Magus (Sword Saint) build help and AC stacking questions

[Phantom the Kitsune]

I'm thinking about having my character respec to Sword Saint so I can go Legendary and reap the benefits of Aldori Swordlord and Duelist, but I'm not sure if Spell Combat will count as two-weapon fighting for purposes of invalidating certain abilities for those classes. I did a test build and found out that you can't get your INT added to AC twice even if its from different classes and both counted as dodge bonuses. (RAW it would work, I believe, as nothing indicates they wouldn't stack). I'd love to use Archmage Armor to bolster my AC but Magus doesn't get that spell, I'd have to dip into another arcane caster to add it to my list. I don't think using it from a scroll or potion would proc that mythic ability.

In short, I'm trying to figure out if I can make a very tanky, agile, one-handed sword and spell type of character, even with 40 class levels to spend, that can still dish out damage.

[Princess Pilfer]

TL:DR, yes it is. In fact because most of the AC buffs (monk, magus, duelist, instinctual warrior) explicity forbid you from wearing armor or using a shield, that's kinda the only kind of tank anyone who knows much about the mechanics bothers to make. (Kinda frustrating really)

Getting Mage Armor from a potion or scroll, as long as the Magus is the one who used it, does count for archmage armor btw.

The attack spells are going to be basically useless except to proc spellstrikes extra attack, becuase the amount of investment you have to make in overcoming spell resistance to have them be worthwhile will make you're melee really bad and/or cost you a bunch of defensive feats you needed to not die as soon as something looks at you funny.

I can't tell you how to do it specifically I don't know a ton about sword saint other than it's massive damage potential, because I don't like prepared casters. The number to shoot for in terms of AC when you're doing your checking is 85 ish at max level. I do know a common tactic is to pick Dueling Sword as it's weapon and go into 5 levels of Aldori Sword Lord at some point, so maybe look into that?

[Phantom the Kitsune]

Originally posted by Princess Pilfer:

TL:DR, yes it is. In fact because most of the AC buffs (monk, magus, duelist, instinctual warrior) explicity forbid you from wearing armor or using a shield, that's kinda the only kind of tank anyone who knows much about the mechanics bothers to make. (Kinda frustrating really)

Getting Mage Armor from a potion or scroll, as long as the Magus is the one who used it, does count for archmage armor btw.

The attack spells are going to be basically useless except to proc spellstrikes extra attack, becuase the amount of investment you have to make in overcoming spell resistance to have them be worthwhile will make you're melee really bad and/or cost you a bunch of defensive feats you needed to not die as soon as something looks at you funny.

I can't tell you how to do it specifically I don't know a ton about sword saint other than it's massive damage potential, because I don't like prepared casters. The number to shoot for in terms of AC when you're doing your checking is 85 ish at max level. I do know a common tactic is to pick Dueling Sword as it's weapon and go into 5 levels of Aldori Sword Lord at some point, so maybe look into that?

So it's really hard for me to figure out how to make such a huge number when I've never even heard of an AC over around 45 in PnP. Especially when Canny Defense from Duelist and Sword Saint don't stack. Thanks for the info, I'll just have to test it out when I actually get to that level because I can't figure out how to ensure ToyBox gives me all the stuff I'd have at that point.

[Princess Pilfer]

Originally posted by Fluffy Pillow:

Originally posted by Princess Pilfer:

TL:DR, yes it is. In fact because most of the AC buffs (monk, magus, duelist, instinctual warrior) explicity forbid you from wearing armor or using a shield, that's kinda the only kind of tank anyone who knows much about the mechanics bothers to make. (Kinda frustrating really)

Getting Mage Armor from a potion or scroll, as long as the Magus is the one who used it, does count for archmage armor btw.

The attack spells are going to be basically useless except to proc spellstrikes extra attack, becuase the amount of investment you have to make in overcoming spell resistance to have them be worthwhile will make you're melee really bad and/or cost you a bunch of defensive feats you needed to not die as soon as something looks at you funny.

I can't tell you how to do it specifically I don't know a ton about sword saint other than it's massive damage potential, because I don't like prepared casters. The number to shoot for in terms of AC when you're doing your checking is 85 ish at max level. I do know a common tactic is to pick Dueling Sword as it's weapon and go into 5 levels of Aldori Sword Lord at some point, so maybe look into that?

So it's really hard for me to figure out how to make such a huge number when I've never even heard of an AC over around 45 in PnP. Especially when Canny Defense from Duelist and Sword Saint don't stack. Thanks for the info, I'll just have to test it out when I actually get to that level because I can't figure out how to ensure ToyBox gives me all the stuff I'd have at that point.

Just start adding up sources.
Intelligence (with buffs or +6 int gear) will be 7. Dex (with buffs or +6 dex gear) will be 11 or 12. Mage Armor is 14. You have a base of 10. You're already at 42 even before feats.

Shield spell is 2 more. Deflection ring is 6 more. So that's 50. Amulet of Natrual Armor is 6 more. Fighting defensively (if you have at least 3 mobility) is 3. Dodge (the feat) is 1, crane style is 1, crane wing is 4. ect. And we're still single classed, no prestige classes or multi class munchkin shenanagins.

[Phantom the Kitsune]

Originally posted by Princess Pilfer:

Originally posted by Fluffy Pillow:

So it's really hard for me to figure out how to make such a huge number when I've never even heard of an AC over around 45 in PnP. Especially when Canny Defense from Duelist and Sword Saint don't stack. Thanks for the info, I'll just have to test it out when I actually get to that level because I can't figure out how to ensure ToyBox gives me all the stuff I'd have at that point.

Just start adding up sources.
Intelligence (with buffs or +6 int gear) will be 7. Dex (with buffs or +6 dex gear) will be 11 or 12. Mage Armor is 14. You have a base of 10. You're already at 42 even before feats.

Shield spell is 2 more. Deflection ring is 6 more. So that's 50. Amulet of Natrual Armor is 6 more. Fighting defensively (if you have at least 3 mobility) is 3. Dodge (the feat) is 1, crane style is 1, crane wing is 4. ect. And we're still single classed, no prestige classes or multi class munchkin shenanagins.

Shield is actually +4. Thanks for the advice. I'll have a bit more from stats than that too since I'm playing with nonstandard scores. (My DMs have never made us use base point-buy or such, so I changed the stats to be more in line with what I usually roll.)

[jsaving]

Wrath already gives players a massive buff compared to tabletop by letting you use 25-point point-buy rather than the standard 15. Do you mean you gave yourself even higher stats, or that you reduced them to be in line with 3d6 rolling?

[Phantom the Kitsune]

Originally posted by jsaving:

Wrath already gives players a massive buff compared to tabletop by letting you use 25-point point-buy rather than the standard 15. Do you mean you gave yourself even higher stats, or that you reduced them to be in line with 3d6 rolling?

I typically roll arrays between 18-12 and at least 1 18. Most of my GMs have us reroll them until they're about in line with that. My GMs were very nice....until they drop way too many monsters on us to balance that out. 50 points usually nets me results that let me max the important stats without taking negatives anywhere else. For Kingmaker I actually rolled them IRL.