unique features are very powerful as well.
If I understand correctly, Spell Combat allows two attacks from the get-go, a normal swing + bonus action booming blade, and scales just fine with Extra Attack. Or Blade Ward for rage-lite while getting the normal amount of attacks.
| hiiamtom |
Full disclosure: this was maybe an hour of work, and is only formatted and spell checked. I had trouble even coming up with archetypes, but the Divine one is much more fleshed out. The two attacks are smites dealing elemental damage, which is how the spell combat started. I think the bonus cantrip is already enough and the smites are too powerful, maybe something like Divine Strike would be better where it is fixed damage. The real boost in combat would come from spell selection and bonus action attack/cantrip/spell which I like better.
You have spell combat right, the idea is to attack with a weapon and a spell like the Pathfinder Magus class - TWF with a spell and Spellstrike emulated with GFB, or smite spells.
| Petty Alchemy RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 16 |
Yeah, it cannibalizes other classes (in my opinion, excessively).
I don't think the special thing about the PF Magus is the extra attack, so much as it is casting a spell via weapon. The PF Magus is basically a burst DPS (via Shocking Grasp), but that's kind of what the smiting Warlocks do now, so maybe we need to re-evaluate what the Magus niche should be.
Perhaps cut back on combat toughness in some ways (PF Magus starts with just light armor and a d8, this version is d10 with medium or heavy+shield from the get-go). Then gets a permanent +5 AC with at-will shield at mid-levels).
I'd also move Spell Combat to lvl 5, replacing Extra Attack (since it basically is Extra Attack Plus). Since we have weapon attack cantrips in 5e (unlike in PF), you can do magical combat from the get-go w/o needing two attacks.
As for the new niche, I'd say a good one would be weaving together spell and sword combos, sort of like the UA Sea Sorcerer's curse.
First off, allow a Magus to use any melee weapon as an arcane focus.
Then, invocations that cause various effects when you use a spell after a melee attack, or a melee attack after a spell, etc.
| SmiloDan RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32 |
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This is a little old, and I'll probably edit it a bit.
MAGUS
The magus combines fighting prowess with sorcerous talent to excel in combat.
LEVEL FEATURES
1. Cantrips, Spell Combat
2. Font of Magic, Spellcasting, Spellstrike
3. Magus Archetype
4. Ability Score Improvement
5. Extra Attack
6. Magus Arcana
7. Archetype Feature
8. Ability Score Improvement
9. -
10. Magus Arcana
11. Archetype Feature
12. Ability Score Improvement
13. -
14. Magus Arcana
15. Archetype Feature
16. Ability Score Improvement
17. -
18. Magus Arcana
19. Ability Score Improvement
20. True Magus
CLASS FEATURES
HIT POINTS
Hit Dice: 1d8 per magus level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per magus level after 1st
PROFICIENCIES
Armor: Light and medium armor
Weapons: Simple and martial weapons
Tools: none
Saving Throws: Constitution, Intelligence
Skills: Choose two skills from Acrobatics, Arcana, Athletics, Insight, Intimidation, or Investigation
EQUIPMENT
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
(a) a longsword or (b) any martial weapon
(a) a component pouch or (b) arcane focus
(a) a scholar’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack
(b) any simple weapon or (b) two daggers.
(a) Leather armor or (b) or scale armor
CANTRIPS
At 1st level you know two cantrips of your choice from the magus spell list. You learn an additional cantrip at 5th level, 9th level, 13th level, and 17th level.
Spellcasting Ability
Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for your magus spells, since you learn your spells through dedicated study and memorization. You use the paladin spell slots per day table. You use your Intelligence whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Intelligence modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a magus spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.
Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier
SPELL COMBAT
At 1st level you learn to combine weapon attacks and spellcasting. Whenever you use the Attack action with a one-handed melee weapon and your other hand is empty or holding an arcane focus, you may use a bonus action to cast a cantrip.
FONT OF MAGIC
At 2nd level, you tap into a deep wellspring of magic within yourself. This wellspring is represented by sorcery points, which allow you to create a variety of magic effects.
