Serafina
2016-02-11, 03:42 PM
Staff and Gun - the Eldritch Gunslinger
Or: How to be Harry Dresden. (http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11120/111200753/4790159-9851108673-harry.jpg)
The Spellslinger Wizard Archetype is cool, but sadly cripples the Wizard entirely too much with four opposition schools and no cantrips. However, it's defining feature - Arcane Gun - can be used with spells from any source, not just Wizard-spells. Thus, the most common recommendation is simply a 1-level dip for the archetype and then going into any other class.
Of all the spellcasting classes, the Eldritch Archer (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/magus/archetypes/paizo---magus-archetypes/eldritch-archer-magus-archetype) Magus is the one best-suited for ranged weapons. With this archetype, you can cast spells and attack with a ranged weapon during the same full-round action.
This short guide explores the options for combining the two. Most of this can be just be put together by reading a good Magus or Gunslinger guide, but why not have it all in one place? For further options for the Magus see this guide (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?423754-Myrrh-Frankincense-and-Steel-Kurald-Galain-s-Guide-to-the-Magus), if you are interested in Gunslingers (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1En2ECuP1v63kTqGIUx5dpuhZQuoXl9Tc0UEj3P_xYN0/edit#) take a look at this one, and there is a guide to the Spellslinger Archetype here (https://docs.google.com/document/d/14PmQbDM8W-dbUMY4TrQv64I7Mn7lB58PiLv7hatGrAg/edit).
The foundation: Class Features and Archetypes:
The Spellslinger has two important class features. You only want a 1-level dip here, so other than this you just get a small amount of first-level spells that you can't cast properly in armor.
Arcane Gun: The Spellslinger isn't maligned because this is a bad feature, but because of what they have to trade away for it. This does three things: It grants you Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Firearms), it allows you to add your firearms enhancement bonus to your cone, line and ray spells, and if you let your gun explode it makes the explosion worse. Do note that the only reason to have two arcane guns is if you have a backup weapon - wielding two at the same time provides no bonus at all.
Gunsmith: This lets you build and maintain your own gun, but more importantly you can craft yourself Alchemical Cartridges for only 10% of their price.
The Eldritch Archer is the other main part of this build. It changes some options from your arcane pool, and makes spell combat and spell strike usable with ranged weapons.
Ranged Weapon Bond: You can cast spells with the same hand that holds your bonded weapon. Wielding two weapons or a two-handed one is no longer a problem with this. You can craft your own magic ranged weapon - this will be especially important if magic firearms are rare in your campaign. As a drawback, you must make a very hard concentration check if you lose your bonded weapon, and weapons are more likely to be confiscated than a small ring.
Ranged Spell Combat: This is the class feature that allows you to cast spells and attack with a ranged weapon on the same turn. Together with Ranged Spell Strike, this even amounts to an extra attack with your gun. Since you attack touch-AC, the small to-hit penalty will soon not affect you anymore, though you can't take a penalty to attack to improve your concentration-checks with this class feature.
Ranged Spell Strike: You can deliver any spell that calls for a ranged attack roll through your gun instead. For a normal Magus, this was almost always the drawback of targeting normal AC instead of touch AC - but you're using a gun, so that's not a problem for you! More on good spell selection for this later on. Very late, you get Focused Spellstrikes and can treat cone- and line-shaped spells as rays for this.
There are two other magus archetypes that can be combined with the Eldritch Archer and stand out. You don't have to take them, though I would recommend so for most builds.
Normally, the Staff Magus (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/magus/archetypes/paizo---magus-archetypes/staff-magus) only trades damage for better defenses. However, for you it basically has no drawbacks. The reduced weapon proficiencies don't affect you (you get Exotic Weapon Proficiency from your Spellslinger dip), you won't want to wear medium or heavy armor anyway and you likely won't have the feats to profit from Fighter Training.
Even just trading useless class features for the ability to recharge magic staves from your arcana pool could be worth it. However, this archetype really shines if you get some way of reloading your gun with your hands occupied - in that case, you can profit from a nice bonus to AC too by wielding your gun in one hand, and your staff in the other.
