1) At least 4 levels of Drunken Master Monk, and 6 in Magus, and I can get Ki Arcana. Can I, between battles, refill all my spell slots through spell recall, just by chugging booze? Meaning, does the temporary ki points from Drunken Ki count as arcana points, through Ki Arcana?
If this doesn't work, I'll go a fifth level, and instead go Hungry Ghost Monk. It's not infinite, but I'm crit-fishing in this build anyway. I could get a familiar as a Magus, make it a Nycar, and coup de grace it over and over in the downtown (auto-crits) to refill my ki/arcana, and the familiar would stay alive and awake.
2) If my Magus levels were Eldritch Archer, I could hold my bonded ranged weapon in one hand, and a +1 Throwing Waveblade in the other, while I wear a Blinkback belt. I would not be two weapon fighting. The bonded ranged weapon would never attack. I would make all my attacks with the Waveblade, which is a monk weapon. I don't need a free hand to do Spell Combat, so the bonded weapon is just for holding. Can I flurry with the thrown waveblade, while doing Spell Combat? This would give me an extra effective points of base attack bonus, or two, and an extra attack.
3a) Onto the bonded ranged weapon. Could I have it be a Wrist Launcher (heavy or not), and be able to use my hand to hold a flask of endless sake, or write my name in a guest book?
3b) If I can hold a flask (not a shield or a weapon or anything), can I use my hand to drink, while still being counted as "wielded" for the purposes of being a bonded item....and maybe the Training weapon enhancement?
4) If, instead of a wrist launcher, I used a dagger, that would count, I assume. It can be thrown, and thrown weapons are ranged weapons. I'm good so far? If I never attack with this dagger, can I still enchant it with melee only enchantments, like Menacing and Dueling?
.....yall, don't kill me, but I just saw the Transformative weapon ability. That means, my bonded weapon will start a dagger (a ranged weapon), and once I enchant it with Throwing and Transformative, it'll be the only weapon I use. Which makes questions 3 and 4 no longer relevant to my build, but still questions I don't know the answer to.
I've been working on this build for way too long in one sitting. I don't even remember what other rules questions I had about it, but I'll stop here.
I am absolutely not gonna lie. I don't know which question you're trying to answer. Maybe it's me being tired, but I wasn't asking anything about switching different weapons around. Or free actions.
1) At least 4 levels of Drunken Master Monk, and 6 in Magus, and I can get Ki Arcana. Can I, between battles, refill all my spell slots through spell recall, just by chugging booze? Meaning, does the temporary ki points from Drunken Ki count as arcana points, through Ki Arcana?
Ki Arcana states that the magus "may use points from his arcana pool and ki points from a ki pool granted by another class interchangeably," so unless the Drunken Master's drunken ki is distinct from normal ki, you should be able to fuel spell recall by getting drunk.
If this doesn't work, I'll go a fifth level, and instead go Hungry Ghost Monk. It's not infinite, but I'm crit-fishing in this build anyway.
That, too, should work.
I could get a familiar as a Magus, make it a Nycar, and coup de grace it over and over in the downtown (auto-crits) to refill my ki/arcana, and the familiar would stay alive and awake.
That's a RAW-versus-RAI conversation for you to have with your GM.
2) If my Magus levels were Eldritch Archer, I could hold my bonded ranged weapon in one hand, and a +1 Throwing Waveblade in the other, while I wear a Blinkback belt. I would not be two weapon fighting. The bonded ranged weapon would never attack. I would make all my attacks with the Waveblade, which is a monk weapon. I don't need a free hand to do Spell Combat, so the bonded weapon is just for holding.
Spell Combat specifically states the magus must have one hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic components).
Can I flurry with the thrown waveblade, while doing Spell Combat? This would give me an extra effective points of base attack bonus, or two, and an extra attack.
Spell Combat is a full round action that counts as a full attack action (per the FAQ) for the purposes of how things like Haste interact with it. Flurry of Blows is its own full attack action. The two cannot be combined.
3a) Onto the bonded ranged weapon. Could I have it be a Wrist Launcher (heavy or not), and be able to use my hand to hold a flask of endless sake, or write my name in a guest book?