Sorcery Points
You have a number of sorcery points equal to your magus level. You can never have more sorcery points than your magus level. You regain all spent sorcery points when you finish a long rest.
Flexible Casting
You can use your sorcery points to gain additional spell slots, or sacrifice spell slots to gain additional sorcery points. You learn other ways to use your sorcery points as you reach higher levels.
Creating Spell Slots. You can transform unexpended sorcery points into one spell slot as a bonus action on your turn. The Creating Spell Slots table shows the cost of creating a spell slot of a given level. You can create spell slots no higher in level than 5th.
CREATING SPELL SLOTS
Spell Slot Level Sorcery Point Cost
1st 2
2nd 3
3rd 5
4th 6
5th 7
Converting a Spell Slot to Sorcery Points. As a bonus action on your turn, you can expend one spell slot and gain a number of sorcery points equal to the slot’s level.
SPELLCASTING
Spellbook
At 2nd level, you have a spellbook containing 4 1st-level magus spells of your choice.
Preparing Spells
You prepare the list of magus spells that are available for you to cast. To do so, choose a number of magus spells from your spellbook equal to your Intelligence modifier + ½ your magus level (minimum of 1 spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. You use the paladin spells per day table.
You can change your list of prepared spells when you finish a long rest. Preparing a new list of magus spells requires time spent studying your spellbook and memorizing magical formulas and complex gestures you must make to cast the spell: at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list.
Ritual Casting
You can cast a magus spell as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag and you have the spell in your spellbook. You don’t need to have the spell prepared.
Learning Spells of 1st Level and Higher
Each time you gain a magus level, you can add one magus spell of your choice to your spellbook. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. On your adventures, you might find other spells that you can add to your spellbook. You can also add wizard spells to your magus spellbook if the spell is on both the magus spell list and the wizard spell list.
SPELLSTRIKE
At 2nd level, whenever a magus casts a spell with a range of “touch” from the magus spell list, he can deliver the spell through any weapon he is wielding as part of a melee attack. Instead of making the spell attack normally allowed to deliver the spell, a magus can make one free melee attack with his weapon as part of casting this spell. If successful, this melee attack deals its normal damage as well as the effects of the spell. The magus can make this attack in concert with spell combat.
ARCHETYPE
At 3rd level, you focus on one of the following magus archetypes: the Aegis, the Arcane Archer, the Duskblade, the Kensai, the Myrmidon, the Spellthief, or the Witchblade, each of which is detailed at the end of the class description. Your choice grants you features at 3rd level, and again at 7th, 11th, and 15th.
ABILITY SCORE IMPROVEMENT
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
EXTRA ATTACK
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
MAGUS ARCANA
You learn arcane secrets tailored to your specific way of blending martial puissance and magical skill. Starting at 6th level, you gain one magus arcana. You gain an additional magus arcana for every four levels of magus attained after 6th level. Unless specifically noted in a magus arcana’s description, you cannot select a particular magus arcana more than once. Magus arcana that affect spells can only be used to modify spells from the magus spell list unless otherwise noted.
TRUE MAGUS
At 20th level, when you hit an opponent with a weapon attack, it suffers disadvantage on the saving throw on the next spell you cast on it. When you target an opponent with a spell, you gain advantage on the next attack roll you make against it. You have advantage on Constitution saving throws made to maintain Concentration on spells.
ARCHETYPES
AEGIS
The Aegis focuses on protecting his allies and himself with his arcane talents.
Bonus Proficiencies
You gain proficiency in heavy armor and shields.
Fighting Style
You gain the Protection Fighting Style. When a creature you can see attacks a target other than you that is within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll. You must be wielding a shield.
Arcane Shield
You gain the ability to enchant your shield. You can use your reaction to spend 1 sorcery point to increase the bonus to AC your shield grants you by an amount equal to half your proficiency bonus for 1 minute. When you cast shield, you can spend 1 sorcery point and increase the bonus to your AC the shield spell grants by an amount equal to your proficiency bonus.
