![]() Using these pieces, I cobbled together the build you see above. In effect, we become a debuffing machine. Using this, we can actually use spell combat, beat up our target to demoralize them, use spell combat to cast hideous laughter on the target as an off-hand spell, and if the target fails, inflict a nasty condition on the target using Trick Spell in addition to the normal effects of hideous laughter. With arcane deed: menacing swordplay, we can demoralize foes as a swift action whenever we want. Finally, since this build is so saving throw heavy, I’m a big fan of demoralize. Since this is still a magus build, Power Attack or Piranha Strike is also going to be a good idea (I’m going Weapon Finesse, personally, to make up for the loss of medium and heavy armor proficiencies at high levels). Additionally, you’re likely going to want Spell Focus (enchantment) and Greater Spell Focus (enchantment). With this in mind, elf, gnome, or kitsune is the way to go with this build-if you use Horror Adventures, all three have access to a racial trait that gives +1 to the save DC of enchantment spells. So if this is going to be my primary trick, I wanted to make sure that it worked somewhat regularly. (Note that only enchantment spells that allow Will saves to negate their effects can be trick spells.) From Dirty Tactics Toolbox, this Callistrian feat allows you to use your caster level and ability score bonus to make a dirty trick against anyone who fails a saving throw against an opponent that fails a Will save against the spell. After scouring for a bit more, I found the perfect feat to use it with-Trick Spell. For wayang spell hunter (which is a region trait), you choose one 3 rd level or lower spell and gain the ability to reduce the metamagic level increase of that spell by 1. Nice! The other one is wayang spell hunter, which is a VERY infamous trait. This trait (from Quests and Companions) allows you to pick one 1 st-level enchantment spell that you are capable of casting and gain a +1 trait bonus to that spell’s DC. First, there’s a trait called domineering. Now expanding this further, I found a delightful combination of abilities that I could take realitively quickly. Yeah, bards have hideous laughter as a 1 st-level spell, so puppetmaster magi do as well. The big spell that I get as a 1 st-level spell that wizards wouldn’t normally have is hideous laughter. The first thing that I noticed is that getting bard spellcasting REALLY expanded my enchantment pool. I really, really liked the look of this base mechanic, so I decided to dig deeper and see what I could come up with. Instead of spellstrike, it gets the ability to “charmstrike,” which allows it to cast a 1 st-level spell as a swift action whenever a foe fails a saving throw that the puppetmaster casts. Among other things, it loses the ability to enhance its weapon, gains bard AND magus spells, and doesn’t have spellstrike. This archetype focuses rather heavily on trading out the high-damage output of the magus for more subtle magics. With this in mind, I found an archetype that REALLY intrigued me-the puppetmaster magus from Pathfinder Player Companion: Arcane Anthology. The first thing that I knew about this build was that I wanted to be a magus, and more specifically, I wanted to be a magus that played drastically differently from the stereotypical “shocking grasp gatling gun” magus that you always see. Magus Arcana: flamboyant arcana (3 rd), arcane deed: menacing swordplay (6 th), hasted assault (9 th), critical strike (12 th).Abilities: arcane pool (3 + Int +2), charmstrike (2 nd level), improved spell recall, knowledge pool, puppet combat, spell recall, the show must go on.Feats: Weapon Finesse (1 st), Trick Spell (3 rd), Piranha Strike (Bonus), Spell Focus: enchantment (5 th), Greater Spell Focus: enchantment (7 th), Conceal Spell (9 th), Weapon Focus: short sword (Bonus), Extra Arcane Pool (11 th).Why not invite it again?Īny information important to understanding the build or its roots goes here. Probably because they know the Internet will tear down their livelihoods. So, why DOESN’T anyone try to build the magi different? Even with archetypes, its one build that basically does the same trick over and over again, despite having a spell list that rivals the wizard’s in utility. However, it really got me thinking about the magus class-you don’t really SEE varied builds with that class. So I was sitting at Redcaps Corner for PFS on Tuesday, and my three-man party consisted of myself (a flying blade / weapon master swashbuckler) and two magi.
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