Armored magus: how to do it?

[EvilDonut]

I was planning to make a magus/fighter/eldritch knight build....would it work?

And also: is arcane pool stacking with arcane strike?

[EvilDonut]

seriously...i cannot even get a reply before my threads get flooded to the bottom -,-


BUMP

[Baron Bob Blitzkrieg]

Don't multiclass a Magus. At least, not into Eldritch Knight, it doesn't work well. If you want to play a magic swordsman, either play pure Magus or go with a Fighter/Wizard/Eldritch Knight build.

[EvilDonut]

But basically, then, some fighter levels are required for it to be functional, right? Like, 4-6 levels just for the AB, proficiencies, hps and extra feats?

[EvilDonut]

I am planning to go sword saint, just so you know....i am familiar with dnd, but not with pathfinder

[corisai]

Originally posted by w0lv3n:

But basically, then, some fighter levels are required for it to be functional, right? Like, 4-6 levels just for the AB, proficiencies, hps and extra feats?

Magus is hybrid class (like Bard in classic D&D 3.5). It's unwise to multiclass it in 99% of cases (except prestiges that specially made for it).

P.S. This is table-top experience, not ingame one :P

[nirth]

Originally posted by w0lv3n:

I am planning to go sword saint, just so you know....i am familiar with dnd, but not with pathfinder

If you go sword saint then you won't be able to wear any armour - not even light armour.

You will get to use your intelligence modifier as an AC bonus with some restriction based on your level.

As such, I don't think that's what you're aiming for.

[EvilDonut]

Umh, so you're suggesting i'd rather go warrior/wizard until i get the requirements, and then all the way with eldritch knight?

[EvilDonut]

Originally posted by nirth:

Originally posted by w0lv3n:

I am planning to go sword saint, just so you know....i am familiar with dnd, but not with pathfinder

If you go sword saint then you won't be able to wear any armour - not even light armour.

You will get to use your intelligence modifier as an AC bonus with some restriction based on your level.

As such, I don't think that's what you're aiming for.

Yep, will definitely remaain in my comfort zone and go warrior/wizard then.....need to study a bit before going magus it seems :P

[corisai]

Yes, if you're away from PF & D&D better to stick with eldrich knight, because magus require understanding of game mechanic (how abuse his spellblade and so on).

[EvilDonut]

Mmmh, could paladin/sorcerer/eldritch knight work too? Just to make something different

[Phen]

Magus has access to Magic Armor (both Medium and Heavy). So you just cast it on yourself and live a happy life.

[Rahveel]

@w0lv3n It could work, and PLD isnt a bad choice to dip into for 2 levels when you have a high CHA in the P&P. Just looking at 3 lost caster levels vrs 2, and a fair bit later entry into the PRC.

Still, not a bad option if you want self buffs over spells that give saves anyway.

[cawrichards]

Dude, magus gets light armor proficiency and can cast spells with no penalty in it. Later gets the same for medium and heavy. Proficiency in all martial weapons. Can cast spells and attack -in-the-same-round- and can attack with a spell through his weapon. Also bonus feats. The only thing eldrich knight gets is more hitpoints. Go magus. Complicated to play though. Considered one of the most damaging classes, and the most versitile.

[whitegoat]

A few years late to the topic, but I will write for possible newer players that stumble here.

About Armor:

Magus and Eldritch Scion have in theory the ability to wear up to heavy armor, but in practice they don't. Why? Because of Stat allocation. Magus/scion begins with light armor and then medium armor at 7th and heavy at 13. This is a mess. If you raise high Dex, then the heavier armors become obsolete, if you do not raise Dex in order to use heavy later you have to suffer for more than half of the game with horrible AC.
So in practice the Magus only has Light armor.
Following that, the best template as far as defence goes is the Sword Saint, that can buy Light Armor proficiency and still get the Int to AC bonus from the class, but he has to sacrifice feats for it.

About Eldritch Knight:
EK is not a very good option due to the way the capstone ability "spell critical" works. EK can cast a spell as a swift action every time he confirms a critical. But Magus arcanas that need activation do so by using a swift action also and you can have only one swift action per turn. AKA you cannot get the ghost touch or to-hit bonus and use the free spell from the EK critical on the same turn.

On the other hand, a magus/EK that does not activate arcanas can cast 2 spells per round plus all his attacks, so EK offers FAR more than "more hitpoints"...

[InEffect]

Yeah EK is so bad that it's one of the best melee buids in the game. Learn the game a bit or something before decieving new players.