AEGIS SPELLS
Aegis Level Spells
3rd hellish rebuke, shield
5th aid, warding bond
9th counterspell, protection from energy
13th deathward, fireshield
17th circle of power, wall of force
Shield of Protection
At 7th level, when you use your Protection Fighting Style, you may spend 1 sorcery point to add your proficiency bonus to your ally’s AC. If the attack against your ally is successful, your ally gains resistance to the damage from that attack.
Saving Shield
At 11th level, while you can use your reaction to grant an adjacent ally advantage on a saving throw. You may spend 1 sorcery point to add your proficiency bonus to your ally’s saving throw. Your ally gains resistance to any damage from that attack. You must be wielding a shield.
Deflecting Shield
At 15th level, when you succeed on a saving throw, you can use your reaction to spend 1 sorcery point and redirect the effect back to its source. When a melee attack misses you, you can use your reaction to make a Shove attack against your opponent. You must be wielding a shield.
ARCANE ARCHER
Fighting Style
You gain the Archery Fighting Style. You gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls you make with ranged weapons.
Imbue Arrow
You learn to combine ranged weapon attacks and spellcasting. Whenever you use the Attack action with a ranged weapon, you may use a bonus action to cast a spell from the magus spell list and imbue the ranged weapon or its ammunition with that spell. The spell originates from where the ranged weapon or its ammunition lands. A creature struck by the ranged weapon or its ammunition imbued with a spell has disadvantage on the spell’s saving throw. If you choose, your ranged weapon or its ammunition causes no damage when you imbue it with a spell.
Arcane Arrow
You gain the ability to enchant your ranged weapon. You can spend 1 sorcery point as a bonus action to grant your weapon a bonus on attack and damage rolls by an amount equal to half your proficiency bonus for 1 minute. Your ranged weapon, or any ammunition it fires, is considered magical for the purposes of damaging creatures with resistance or immunity to non-magical weapons and has its range doubled.
ARCANE ARCHER SPELLS
Arcane Archer Level Spells
3rd hail of thorns, thunderwave
5th cordon of arrows, shatter
9th conjure barrage, lightning arrow
13th blight, confusion
17th conjure volley, swift quiver
Storm Bow
At 7th level, when you use your Arcane Arrow ability, your ranged weapon, or any ammunition it fires, does an additional 1d6 points of lightning or thunder damage.
Seeker Arrow
At 11th level, when you use your Arcane Arrow ability, your ranged weapon, or any ammunition it fires, ignores cover (but not full cover) and even alters its path to avoid obstacles, including going around corners, until it reaches the limits of its range or reaches its target.
Phase Arrow
At 15th level, when you use your Arcane Arrow ability, you gain advantage on your attack rolls.
DUSKBLADE
Bonus Proficiency
You gain proficiency in heavy armor and shields.
Fighting Style
You gain the Duelist Fighting Style. When you wield a melee weapon in one hand and wield no other weapons, you add +2 to your weapon damage.
Arcane Weapon
You gain the ability to enchant your melee weapon. You can spend 1 sorcery point as a bonus action to grant your weapon a bonus on attack and damage rolls by an amount equal to half your proficiency bonus for 1 minute. Your melee weapon is considered magical for the purposes of damaging creatures with resistance or immunity to non-magical weapons. As a bonus action, you can make an attack with your arcane weapon and add twice your proficiency bonus to the attack roll (and damage roll if you hit), but this ends the duration of your Arcane Weapon ability.
DUSKBLADE SPELLS
Duskblade Level Spells
3rd burning hands, chromatic orb
5th misty step, scorching ray
9th elemental weapon, haste
13th dimension door, wall of fire
17th Bigby’s hand, cone of cold
Improved Spell Combat
At 7th level, your ability to combine weapon attacks and spellcasting improves. Whenever you spend a spell slot to cast a spell, you may use your bonus action to make a single melee attack with a one-handed or light weapon.
Greater Spell Combat
At 11th level, your ability to combine weapon attacks and spellcasting becomes greater. Whenever you spend a spell slot to cast a spell, you may use your bonus action to make two melee attacks with a one-handed or light weapon.
Spell of Opportunity
At 15th level, whenever you are able to make an opportunity attack, you can choose to target the creature with a casting time of one action, one bonus action, or one reaction.
