Deft strike and spell combat


Rules Questions


The aldori swordlord's deft strike ability states that it does not work if he is wielding a shield or an off-hand weapon, including armor spikes, unarmed strikes, or natural weapons.

How oes that interact with the magus' spell combat and spellstrike?
Fluff wise spell combat is described as being similar to TWF with the spell being cast as the offhand attack. But spells are not really wielded (there are exceptions but in general).

deft strike:
A swordlord can add his Dexterity bonus (if any) on damage rolls made with an dueling sword instead of his Strength bonus. This bonus on damage rolls applies whether the swordlord is wielding an dueling sword one-handed or two-handed, though the swordlord does not apply 1-1/2 times his Dexterity bonus on damage rolls while fighting two-handed. A swordlord cannot use this ability if he is wielding a shield or an off-hand weapon, including armor spikes, unarmed strikes, or natural weapons.

spell combat:
At 1st level, a magus learns to cast spells and wield his weapons at the same time. This functions much like two-weapon fighting, but the off-hand weapon is a spell that is being cast. To use this ability, the magus must have one hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic components), while wielding a light or one-handed melee weapon in the other hand. As a full-round action, he can make all of his attacks with his melee weapon at a –2 penalty and can also cast any spell from the magus spell list with a casting time of 1 standard action (any attack roll made as part of this spell also takes this penalty). If he casts this spell defensively, he can decide to take an additional penalty on his attack rolls, up to his Intelligence bonus, and add the same amount as a circumstance bonus on his concentration check. If the check fails, the spell is wasted, but the attacks still take the penalty. A magus can choose to cast the spell first or make the weapon attacks first, but if he has more than one attack, he cannot cast the spell between weapon attacks.


They work together just fine. The fluff of it working like TWF with a spell does not change that a spell is not a weapon. (well unless we are talking weapon like spells but that does not apply here.)

Honestly they need to stop using lazy writing like "functions like X" because it brings forth really stupid problems like the flurry of blows mess.


Umbranus wrote:
The aldori swordlord's deft strike ability states that it does not work if he is wielding a shield or an off-hand weapon, including armor spikes, unarmed strikes, or natural weapons.

That's poor wording, since off-hand only exists when two-weapon fighting. Anyway, even though Spell Combat functions much like two-weapon fighting, it's not two-weapon fighting, so you should be good.

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