Nothing keeps an Eldritch Archer from using a wrist launcher, but now you're talking about a weapon that launches darts (or crossbow bolts, if heavy) and "must be reloaded and re-cocked with a separate ramrod as a full-round action."
3b) If I can hold a flask (not a shield or a weapon or anything), can I use my hand to drink, while still being counted as "wielded" for the purposes of being a bonded item....and maybe the Training weapon enhancement?
I'm not sure what you're asking here.
4) If, instead of a wrist launcher, I used a dagger, that would count, I assume. It can be thrown, and thrown weapons are ranged weapons. I'm good so far?
Unfortunately not. Pathfinder is very deliberate with its weapon classifications, and a dagger is not a ranged weapon. It is a light weapon that can be thrown and as such can't be used by an Eldritch Archer for spell combat. Of course, you and your GM can decide this rule doesn't work for you. Even then, however, a dagger isn't considered a Monk weapon, so you wouldn't be able to use it with flurry of blows, either.
If I never attack with this dagger, can I still enchant it with melee only enchantments, like Menacing and Dueling?
You absolutely could put these enchantments on a dagger, but as stated above its utility would be minimal for your character.
.....yall, don't kill me, but I just saw the Transformative weapon ability. That means, my bonded weapon will start a dagger (a ranged weapon), and once I...
Just remember that, as a command word item, a transformative weapon would require a standard action to go from one weapon type to another.
Onto the bonded ranged weapon. Could I have it be a Wrist Launcher (heavy or not), and be able to use my hand to hold a flask of endless sake, or write my name in a guest book?
Per the bonded object rules, "weapons must be wielded", and while there is no hard definition on what wielding means, just having it on your body with no intention to use it, nor it occupying a hand, certainly doesn't.
If, instead of a wrist launcher, I used a dagger, that would count, I assume.
Active abilities and stuff that triggers upon using the weapon in combat check for how it is actually used. Physical properties (hardness etc.), permanently chosing a weapon (or weapon type), as well as anything that tries to modify a weapon (including weapon enchantments), goes by what the weapon is listed as in the weapon table (for the size it was crafted for).
So while you could use a dagger for Ranged Spell Combat, you can't select it for Ranged Weapon Bond.
Spell Combat specifically states the magus must have one hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic components).
Eldritch Archer's Ranged Spell Combat explicitly says it doesn't. Note that material and focus components still do need a free hand.
Yeah, I'm realizing I messed up a lot of the rulings. Currently rebuilding now (hungry ghost Monk and master of many styles.... now I don't Flurry).
May have more questions come up at some point.
Spell Combat specifically states the magus must have one hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic components).Eldritch Archer's Ranged Spell Combat explicitly says it doesn't. Note that material and focus components still do need a free hand.
Wow, how did I miss that!
So while you could use a dagger for Ranged Spell Combat, you can't select it for Ranged Weapon Bond.
I’m confused. Both Ranged Weapon Bond and Ranged Spell Combat call out the need for a ranged weapon. Are they not indicating the need for a weapon listed under the ranged weapons section of the weapon table(s)?
I’m confused. Both Ranged Weapon Bond and Ranged Spell Combat call out the need for a ranged weapon. Are they not indicating the need for a weapon listed under the ranged weapons section of the weapon table(s)?
It's complicated, because it's not spelled out properly.
First off, the Bastard Sowrd FAQ clearly establishes the concept of a weapon counting as different things at different times.
Second, for the term "ranged weapon", let's look at the attack roll rules:
"" CRB pg. 179
So clearly, if a weapon is considered a melee weapon at the time of attack, it uses strength. Now let's look at the ability score description:
"" CRB pg. 16, emphasis mine.
What is the throwing axe listed as?
"" CRB pg. 142
The rules are only working if at least some things that say "ranged weapon" check how you actually use them. By the way, many ranged combat feat, including PBS, Rapid Shot, and Precise Shot, use the term "ranged weapon", too, if a thrown melee weapon would count as a melee weapon, they wouldn't work with such a weapon.