KENSAI
Unarmored Defense
At 3rd level, when you are not wearing any armor or using a shield, your AC = 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Intelligence modifier.
Improved Unarmed Strike
At 3rd level, your unarmed strikes do 1d4 points of damage. At 9th level, your unarmed strikes do 1d6 points of damage. At 15th level, your unarmed strikes do 1d8 points of damage. You may use your choice of Strength or Dexterity when making unarmed strikes.
Flurry of Blows
At 3rd level, when you take the Attack action, you can use your bonus action to make an unarmed strike. You can spend 1 sorcery point and make 2 unarmed strikes as part of your bonus action.
KENSAI SPELLS
Kensai Level Spells
3rd expeditious retreat, jump
5th enhance ability, spider climb
9th fly, haste
13th dimension door, freedom of movement
17th Bigby’s hand, telekinesis
Iaijutsu
At 7th level, you have advantage on initiative rolls. You may spend 1 sorcery point to add your proficiency bonus and your Intelligence modifier to an initiative roll.
Perfect Strike
At 11th level, you can spend 1 sorcery point when you hit with an unarmed strike and choose to cause maximum damage instead of rolling for damage.
Iaijutsu Focus
At 15th level, When you attack an opponent during a surprise round or before your opponent has taken any actions in combat, you add your Intelligence bonus to your attack and damage rolls.
MYRMIDON
Bonus Proficiency
You gain proficiency in heavy armor and shields.
Fighting Style
You gain the Defense Fighting Style. While you are wearing armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC.
Arcane Armor
You gain the ability to enchant your armor. You can use your reaction to spend 1 sorcery point to increase the bonus to AC your armor grants you by an amount equal to half your proficiency bonus for 1 minute. When you cast mage armor or shield of faith, you can spend 1 sorcery point and increase the bonus to your AC the spell grants by an amount equal to your proficiency bonus.
MYRMIDON SPELLS
Myrmidon Level Spells
3rd armor of agathys, shield of faith
5th blur, enlarge/reduce
9th crusader’s mantle, protection from energy
13th fire shield, stoneskin
17th insect plague, telekinesis
Uncanny Dodge
At 7th level, when an attacker that you can see hits you with an attack, you can use your reaction to halve the attack’s damage against you. You can spend 2 sorcery points to negate the damage.
Battle Mind
At 11th level, you can maintain Concentration on a number of spells equal to half your proficiency bonus. You must be the sole target of these spells. You can spend 1 sorcery point to double your proficiency bonus on Constitution saving throws to maintain Concentration.
War Magic
At 15th level, you can use your reaction to spend 1 sorcery point to give yourself advantage on saving throws until the end of your next turn.
SPELLTHIEF
Bonus Proficiencies
You gain proficiency in one of the following skills: Deception, Sleight of Hand, Stealth.
You gain proficiency in one of the following tools: disguise kit, poisoner’s kit, or thieves’ tools.
Fighting Style
When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can add your ability modifier to the damage of the second attack.
Steal Spell
When you hit a spellcaster with two different weapons during the same round, you can use your reaction to force the spellcaster to make a Charisma saving throw. If the spellcaster fails, you steal one of its spells. Make an Intelligence (Arcana) skill check with a DC equal to the spellcaster’s spellcasting ability score. If you succeed, you learn all the spells currently prepared or known by the spellcaster; you may choose which spell to steal. If you fail, you steal a random spell of a random level (including cantrips). The highest level spell you can steal is equal to half your magus level (maximum 9th level).
When you steal a spell, you remove the selected spell from the target’s list of prepared spells or list of spells known until the next time the target prepares spells. You can cast the stolen spell once or choose to expend the stolen spell to cast a spell you have prepared of the same or lower level of the stolen spell. When you cast a stolen spell, you use your own spell saving DC or spell attack bonus, if applicable.
You can maintain a number of stolen spell levels equal to your magus level at any given time. You can choose to lose a spell in order to make room to steal a new spell; losing a spell requires no action.
