Option 2. Or you can not use ranged spellstrike and get both scorching rays at +6 BAB touch, then your full attack at +6/+1 BAB with a -2 with the bow.
Option 2. Or you can not use ranged spellstrike and get both scorching rays at +6 BAB touch, then your full attack at +6/+1 BAB with a -2 with the bow.
You also take the attack penalty with the spell, but yes this could be a better use of your abilities at this level.
Option 2. Or you can not use ranged spellstrike and get both scorching rays at +6 BAB touch, then your full attack at +6/+1 BAB with a -2 with the bow.Yes, that.
Arguably, this is why the EA should avoid using ranged
spell combatSpellstrike (?)
I feel like Spell Combat/Spellstrike is usually going to be your best bet, but if you have a particular spell you need to land then you might forgo the Spestrike option to target Touch AC. I don't know why you'd ever forgo Spell Combat.
When deciding between using Spell Combat or Spellstrike or Both it looks like this.
Spell Combat:
Rays: +4/+4
Arrows: +4/-1
Spellstrike:
Arrow: +6
Spell Combat plus Spellstrike:
Arrows: +4/+4/-1
bold = arrow charged with a spell that will deal both arrow damage and spell damage on a hit.
Numbers are BAB modified by Spell Combat and nothing else (no DEX/enhancement/etc)
Spellstrike is for one good arrow that it very likely to hit. May be more useful on those hard to hit enemies.
Spell Combat is for lots of arrows, but they all suffer an attack penalty... great for cleaning up minions or putting down enemies you have no trouble hitting.
Option 2. Or you can not use ranged spellstrike and get both scorching rays at +6 BAB touch, then your full attack at +6/+1 BAB with a -2 with the bow.You also take the attack penalty with the spell, but yes this could be a better use of your abilities at this level.
Spell combat makes it clear the -2 applies to attacks using your weapon. While you can use your weapon with spellstrike, if you're not then it doesn't obviously apply.
Spell combat makes it clear the -2 applies to attacks using your weapon. While you can use your weapon with spellstrike, if you're not then it doesn't obviously apply.
You're referring to this:
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 ...
But if you keep reading ...
... 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.
(And Ranged Spell Combat doesn't change this.)
It could probably be worded little better, but since this is one of the most complex set of rules-interactions in the game I think they did a pretty good job, even if it is still tough to get through.
Spellstrike is for one good arrow that it very likely to hit. May be more useful on those hard to hit enemies.
Spell Combat is for lots of arrows, but they all suffer an attack penalty... great for cleaning up minions or putting down enemies you have no trouble hitting.
You can use them together, and since Range Spellstrike lets you attach multiple rays if you have multiple attacks (one ray per attack) it's basically giving your first few arrows extra oomph (and giving you an extra attack) if used with Ranged Spell Combat.
Again, if you think you'll have trouble hitting the target then ignoring Ranged Spellstrike for a round might let you land that debuff more easily, but if everything hits you're going to deal more damage by using Ranged Spell Combat and Ranged Spellstrike.
(Obviously if you cast a buffing spell you probably wouldn't want to Spellstrike your ally.)
Got it, right.
Got it, right.
It's all good I had to look it all up again just for this thread =P
Actually, I've never actually taken the Natural Spell Combat arcana, but technically it looks like that attack wouldn't take the penalty. Does that scan for everyone else?
Natural Spell Combat (Ex) : The magus can use his spell combat class feature with a natural attack of his choice. If he does, he gains a +2 bonus on concentration checks. If the natural attack is made with an appendage that would normally hold a weapon (such as a claw attack), the magus cannot wield a weapon in that appendage while making natural attacks with it. If the natural attack is a bite or other attack that does not require a free appendage to make, the magus can use the natural attack in addition to all of the attacks he could make with his melee weapon, if he has one. A magus can select this arcana more than once. The bonus on concentration checks does not stack. Each time he selects this arcana, he selects another natural weapon. For example, a magus could select this arcana twice, choosing claw attacks and bite attacks. This would allow him to use a full-round action to make all of his claw attacks with his free hand and all of his bite attacks in addition to casting a spell. This arcana otherwise functions exactly like the spell combat class feature.