Greetings to you all!
As the title suggests, I am trying to create a character based on the concept of a Dhampir who will be using a scythe with Dex to attack and also boast magical powers by temporarily tapping into his undead bloodline (Eldritch Scion Magus).
The general idea is to multiclass with 4 levels in Fighter Weapon Master and grab the Fighter's Finesse advanced weapon training option as a bonus feat (via Advanced Weapon Training feat) at 4th level, but I cannot find a way to use the Scythe as a 1-handed weapon for the purpose of being able to use Spell Combat as well.
I once saw somewhere a way to treat a Scythe as an option to benefit from Quarterstaff Master feat, it had something to do with weapon modifications on the Scythe from Weapon Master's Handbook and a chain of feats that eludes me.
Do you people have any viable way of treating a Scythe as a 1-handed weapon apart from taking 2 levels as a Titan Mauler Barbarian? (It is already too much of a spellcasting sacrifice to lose 4 caster levels by taking levels as a fighter.)
Thank you all in advance!
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There are two ways that I know of next to the Titan Mauler Barbarian, one far easier than the other.
1.) A massive feat chain: Place the Versatile Design modification on the Scythe and make it a Polearm (or Spear), and then take the Weapon Adept feat to counteract the difficulty increase from Martial towards Exotic. From there you take Weapon Focus (Scythe), Two-Weapon Fighting, Spear Dancing Style, and Spear Dancing Spiral so that your new Scythe counts as a Quarterstaff for feats. THEN you also take Weapon Focus (Quarterstaff) and Quarterstaff Master to wield your modified Scythe as a one-handed weapon.
2.) Use a Scythe that is meant for a creature one size smaller than you. Because it is inappropriately sized for you, its handedness is changed from two-handed towards one-handed (with a penalty as described under Inappropriately Sized Weapons).
^------ Mr. Bonkers has your answer. But I'm wondering why you'd go through all this trouble for a 2d4/x4 1-handed weapon? Why not create a finesse-able Custom Weapon, call it a Scythe, and save yourself all those class levels and feats.
^------ Mr. Bonkers has your answer. But I'm wondering why you'd go through all this trouble for a 2d4/x4 1-handed weapon? Why not create a finesse-able Custom Weapon, call it a Scythe, and save yourself all those class levels and feats.Not all GMs allows custom weapons, and the rules for them are weird. You can try making something that fits existing balance but its very questionable.
OP could in theory reflavor a Glaive and use Bladed Brush since a warscythe is generally "glaive-like" (althought some argue Fauchard).
I'm guessing that OP wants the Scythe for x4 crit, which would be pretty nasty with Shocking Grasp x4 as well O.O
I'm guessing that OP wants the Scythe for x4 crit, which would be pretty nasty with Shocking Grasp x4 as well O.O
Spellstrike unfortunately caps the spell crit dmg at just x2, even if you crit with a x4 weapon.
"This attack uses the weapon’s critical range (20, 19–20, or 18–20 and modified by the keen weapon property or similar effects), but the spell effect only deals ×2 damage on a successful critical hit, while the weapon damage uses its own critical modifier."
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I'd go with Spear Dancing Spiral instead of multiclassing if getting dex-to-hit with a scythe is important for you.
Do keep in mind however, that counting the Scythe as one-handed for Spell Combat is not a huge priority for you as you get it (resource-free) first at level 8 and that as a spontaneous caster you can't use metamagics with spell combat.
I get why someone might want this based on aesthetic. It's very anime. But it really doesn't look very optimal. If you want to go with it then fine, but realize that it won't be the strongest option.
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I'm guessing that OP wants the Scythe for x4 crit, which would be pretty nasty with Shocking Grasp x4 as well O.OSpellstrike unfortunately caps the spell crit dmg at just x2, even if you crit with a x4 weapon.
"This attack uses the weapon’s critical range (20, 19–20, or 18–20 and modified by the keen weapon property or similar effects), but the spell effect only deals ×2 damage on a successful critical hit, while the weapon damage uses its own critical modifier."
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I'd go with Spear Dancing Spiral instead of multiclassing if getting dex-to-hit with a scythe is important for you.
Do keep in mind however, that counting the Scythe as one-handed for Spell Combat is not a huge priority for you as you get it (resource-free) first at level 8 and that as a spontaneous caster you can't use metamagics with spell combat.
There is a way to use Spell Combat with a spontaneous Magus, but that too is very feat intensive for reasons other than getting that one-handed Scythe. For every spell you want to use with Metamagic during Spell Combat, you'd have to take the Spontaneous Metafocus feat. Which would result into a lot of extra feats that have to be taken...
Without knowing the exact reason the OP wants to have this specific build, I would recommend to either take the smaller sized Scythe or go with the two levels of Titan Mauler anyway. It just saves so much on your feats and allows you to play the concept a lot faster instead of lvl 10 and beyond (no calculations on level were done, it just eyes as lvl 10 and beyond).
Officially, you can’t use weapon finesse with a small version of a two hander.
Benefit: With a light weapon, rapier, whip, or spiked chain made for a creature of your size category
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Officially, you can’t use weapon finesse with a small version of a two hander.Benefit: With a light weapon, rapier, whip, or spiked chain made for a creature of your size category
Well, that changes things. No using a smaller weapon to circumvent the handedness then. So it is either the massive feat-chain, or the two levels of Titan Mauler.
Thank you everyone for your responses!
I missed the fact that Staff Magus grants Quarterstaff Master for free, and as such this makes things easier.
The primary focus of this build is the flavor of a Dhampir who taps into his vampiric ancestry for power and also who wields a scythe gracefully like a grim reaper.
Since we will be creating characters of 8th level, I will be able to enjoy this character from the beginning.
If I stack Eldritch Scion and Staff Magus, I can create the following build by taking 4 levels in Weapon Master first.
Lvl 1 Weapon Finesse, Two Weapon Fighting
Lvl 2 Weapon Focus (Scythe)
Lvl 3 Weapon Adept
Lvl 4 Advanced Weapon Training (Fighter's Finesse)
Lvl 5 Quarterstaff Master, Spear Dancing Style
Lvl 7 Spear Dancing Spiral
Lvl 9 Arcane Strike, Power Attack
Lvl 11 Riving Strike
Lvl 13 Improved Initiative
Lvl 15 Spell Penetration, Piercing Spell
Lvl 17 Dimensional Agility
Lvl 19 Toughness
Then I will choose spells like Gaseous Form, Overland Flight, Dimension Door, Beast Shape, and Dominate Person to emulate abilities traditionally associated with vampires in movies and folklore and the concept will be complete.
Thank you everyone for your swift and accurate feedback, I really appreciate it!