SPELLTHIEF SPELLS
Myrmidon Level Spells
3rd charm person, disguise self
5th invisibility, pass without trace
9th major image, slow
13th greater invisibility, phantasmal killer
17th seeming, telekinesis
Steal Resistance
At 7th level, when you hit a creature with two different weapons during the same round, you can use your reaction to force the creature to make a Charisma saving throw. If the creature fails, you steal its resistance against one kind of damage. Make an Intelligence (Arcana) skill check with a DC equal to the creature’s Constitution score. If you succeed, you learn all kinds of resistance the creature has; you may choose which resistance to steal. If you fail, you steal a random resistance from the creature.
When you steal a creature’s resistance, you gain resistance to that kind of damage until you finish a long rest or you choose to give it up; the creature loses that resistance until it finishes a long rest.
You can maintain a number of resistances equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum 1) at any given time. You can choose to lose a resistance in order to steal a different resistance; losing a resistance requires no action.
Steal Spell Resistance
At 11th level, when you hit a creature with two different weapons during the same round, you can use your reaction to force the creature to make a Charisma saving throw. If the creature fails, you steal its spell resistance.
When you steal a creature’s spell resistance, you gain spell resistance until you finish a long rest or you choose to lower it; the creature loses its spell resistance until it finishes a long rest.
Steal Immunity
At 15th level, when you hit a creature with two different weapons during the same round, you can use your reaction to force the creature to make a Charisma saving throw. If the creature fails, you steal its immunity against one kind of damage. Make an Intelligence (Arcana) skill check with a DC equal to the creature’s Constitution score. If you succeed, you learn all kinds of immunity the creature has; you may choose which immunity to steal. If you fail, you steal a random immunity from the creature.
When you steal a creature’s immunity, you gain immunity to that kind of damage until you finish a long rest or you choose to give it up; the creature loses that immunity until it finishes a long rest.
You can maintain a number of immunities equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum 1) at any given time. You can choose to lose a immunity in order to steal a different immunity; losing an immunity requires no action.
[/spoiler]
WITCHBLADE
Fighting Style
When you select the Witchblade archetype you gain the Great Weapon Fighting Style. When you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die for an attack you make with a melee weapon that you are wielding with two hands, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll, even if the new roll is a 1 or a 2. The weapon must have the two-handed or versatile property for you to gain this benefit.
Witchblade’s Curse
At 3rd level, you can use your reaction to spend 1 sorcery point and grant an opponent within 60 feet of you disadvantage on an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw. You must be able to see or hear your opponent.
WITCHBLADE SPELLS
Witchblade Level Spells
3rd hex, witchbolt
5th blindness/deafness, crown of madness
9th bestow curse, vampiric touch
13th confusion, Evard’s black tentacles
17th contagion, hold monster
Jinx
At 7th level, you can use your reaction to grant an opponent within 60 feet of you disadvantage on an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw. You must be able to see or hear your opponent, and your opponent must be able to see or hear you.
Steal Luck
At 11th level, when you use your Jinx ability, you gain inspiration.
Horrid Jinx
At 15th level, when you use your Jinx ability, your opponent subtracts your proficiency bonus from its affected rolls. When you use the inspiration gain from your Steal Luck ability, you add your proficiency to the affected rolls.
MAGUS ARCANA
Accurate Strike
You can spend 1 sorcery point as a bonus action and you double your proficiency bonus on your attack rolls until the beginning of your next turn.
Arcane Recovery
You have learned to regain some of your magical energy by studying your spellbook. Once per day wen you finish a short rest, you can choose expended spell slots to recover. The spell slots can have a combined level that is equal to or less than half your magus level (rounded up), and none of the spell slots can be of a level that you cannot cast.
For example, if you’re a 6th-level magus, you can recover up to three levels of spell slots. You can recover either a 2nd level slot and a 1st level slot, or three 1st level slots, but you could not recover a 3rd level slot because your highest level spell slot is 2nd.
Arcane Smite
Prerequisite: Charisma 13+
You add a number of paladin spells equal to your proficiency bonus to your spellbook. These paladin spells must have the word “Smite” in its title and be of a spell level you can cast. When your proficiency bonus increases, you may add an additional paladin spell to your spellbook.
