Alternatives to Striking Spell


Magus Class


So here is my alternative to striking.

Spell Combat
Action (1-3) Flourish
You cast a spell using (1 -3) actions and also make a single strike

The idea is that it gives the action economy to both attack and cast a spell on the same turn and its simple it doesn't have any negative opportunity costs etc and its pretty similar to flurry of bows (do another attack as part of action) so balance-wise it should be fine.

So what do you think and do you have your own variant to striking spell you would like to share ?


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Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

Nice one! Although I would add a later feat for Magus to get a spellstrike.

I favor one of these two alternatives:

(A) keep Striking Spell as is but have the spell attack roll be made with the same proficiency bonus you use for your weapon . This would mean it would scale on par with your weapon proficiency and runes. You could keep it Int based. This rule would only apply for attacks made through a weapon

(B) the more drastic one: keep the action economy and crit rider of striking spell but fold the two rolls into a single one (the Martial attack’s). If your attack hits, the spell hits. Save spells remain needing their save, but they already have some effects on a successful save.

Int is still relevant for save dcs and spell attacks made in the caster way.


Just a quick and dirty version I've finalized in my mind of what I'd make it.

[ ◇◇ Spell Strike ]
[ Magus ][ Flourish ][ Concentrate ]
Choose a Spell that takes 1 or 2 actions to cast and can target at least 1 creature. You cast the spell and make a weapon or unarmed Strike instead of any spell attack rolls the spell requires(if any). Only the target of the Strike is affected by the Spell, whether or not the Spell can normally target multiple creatures.

Critical Success You deal damage normally for a critical success with a Strike. If it has one, use the critical success entry from the chosen Spell's description. Otherwise the Spell deals its normal damage(if any). If the Spell requires an initial saving throw, the target takes a -2 penalty to that save.
Success You deal damage normally for a success with a Strike. The Spell deals it's normal damage(if any) for a success. If the Spell requires an initial saving throw, the target takes a -1 penalty to that save.
Failure You deal no damage with the Strike and the target is not affected by the Spell, even if the chosen Spell does not require an attack roll.

One attack roll. An all-or-nothing maneuver. The penalties to saves help make up for the lower Intelligence score.

Spoiler:
...and to push the Magus in the direction of the one from AoA.

I'd also add a Magus class feature...

[ Combat Casting ]
[ Magus ]
You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to your AC against physical attacks from reactions provoked by you casting a Spell.

This helps the Magus while he's casting in the fray.


I spitballed an idea of making Striking Spell a unique cantrip that uses your weapon's damage, and can be interacted with as both a Strike and a Spell for the purposes of feats and abilities (eg. Metamagic and combat feats)

You can then get unique heighten and rider effects based off of your magus synthesis or feats.

I really don't like that the only role of Striking spell is to combine a spell and strike damage for the purposes of action economy/crits. That feels boring to me. I want it to be a magical strike that feels unique and can be interacted with meaningfully.


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Got another feature for ya...

[ ◇◇ Spell Recall ]
[ Magus ][ Flourish ]
Requirements You used the Spell Strike action with a non-cantrip Spell and missed the initial attack roll for the Strike during your last turn.
Either perform another Spell Strike action or cast the Spell normally. Use the Spell that you used for the first Spell Strike action, but without spending or requiring an appropriate spell slot for it. You can not gain the benefits of the Bespell Weapon feat on the same round that you use Spell Recall.

I've seen a lot of people mention the "holding the charge" function of the current Striking Spell. Situations where you miss on the first turn, but then spend all 3 actions next turn Striking to hit with that Spell. So this keeps it from being just full spell flailing on a single round. You can choose to use this or Bespell Weapon after you miss.


Only issue is this would cause it to no longer work with different strike actions you can get.

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