Ranged Spell Combat is an unusual case, but the interaction is basically the same as bastard sword and regular Spell Combat - it's checked upon usage.
On the other side, you don't actually yet have the weapon when you select it with Ranged Weapon Bond, you don't wield or use it in any way, and thus the weapon list classification is literally the only thing to go by.
That makes sense—thank you!
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I'm curious what your goal is for this build?
If your aim is to make as many attacks as possible, consider the Stick-Fighting Maneuver line of feats.
If your aim is infinite spells, then Drunken Master works as written; but I would argue that Hungry Ghost doesn't work on grounds of the Bag Of Rats rule (i.e. you don't get the benefit if you're attacking something that's not a threat in the first place). Using it in combat with regular crits will work, but simply taking additional Magus levels plus Extra Arcana feat is likely better.
And I concur with Derklord's post that "ranged weapon" is checked upon usage. But usually, when I play a Magus who finds himself at range, I cast Bladed Dash (or at higher level, Dimdoor).
Finally, note that Master of Many Styles requires a swift action to enter your first style, THEN a swift action to enter your second; and the Magus has plenty of other things he may want to use that swift action on. HTH.
Oooh. Okay. New question then.
My bonded weeapon is ....a Crystal Chakram. It is a ranged weapon, so qualifies.
After putting +1 on it, the very next weapon ability is Sharding.
Restriction This ability can be placed only on melee or thrown weapons.
The wielder of a sharding weapon can make a special ranged attack with the weapon in place of any melee attack. To do this, the wielder goes through the motion of throwing the weapon without releasing it. The weapon splits off a duplicate of itself that flies as if thrown by the wielder at the intended target. The duplicate gains a range increment of 10 feet for this purpose, but uses the same proficiency and otherwise functions the same as the original weapon. The duplicate vanishes after hitting or missing its target."
After that, I just pretend to throw the weapon, and it creates a temporary duplicate to strike the enemy instead.
So, eventually, a +5 Sharding (+2) Keen (+1) Seeking (+1).....and it never breaks.
Is this allowed?
If so, the duplicate weapon only has a range increment 10 ft (compared to 30), but what if the original weapon had the distance ability, and/or I was wearing a belt of mighty hurling?
I'm curious what your goal is for this build?
Actually, the main idea was to get a ranged magus that still had a high crit threat range. 17-20 was okay, but with my new idea (posted above), I can throw spells with a 15-20 crit threat range, effectively. If the spell is battering blast, and I crank my CL (I'm making another build that's just a caster, who does this better, but I can still do it some, here).
If your aim is infinite spells, then Drunken Master works as written...
I realized that I can have, at most, one drunken ki point, at level 4. But I don't know exactly how to work ki arcana best. Do I add both pool totals together, and treat them like the same point? It'd be nice, but it doesn't seem to be the case, by RAW. So I'd need to be level 7 to generate up to 3 drunken ki points, and with Improved Spell Recall, turn that into a recalled level 5 spell. I guess I could be level 5 Drunk, and just have infinite level 1-4 spells. 2 refillable arcana points at a time could go a long way.
But even then, if the pools are kept separate, I'd still need to figure out how to jack up my ki pool total, if I were a hungry ghost. I'd still be limited by the total amount of ki I could have at one time. A level 5 hungry ghost with 10 wisdom (I'm wearing armor and not flurrying) gives me 2 points to use, max. That's kinda worthless.
My Ki Pool would be the only thing that I can replenish with crits. And it has a cap as to how much I can have at any point.
but I would argue that Hungry Ghost doesn't work on grounds of the Bag Of Rats rule (i.e. you don't get the benefit if you're attacking something that's not a threat in the first place).
Unfamiliar with that rule, but not hating on it. It's cheap, and I don't like it. I justified the flavor as being Lawful Evil, and I had a minion I abused heavily. Would have went further to use Friend Rings on it, so that I take half damage from all sources. It's an Augur familiar now (I realized I had to be Lawful, so I had to reorganize), so I could just torture a little demon like they're used to, or I could roleplay some misguided character, who thinks he's good, but "society's definition of good isn't correct, and Detect Evil is a spell created by the man." So, he could even be a demon hunter, but takes great joy in the killing and hurting evil things (something that's actually evil in itself).
