So I was recently playing a magus in a friends game and I went to make a full attack with spell combat using spellstrike for my shocking grasp. the way I had learned it works is that you get a free melee attack to channel the touch spell through at the cost of the touch attack being made against normal AC. But the DM said that the spell can only be channeled through an attack that I already have.
I supported my claim by pointing out in the SRD and in my Ultimate magic it states " a magus can make one free melee attack with his weapon (at his highest base attack bonus) as part of casting this spell."
His claim was that doing it that way was completely unfair and overpowered. but I disagree.
for example a rogue with +1 str mod using 2 weapon fighting with flanking at level 3 will deal 2d6 + 4d6 + 1 average about 19 damage
a magus with +1 strength using the same weapon at the same level using spellstrike will do 2d6 + 3d6 + 2 average 17
mind you the rogue needs flanking but the magus needs to get the spell off. theyre both getting about the same amount of damage except the rogues will continue to grow as he levels and the maguses will cap at 5 (10 with the right metamagic feat) so i dont see how its overpowered. perhaps im missing somthing. can someone please clarify weather im right or if theres somthing that ive missed.
Spellstrike (Su): 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. If the magus makes this attack in concert with spell combat, this melee attack takes all the penalties accrued by spell combat melee attacks. This attack uses the weapon's critical range (20, 19–20, or 18–20 and modified by the keen weapon property or similar effects), but the spell effect only deals ×2 damage on a successful critical hit, while the weapon damage uses its own critical modifier.
I bolded the portion that is pertinent to your question. For example, a wizard casts vampiric touch as a standard action, then gets a free melee touch attack to deliver the spell. The magus does the same thing, only instead of the touch attack, he gets to swing his weapon at the opponent. If he hits, he deals weapon damage and the effects of the spell simultaneously.
So you're correct in your interpretation.
But the DM said that the spell can only be channeled through an attack that I already have.
This is true, despite the odd wording.
Any time you could deliver a touch spell, you have the option of using Spellstrike to deliver that touch spell with a melee weapon attack. That's what Spellstrike does.
So when you cast a touch spell, you get to make a touch attack as a free action any time until the end of your turn.
Since you have the option there to deliver a touch spell, you have the option of using Spellstrike to do so through your weapon.
Lets say you miss. You hold the charge of your touch spell. Next turn, you full-attack with your weapon, on any of those attacks you make that hit, you have the option of delivering the touch spell as well.
You (or your GM) may find this useful: A Guide to Touch Spells, Spellstrike, and Spell Combat. It covers how normal touch spells work, which is essential to understanding how Spellstrike works. (And it explains Spell Combat just in case)
But the DM said that the spell can only be channeled through an attack that I already have.This is true, despite the odd wording.
Any time you could deliver a touch spell, you have the option of using Spellstrike to deliver that touch spell with a melee weapon attack. That's what Spellstrike does.
So when you cast a touch spell, you get to make a touch attack as a free action any time until the end of your turn.
Since you have the option there to deliver a touch spell, you have the option of using Spellstrike to do so through your weapon.
Lets say you miss. You hold the charge of your touch spell. Next turn, you full-attack with your weapon, on any of those attacks you make that hit, you have the option of delivering the touch spell as well.
You (or your GM) may find this useful: A Guide to Touch Spells, Spellstrike, and Spell Combat. It covers how normal touch spells work, which is essential to understanding how Spellstrike works. (And it explains Spell Combat just in case)
Sweet thanks ill show it too him