So I'm going to be in my fifth campaign now and want to try to do something a little out of the ordinary:
A kensai magus who wields three swords and can still use spell combat.
What my problem is is that I'm unsure of how to not fall too far behind as we go up in level, as I'll be getting kensai abilities two levels later than usual and the alchemist levels are only to get the bonus arms.
Any insight would be helpful, thanks!
Information that will help:
- 25 point buy, no stat dumping
- Human
- Starting at level three, will be going up to around level 14
- Kensai weapon will be a saw tooth sabre
- Kathasa is not allowed
- Regardless of interpretation of vestigial arm, I've gotten the OK from my DM about it working with multiweapon fighting and spell combat
- Spheres of power are allowed
You are obviously heavily using house rules as well as 3rd party materials (I like SoP but it does change a lot) so advice will be difficult.
My first thought though, is that any GM that will allow vestigial arms for attacks will probably allow the Kasatha race, so just do it that way and skip the whole alchemist thing.
edit: It is also possible, although not guaranteed to be allowed, for Alchemist and Magus casters levels under the SoP system. Depending on how your GM wants that to work it could change a lot.
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That's probably the real reason I hate Kensai Magi. But I do feel like the fact that they can't wear Armor + they have Diminished Spellcasting makes the Archetype not worthwhile.
You make a good point; kensai is way overrated, and at most commonly-played levels diminished spellcasting hurts them badly, and their much-vaunted int-to-AC doesn't measure up to actual armor or for that matter Mirror Image.
That said, for a Magus/Alchemist you probably want the vivisectionist archetype for its melee damage bonus, with either vanilla Magus or Bladebound; OR go for the card caster Magus so you can attach Magus spells to your alchemist bombs (yes, card caster works just fine with thrown weapons that aren't cards). HTH.
My first thought though, is that any GM that will allow vestigial arms for attacks will probably allow the Kasatha race, so just do it that way and skip the whole alchemist thing.
I would've played as a Kathasa if he allowed it, but he's been quite clear about no alien races.
Well, the Kensai decided his armor class was too squishy to do that, so he broke with the plan and just sort of hung out picking his nose. The Wizard cast Charm Person on the leader and then didn't know what to do with a Charmed Goblin, so when it was the rest of the Goblins' turn, my character was the only target for the Alchemist Fire, and they all had the Burn! Burn! Burn! Feat.
What was your AC? As a kensai, it all should even be touch, so if bombs are touch attacks (I really know little about Alchemist, I was only taking it for access to bonus arms) there shouldn't be a problem.
Well, try asking your GM if its going to be possible during the campaign to pay an NPC to cast Polymorph Any Object on you. If he'll allow it ask about becomming a High Girallon permanently. That will give you a mostly humanoid body with 4 arms and the ability to speak. You'll also be large which is generally good for a melee type. If you don't like being a hairy ape get a hat of disguise.
That spell isn't on the permanency list, so chances are low, but that's worth consideration, at least.
Thanks for the feed back, but I like the idea of the unarmored kensai, and you can still enchant your shirt to get an armor bonus (I know he'll allow that, he does it as a PC). What I mainly want to know is if there is any way to achieve the bonus arms without sacrificing magus levels, as I'd also like to have multiple weapons.
You make a good point; kensai is way overrated, and at most commonly-played levels diminished spellcasting hurts them badly, and their much-vaunted int-to-AC doesn't measure up to actual armor or for that matter Mirror Image.
I never felt any issue with diminished spell casting. Pearls of Power are cheap and Magus tend to multiple memorize spells a lot more than other casters so that doesn't even cause them to lose variety.
Not counting mithral and other such stuff light and medium armors pretty much max out at +8 for armor bonus + max dex. Middle game, having INT and DEX total to a +12 isn't hugely unlikely and the Haramaki/Ceremonial Silk option provides a +1 and enhancements. Most Kensai will have a better AC than other Magi by level 8 if not sooner. They do have issues at early levels though, and how much that matters to you is of course a judgement call.
Since neither a Kensai or other Magi get mirror image, I can't see how that is relevant.
I will also note that Spheres of Power changes a lot. Without a specific GM rules, there aren't any inherent limitations on which spheres/talents a Magus can choose, and how a kensai's diminished spell casting would be reflected is questionable as well. SoP spell points are vaguely similar to spell slots, but quite a bit different as well, and there is plenty you can do when you have no spell points at all. A spherecaster without any spell points is a weaker, but still dangerous opponent, a spell caster that has used up all his spell slots is pretty much useless.
I believe with spheres of power the alteration sphere has an additional limbs talent which can give an extra pair of arms (2 talents altogether, the base sphere and extra limbs although there are ways to reduce this) spends a spell point means it lasts 1 minute per caster level.
This might be a better option than a 2 level alchemist dip.
It appears SoP provides the answer you are looking for with the whole 4 arms thing. But if you have to take 2 levels of Alchemist, might as well make it a Gun Chemist and get a free pistol out of the deal. And you can craft ammunition in your downtime to sell/use as currency.
And about increasing Kensai Magus AC:
A level of Monk goes well with the Kensai Magus. INT and WIS to AC helps a lot. Grab Combat Reflexes or Dodge as the bonus feat. Make it Sohei Monk to always be able to act in the surprise round. If you value CHA over WIS, Scaled Fist Monk's AC bonus keys off CHA. Either way, one level of Monk gets you a second ability score contributing to your AC.
Since neither a Kensai or other Magi get mirror image, I can't see how that is relevant.
wut
I have always hated Rogues because of a character in the party played like a selfish jerk, and happened to be a Rogue. Before the game ended, my big dumb Fighter was picking up the Rogue and literally throwing him at traps the Rogue was refusing to disable.
Long story short, it's not the class of the character that matters, it's how much class the player has.
It's not the fault of the Kensai archetype, or the Magus class, it's the clown that was playing that character is who let poor Olga get bombed by goblins.
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I would've played as a Kathasa if he allowed it, but he's been quite clear about no alien races.My first thought though, is that any GM that will allow vestigial arms for attacks will probably allow the Kasatha race, so just do it that way and skip the whole alchemist thing.
So he's not allowing elves then? ;)