The goal I'm looking for is wielding 1-3 Light Hammers which will explode on impact and then return to me (Sunbreaker Titan for any Destiny players out there).
I see two options:
1. Card Caster, which gives Harrowed Spellstrike. This specifically states "Beginning at 2nd level, a card caster can invest a single thrown weapon with a single touch or ranged spell as part of the spell’s normal casting time. The spell must target a single creature, and the spell’s range changes to match the thrown weapon’s range increment. This ability otherwise functions identically to spellstrike, except it can only be applied to thrown ranged weapons instead of melee attacks.
The problem is that even the Arcana Pool "can be used to augment only ranged weapons" which doesn't really do me any good, and neither Deadly Dealer or Role Dealer read as applying to anything other than the Harrow Deck to begin with, so no help there, either.
2. Eldritch Archer's Ranged Spell Combat states "Instead of a light or one-handed melee weapon, an eldritch archer must use a ranged weapon for spell combat." Ranged Weapon Bond and Ranged Spellstrike also specifically state ranged weapons. So it seems like there's no help there.
My question is this: Is there a method to make this character work that I am overlooking? (I will also accept non-Magus builds, this is just the class that I am most interested in.)
You can use your Arcane Pool on ranged weapons (really should say thrown weapons like Harrowed Spellstrike does) other than your Harrow Deck -- it is just a lot less efficient, since it only applies to 1 per expenditure instead of the whole Harrow Deck, and you also don't get the use of Role Dealer with other thrown weapons (and since this replaces your 3rd level Magus Arcana, this is a moderately big deal).
Spell Hurling weapons will work but will be very inefficient, since each one eats all touch attacks from 1 spell but only applies 1 on a successful hit, so you will be shooting yourself in the foot if you use spells such as Chill Touch or Frostbite that produce multiple charges per casting.
Aha, I think I found what you're looking for:
Price +1 bonus; Aura moderate evocation; CL 8th
DESCRIPTION
This special ability can be placed only on melee weapons that are designed to be thrown. If the wielder has the spellstrike class feature (such as from levels in the magus class), he can throw a spell hurling weapon to deliver a touch spell. If the spell hurling weapon hits, the touch spell targets the creature or object struck (if possible). Regardless of whether the weapon hits, any remaining touches with that spell are harmlessly discharged.
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
Cost +1 bonus; Feats Craft Magic Arms and Armor; Spells spectral hand; Special creator must have the spellstrike class feature
"THIS IS AMAZING!"
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
It's much easier than that.
Check the section on weapons. It explicitly states that "Ranged weapons are thrown weapons or projectile weapons that are not effective in melee."
So a throwing hammer is a ranged weapon. Problem solved.
It's much easier than that.
Check the section on weapons. It explicitly states that "Ranged weapons are thrown weapons or projectile weapons that are not effective in melee."
So a throwing hammer is a ranged weapon. Problem solved.
Unfortunately, only two hammers have any type of range increment: the Light Hammer, which falls under Martial Light Weapons, and the Dwarven Maulaxe which is an exotic light weapon and would eat a feat to use. Or does it mean "thrown weapons" or "projectile weapons that are not effective in melee" - compared to "thrown weapons or projectile weapons" that are not effective in melee?
Because if "thrown weapons" is its own category under ranged weapons, then this basically answers the question and I could use light hammers under Eldritch Archer and Card Caster.
Spell Hurling weapons will work but will be very inefficient, since each one eats all touch attacks from 1 spell but only applies 1 on a successful hit, so you will be shooting yourself in the foot if you use spells such as Chill Touch or Frostbite that produce multiple charges per casting.
And costs 8000gp per weapon. Not bad in the very long run, but bad for low levels. (Or 1100 to be crafted but then requires CL8)
You can use your Arcane Pool on ranged weapons (really should say thrown weapons like Harrowed Spellstrike does) other than your Harrow Deck -- it is just a lot less efficient, since it only applies to 1 per expenditure instead of the whole Harrow Deck, and you also don't get the use of Role Dealer with other thrown weapons (and since this replaces your 3rd level Magus Arcana, this is a moderately big deal).
Yeah, at least with the Archer you could use the Arcana to give the weapon Returning.
Here's another question though: Can you ONLY apply melee/ranged touch spells for spellstrike? No lines, bursts, or cones? I know they have stated rules for rays when use in conjunction with iterative attacks.
|
Here's another question though: Can you ONLY apply melee/ranged touch spells for spellstrike? No lines, bursts, or cones? I know they have stated rules for rays when use in conjunction with iterative attacks.
Yes, as per the ability
Spellstrike (Su): At 2nd level, [u]whenever a magus casts a spell with a range of “touch” from the magus spell list[/u], he can deliver the spell through any weapon he is wielding as part of a melee attack. Instead of the free melee touch attack normally allowed to deliver the spell, a magus can make one free melee attack with his weapon (at his highest base attack bonus) as part of casting this spell.
You can cast any spell you wish during Spell Combat, but with Spellstrike it has to be a "Touch" spell.
Oh dang, in trying to figure out whether thrown weapons work, I completely forgot about that part. Thanks.
Seems like a Thor style build lol.
Throwing hammer with a shocking grasp, access to lightning bolt spell, flight.
Very Thor Like indeed.
I am going to keep watching this thread. Consider this a DOT.
Myrmidarch Magus can do this with Ranged Spellstrike.No, it cannot put "lines, bursts, or cones" on the hammer, which is what the OP was looking for. It can, however, downgrade a ranged touch spell to a ranged non-touch spell.