Arcane Tradition
Select one school of magic. You gain the Arcane Tradition abilities of the selected school of magic as if you were a wizard of the same level as your magus level.
Bonus Feat
You gain one of the following feats. You must meet any prerequisites of the selected feat.
Elemental Adept, Mage Slayer, Magic Initiate, Ritual Caster, Spell Sniper, or War Caster.
An Aegis may select Shield Master, an Arcane Archer may select Sharp Shooter, Duskblade may select Defensive Duelist, a Kensai may select Grappler, a Myrmidon may select Heavy Armor Master, a Spellthief may select Dual Weapon Wielding, and a Witchblade may select Great Weapon Mastery.
Critical Strike
When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon, you can use your reaction to cast a spell that targets the opponent you scored the critical hit against.
Dispelling Strike
You can spend 1 sorcery point as a bonus action to imbue your weapon with a special power. If the weapon strikes a creature within the next minute, that creature is the subject of a dispel magic with a spell slot equal to half your magus level. Once the strike is made, the power dissipates, even if the dispel attempt is unsuccessful.
Hasted Assault
You can spend 1 sorcery point as a bonus action and gain the benefits of haste on yourself for a number of rounds equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum 1 round).
Maneuver Mastery
You add double your proficiency bonus on Strength (Athletics) and Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks made to grapple or shove an opponent. You may spend 1 sorcery point as a bonus action to add your Intelligence modifier on Strength (Athletics) and Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks until the beginning of your next turn.
Metamagic
You gain one Metamagic option as described in the sorcerer class. You may select this Magus Arcana multiple times. Each time you do, you must select a different kind of Metamagic option.
Prescient Defense
You can spend 1 sorcery point and use your reaction to Dodge until the end of your next turn.
Shining Blade
You add the following spells to your magus spellbook: dancing lights, light, faerie fire, guiding bolt, moonbeam, daylight, flame strike.
Tactical Striker
You use your Intelligence modifier in place of your Strength modifier or Dexterity modifier when you make attack and damage rolls with melee or ranged weapon attacks.
Wand Wielder
When you use your action to use a wand, you may use your bonus action to do one of the following: make a single melee attack, cast a cantrip, or use a different wand.
MAGUS SPELL LIST
Cantrips (0 level)
acid splash, blade ward, chill touch, dancing lights, fire bolt, light, mage hand, minor image, poison spray, prestidigitation, ray of frost, resistance, sacred flame, shillelagh, shocking grasp, thorn whip, true strike
1st Level
burning hands, chromatic orb, color spray, detect magic, expeditious retreat, feather fall, grease, heroism, identify, jump, magic missile, ray of sickness, shield, silent image, sleep, thunderwave, unseen servant, witch bolt.
2nd Level
alter self, blur, darkness, darkvision, enhance ability, enlarge/reduce , flaming sphere, glitterdust, gust of wind, invisibility, levitate, Melf’s acid arrow, magic weapon, mirror image, misty step, pyrotechnics, ray of enfeeblement, scorching ray, see invisibility, shatter, spider climb, web
3rd Level
blink, counterspell, crusader’s mantle, dispel magic, elemental weapon, fireball, fly, gaseous form, haste, lightning bolt, major image, phantom steed, protection from energy, sleet storm, slow, stinking cloud, vampiric touch, water breathing, wind wall.
4th Level
dimension door, Evard’s black tentacles, fire shield, greater invisibility, ice storm, phantasmal killer, polymorph, stoneskin, wall of fire
5th Level
Bigby’s hand, cloudkill, cone of cold, telekinesis, wall of force, wall of stone
| hiiamtom |
I disagree with 1d8 hit die, I think the class it meant to be 5th level casting + 1d10 + martial weapons + extra attack. I don't think using the Pathfinder model of gating proficiency and 1d8 to 3/4 BAB should be applied here.
The real feature of the class is to get the spell combat before an Eldritch Knight gets their War Magic feature. Maybe the thing to do is dunk the Extra Attack into the archetypes like the revised ranger, so a more spell-focused archetype doesn't have to have it.