But usually, when I play a Magus who finds himself at range, I cast Bladed Dash (or at higher level, Dimdoor).
Ye, but I wanna go with Ranged Spellstrike. I'll Spell Blending Battering Blast into my list. I could also Reach Spellstrike Vampiric Touch or something.
Finally, note that Master of Many Styles requires a swift action to enter your first style, THEN a swift action to enter your second; and the Magus has plenty of other things he may want to use that swift action on. HTH.
Yeah, I haven't yet barely bothered with looking into the style feats, if it's even worth it. But I did notice that at 5th level Monk, I'd qualify for Combat Style Master. Start combat with one style in play, and on my first turn (I assume I have to wait for that), I could free action in my other style.
I just knew that if I had to give up flurrying, I could find other archetype. The default monk bonus abilities helped me none at all, really, and Master of Many Styles stacks with Hungry Ghost. So, I was gonna look later for options that *might* have some use.
The build is obviously a massive work in progress, though.
But quick glancing my notes, at level 15, I'd have +9 BAB. With rapid shot, haste, and the free attack I get from the cast, I can make 5 attacks with this weapon. At level 15, from feats and traits alone, my CL for Battering Blast is 21. There are other minor equipment ways to get that higher, but I could always just UMD Karma Beads. Now with a CL of 25, I get 5 orbs. I cast Maximized Intensified Battering Blast (it will only take up a level 3 spell slot), and send bolts of battering force with each attack, each dealing Maxed 7d6 force damage (so, 35 points of damage). These blasts can crit 1/3 of the time for 70 damage. They also bullrush backwards and knock prone.
Dhampir for +2 STR/INT. Armor and STR to attack/damage with my ranged weapon (from the belt)
9 BAB sounds suck, but I could cast Blade Tutor's Spirit before combat (1 min/level duration), first turn of combat cast Channel Vigor and use a point for Hasted Assault, use my move to get into a good position, maybe. Every turn after that, Spell Combat with Arcane Accuracy. Average AC for a CR 15 enemy is 30. I'd have to roll about a 1 to miss.
Eh, this isn't the forum for described builds, my bad. I'm starting to not even really like it anyway.
I'm currently playing a Gestalt/Ninja/Magus. for Ranged combat I use Shuriken, or simply go with Dimensional Agility (Dimension door) or the previously mentioned Bladed Dash.
I do have the Ki Arcana so I can blend my Ki/arcana pools, but it's almost not worth it, as I seldom spend all of either pool as it is. If I had a way to replenish the pools, like the Drunken Monk, I might fid it to be more useful.
but let me tell ya, SLA Greater Invisibility, Dimension Door, Full attack with sneak attack on round one, then on round two, full attack with Intensified Shocking grasp, plus more sneak attack. using a black blade that you can make whatever you want (usually keen) is pretty dang awesome.
the other night I did over 400 damage in one round.
and A shuriken Flurry with a haste and sneak attack is nothing to sneeze about either.
...
This special ability can be placed only on melee or thrown weapons. . ....
Is this allowed?No.
. . . A crystal chakram is treated as ammunition for the purpose of creating magic weapons.
Ughhhh, looks like you're right. There just really isn't anyway to make this work, is there, heh?
I need a "ranged weapon" as a bonded object,and it has to be wielded (but not necessarily used). I would prefer that it's the weapon I used to attack, but I really want a threat range of 18-20. Maybe back to the idea of holding a hand crossbow or some nonsense that I never intend to use. It might as well be a caster's orb, just so it doesn't mess up my spells. But then I'll just hurl crystal chakrams for the crit range. While I could cast Magic Weapon Greater on 50 of the crystal charkrams, I couldn't use my Arcane pool to further upgrade them, by my reading.
And if I cast Abundant Ammo on a sack of chakrams that already have Greater Magic Weapon cast on them, then those will still run out, unless I cast Magic Weapon again AFTER Abundant Ammo. It's all quite a pain.