. . . Unless you use an enchanted firearm, in which case it can change a Ranged Touch spell with no attack bonuses into a Ranged Touch spell with attach bonuses. Normally works only within the first range increment, but if you dipped 1 level of Gunslinger, you can use the Deadeye Deed to make this work at longer ranges. Unfortunately, this requires investing in some Wisdom to make it usable more than once per day (all current Gunslinger archetypes that make Grit depend on Intelligence trade out this Deed). If you don't want to use firearms, a few archetypes of various classes let you use a Deed to get Ranged Touch in the first range increment of some weapon other than a firearm -- pick one that has a decently long range increment. Only ones I know of offhand: Bolt Ace Gunslinger (for crossbows -- reasonably likely to be allowed even when Gunslinger is otherwise banned), or Hooded Champion Ranger (for bows). Unfortunately, still no Intelligence to Grit/Panache with either of these. Unfortunately, I know of nothing like these that work with thrown weapons, but it's something to keep an eye out for, for instance of an Iblydos book comes out.
. . . Unless you use an enchanted firearm, in which case it can change a Ranged Touch spell with no attack bonuses into a Ranged Touch spell with attach bonuses. Normally works only within the first range increment, but if you dipped 1 level of Gunslinger, you can use the Deadeye Deed to make this work at longer ranges. Unfortunately, this requires investing in some Wisdom to make it usable more than once per day (all current Gunslinger archetypes that make Grit depend on Intelligence trade out this Deed). If you don't want to use firearms, a few archetypes of various classes let you use a Deed to get Ranged Touch in the first range increment of some weapon other than a firearm -- pick one that has a decently long range increment. Only ones I know of offhand: Bolt Ace Gunslinger (for crossbows -- reasonably likely to be allowed even when Gunslinger is otherwise banned), or Hooded Champion Ranger (for bows). Unfortunately, still no Intelligence to Grit/Panache with either of these. Unfortunately, I know of nothing like these that work with thrown weapons, but it's something to keep an eye out for, for instance of an Iblydos book comes out.
Dye arrows with a bow/crossbow work too; you don't get to add weapon damage but any enchantments on the bow do function. No thrown equivalent that I can think of sadly.
^Would dye arrows/bolts let you get a Spellstrike off through them if you didn't do any damage?
^Would dye arrows/bolts let you get a Spellstrike off through them if you didn't do any damage?
The wording of spellstrike looks fine to me. It lets you do weapon damage and the spell on a hit. What are you seeing that suggests otherwise?
^What I meant is: Doesn't the attack itself have to do damage to count as a real attack that Spellstrike can ride on? Otherwise, if you were a Card Caster Magus, you could Spellstrike by just throwing water balloons or spitballs . . . .
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 the free melee touch attack normally allowed to deliver the spell, a magus can make one free melee attack with his weapon (at his highest base attack bonus) as part of casting this spell. If successful, this melee attack deals its normal damage as well as the effects of the spell.
At 2nd level, whenever an eldritch archer casts a spell that calls for a ranged attack, she can deliver the spell through a ranged weapon she wields as part of a ranged attack. Instead of the free ranged attack normally allowed to deliver the spell, an eldritch archer can make one free ranged attack with a ranged weapon (at her highest base attack bonus) as part of casting this spell. The attack does not increase the spell’s range.
I'm just not seeing anything suggesting what you're saying in the text. As a card caster maybe you can throw a mundane snowball and add a snowball spell rider if you really want.
Could one use Startoss Style with Eldritch Archer? I don't have books in front of me and I know it's a lot of feats but it seems legit
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 the free melee touch attack normally allowed to deliver the spell, a magus can make one free melee attack with his weapon (at his highest base attack bonus) as part of casting this spell. If successful, this melee attack deals its normal damage as well as the effects of the spell.At 2nd level, whenever an eldritch archer casts a spell that calls for a ranged attack, she can deliver the spell through a ranged weapon she wields as part of a ranged attack. Instead of the free ranged attack normally allowed to deliver the spell, an eldritch archer can make one free ranged attack with a ranged weapon (at her highest base attack bonus) as part of casting this spell. The attack does not increase the spell’s range.I'm just not seeing anything suggesting what you're saying in the text. As a card caster maybe you can throw a mundane snowball and add a snowball spell rider if you really want.
But . . . if it CAN'T do any damage, does it count as a weapon attack?
On the other hand, it should work for sure to put a Spellstrike on a hurled flask of Alchemist's Fire, Acid, Alkali, Liquid Ice, or activated Elemental Flux.
At some point, somebody ought to invent Dye Arrows that have had their payload replaced by the contents of one of the above flasks.
|
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32
|
^What I meant is: Doesn't the attack itself have to do damage to count as a real attack that Spellstrike can ride on? Otherwise, if you were a Card Caster Magus, you could Spellstrike by just throwing water balloons or spitballs . . . .
Well, a Card Caster could make all his attacks as touch by e.g. using a net. That's a weapon that deals zero damage, and the same should apply to certain special arrows or bolts. I mean, the archetype is based on someone who throws playing cards, that's as undamaging as you're going to get.
Now this may sound like the kind of cheesy loophole that many GMs would ban; but the only thing you're actually doing is duplicating the Reach Spell feat. The spell was a touch attack, you're using it as a touch attack; that's useful but not that big a deal.
^Card Caster gets Deadly Dealer and therefore can do damage with cards, but if it also works on nets, point taken.