I also disagree with giving the weapon as a arcane focus for free, they can use a staff or pick up War Caster as is and the "iconic" look is to have a onehanded weapon and a free hand (or a focus in this case).
I'll make some updates based on the feedback here.
| Petty Alchemy RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 16 |
I think you're underestimating Warlock casting/invocations, they get the caster chassis for it, with Hexblades basically identical to Valor Bards.
War Magic is balanced because it comes in after Extra Attack, and it gives you a bonus action melee attack after a cantrip, which means you can't use a spell + Extra Attack. Spell Combat does it in reverse, allowing a spell + Extra Attacks.
There's no reason the class should have 2 full power attacks at all times from early on, 3 full power attacks starting at lvl 6 (per edited version).
Considering the early multi-attack classes:
Frenzy Barbarian: At lvl3, primary feature is being able to get another attack as a bonus action while in rage, has a negative consequence (exhaustion) which limits Frenzy to 1/day unless you want to have an exhaustion debt.
Monk: Martial Arts - A bonus action attack at 1d4 for the first few levels, then far fewer features than this version of the Magus. Less tanky than most other melee oriented classes.
| hiiamtom |
A 3rd level a Magus does what's in line with other damage dealing classes.
Paladin is doing 1d8+2d8+3 (16.5) worst case and chooses when to spend the extra un-blockable damage and still have their bonus action, a twf paladin or ranger is likely doing more. A Fighter is doing 1d8+1d8+3 (12.5) and gives a big boost to the roll, and a twf fighter is doing another 6.5 damage. A monk is doing 5.5 three times, and a barbarian 11.5 and 11.5, and a rogue is doing 14.5.
A magus does 3d6 (10.5) that can be halved and 1d8+3 (7.5) with their bonus action, though booming blade would be 7.5+4.5 and 7.5 which is a lot but without the withdrawing ability using their bonus action is isn't really optimal.
Is the problem the short rest recharge on slots? Because the effect seems comparable to a Battlemaster.
Or is it a matter of spell selection? I can't imagine why a Magus would get eldritch blast for example.
Did you look at the changes I made?
Also, Valor Bards get smite spells which are still pretty brutal on a full caster.
EDIT
I think my math is wrong on the Improved Spell Combat though, I don't think it's comparable to other classes damage because the spell slots are always 5th level meaning that spell is probably as strong or stronger than a smite.
| Petty Alchemy RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 16 |
What's the point of comparison level, prior to Extra Attack or before it?
Paladins can smite, and Battlemasters can use superiority dice, but these are limited resources. The Magus can constantly use Booming/Greenflame Blade.
Then if they want to go up in damage, they can use Warlock-tier spells instead.
So comparing no resources before extra attack (lvl3), giving everyone a +3 to their attack stat:
Martial with Dueling Style - (1d8+2)+stat 9.5
Magus with Dueling Style - (1d8+2+stat)x2 (plus incidental damage not included in this calculation) 19
Martial with TWF: (1d6+stat)x2 13
Monk: 1d8+stat, 1d4+stat 13
With resource expenditure:
Battlemaster adds: +1d8 damage with effect (4/short rest, if not using defensive maneuvers) Dueling Style: 14+save vs. effect
Paladin adds: +2d8 (or 3d8 vs appropriate foes, up to 3/day) Dueling Style: 18.5/23
Monk adds: 1d4+stat (3/short rest) 18.5
Ranger adds: +1d6/hit (Hunter's Mark, 3/day) TWF: 20
Magus substitutes a spell (say Thunderwave): -(1d8+2+stat), +3d8 AOE save half with effect (2/short rest). 23 (Yeah they could save, but you can also hit multiple targets. 23 would be the normal for 1 target that fails a save, or two targets that both make it).
So when using resources, the classes look comparable, but at base level, the Magus definitely has an advantage, even if the 2ndry effect of Booming/Greenflame doesn't trigger.
| hiiamtom |
I'm convinced. I think removing the spell and extra attack is necessary, but moving past 3rd level means putting the key feature of the class after the ASI which doesn't make sense. So, like moon druid, it is a little strong up front especially if you know the system really well.
Looks like it will take a lot of tweaking to get right.