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I had a lot of fun yesterday testing out a level 3 and then a level 5 magus with some low level spells in an arena type scenario and I found that spells that have cool crit effects, but relatively similar miss and hit effect make for particularly worth while "nova" effects. For example:
Goblin pox was a lot of fun to use as a first level spell because out of 4 times casting it, I got the crit fail result 1 time (which was devastating, sickened 1 and slowed 1), the fail result 1 time and success result 2 times. But success on goblin pox is still sickened 1 that has to be actively removed, so it never felt bad. And I know a lot of folks say save spells are bad for spell striking, but they really are not bad for crit fishing on an attack with a MAP penalty (like when you have to attack again on the second round to make sure it goes off) and that added chance of really sticking it to your enemy is a pretty fun payoff.
Slow was pretty fun too at level 5. I only attacked with it twice but got the critical hit that translated into a crit fail against a wooly Rhino and then one regular hit that the Totenmaske got a successful save against. The crit fail was absolute brutality for the Rhino. It was pretty much lights out for that one rhino as the party kited it until the other rhino was dead (there where 2 in the encounter against a party of 4). Against the Totenmask, I missed on the first weapon attack against it after loading the spell, but got to move away from the creature with liberating step after it hit me with 1 claw, next round I got the hit that discharged the spell for a save, but that prevented it from drinking my flesh the following round and by then we had it pretty well locked down, it was heavily damaged, tripped and grabed by the champion, it died the following round. Landing a failed save with slow wouldn't have really impacted the combat much more than the successful save did.
I think it is good to focus on the types of spells striking spell is especially fun to use with, because this will increase the chances of us getting more of these types of spells when the secrets of magic book drops.
One action cantrips (even non-damaging ones) that can be channeled through the blade are good if anything like sustaining steel is in the final game, spells with fun effects on a critical fail, and a decent effect on a successful save are pretty fun as well.
What spells have you had fun with?
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I had a lot of fun yesterday testing out a level 3 and then a level 5 magus with some low level spells in an arena type scenario and I found that spells that have cool crit effects, but relatively similar miss and hit effect make for particularly worth while "nova" effects. For example:
Goblin pox was a lot of fun to use as a first level spell because out of 4 times casting it, I got the crit fail result 1 time (which was devastating, sickened 1 and slowed 1), the fail result 1 time and success result 2 times. But success on goblin pox is still sickened 1 that has to be actively removed, so it never felt bad. And I know a lot of folks say save spells are bad for spell striking, but they really are not bad for crit fishing on an attack with a MAP penalty (like when you have to attack again on the second round to make sure it goes off) and that added chance of really sticking it to your enemy is a pretty fun payoff.
Slow was pretty fun too at level 5. I only attacked with it twice but got the critical hit that translated into a crit fail against a wooly Rhino and then one regular hit that the Totenmaske got a successful save against. The crit fail was absolute brutality for the Rhino. It was pretty much lights out for that one rhino as the party kited it until the other rhino was dead (there where 2 in the encounter against a party of 4). Against the Totenmask, I missed on the first weapon attack against it after loading the spell, but got to move away from the creature with liberating step after it hit me with 1 claw, next round I got the hit that discharged the spell for a save, but that prevented it from drinking my flesh the following round and by then we had it pretty well locked down, it was heavily damaged, tripped and grabed by the champion, it died the following round. Landing a failed save with slow wouldn't have really impacted the combat much more than the successful save did.
I think it is good to focus on the types of spells striking spell is especially fun to use with, because this will...
Had a lot of fun yesterday when I stabbed an NPC with Phantasmal Killer, rolled minimum damagw on the strike but they got a crit result and just died
This illustrates how striking spell works better with save spells and how a small boost to the accuracy of attack spells could solve most issues people have with the ability
At level 1 I just used magic weapon. All the way to level 5 outside of first rounded of a match.
The few times I didn't I used either electric Arc or chill touch.
By level 5 I get a striking rune and I'd use vampiric touch at least once per combat if I'm being attacked, way better than sustaining steel.