This archetype costs you spell recall (and thus improved spell recall). In exchange, you get a free Witch Hex, can take more Witch Hexes and add some spells to your list. Consider that you won't take either Arcane Accuracy or Accurate Strike, and thus have a bit more room to spend on Hexes.
Of particular note here is the Prehensile Hair (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/witch/hexes---3rd-party-publishers/hexes/common-hexes/hex-prehensile-hair-su) Hex. You can use it to reload your gun, and thus it can allow you to wield two guns or the Staff&Gun combo that the Staff Magus favors. It will take a standard action to activate, but since you will have to move into range of your guns quite often, this is not as large of a drawback.
Races&Attributes:
Most of what goes for a Dexterity-focused Magus goes for you as well. You can favor Intelligence more than usual, since you should have an easier time hitting. Dexterity is still important, especially at the early levels, but having more spells and even higher DCs can be better.
Feats:
Building a ranged combatant is pretty feat intensive, but fortunately you get a few bonus feats over your career. It probably means that you will have less feats to spend on other things though, but for those you can look into a magus guide.
Rapid Reload: Of course this is mandatory, regardless of what gun you use. Together with alchemical cartridges, this will allow free-action reloads of your guns and thus full attacks.
Point-Blank Shot: You will get the bonus from this almost all the time, and you need it as a prerequisite as well.
Precise Shot: Sure, you can live with a -4 penalty early on, but later it will hurt. It also helps once you start laying on penalties from rapid shot or two-weapon fighting.
Improved Precise Shot: You can get this as a +1 weapon bonus, and will often be able to ignore cover via positioning. However, getting a means to ignore concealment is still quite valuable.
Clustered Shots: You will get between 2 and 5 (potentially even more) attacks on a full attack. The more you have, the more this feat pays off since DR will only be applied once. And you should already have it's prerequisites as well.
Deadly Aim: You should hit most enemies with ease after the first few levels. You don't have to take this right away, but in the later levels it's a very good damage boost.
Rapid Shot: It's an additional attack at -2 penalty. You can already do this via spell combat+spell strike, but it stacks and equals more damage.
Two-Weapon Fighting: You can do this, if you don't use Staff Magus. It's yet another attack at a -2 penalty, stacking with all others. With the Improved&Greater version, Rapid Shot, Spell Combat+Spell Strike and Haste, you could get 9 shots per round, and have a good chance with hitting all of them. But you can already deliver tons of damage via spells, and can of course only do this if you have a way of reloading your weapon for free.
Improved Critical: You should take this. Yes, it only brings you to a 19-20 critical chance, but remember that your guns get a x4 damage multiplier and that your spells should get a x3 one. Especially if you deliver multiple rays through ranged spell strike, this has a good chance of triggering.
Traits:
Roving Range: add 5 feet to the range increment of your guns. And thus to the range of all spells you deliver with ranged spellstrike, which can include a lot of spells that would otherwise be melee touch spells.
Magus Arcana:
Spells:
This section explores what spells are good with your ranged spell strike, and how it combines with arcane gun. For all other spells, please see a magus guide.
- You can only deliver spells that call for a ranged attack. Lines, cones or anything else does not qualify. Spells with a range of "touch" do not qualify unless you take the reach spellstrike (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/magus/magus-arcana/paizo---magus-arcana/reach-spellstrike-su) arcana or the reach spell (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/metamagic-feats/reach-spell-metamagic) metamagic (I recommend the former).
- You gain no benefit from Arcane Gun unless your spell also calls for a saving throw, because you now don't attack with the spell but with your gun (that just happens to also deliver a spell effect).
- Spells will be rated for use with Ranged Spellstrike, if you want to affect multiple enemies or cast at a longer range other spells may well be better.
- Some of the spells listed here will only be available if you take the Spell Blending arcana (SB) or are a Hexcrafter (HC), I will make note of those.
- All curses (http://archivesofnethys.com/SpellsCustom.aspx) can be delivered with spellstrike if you take the Accursed Strike arcana - ask your GM if this works with Ranged Spellstrike. I will only mention those curse-spells that can be delivered without this arcana.
Spells that are usable without the Reach arcana/metamagic:
Cantrips:
Acid Splash* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/a/acid-splash) is great because it qualifies for ranged spellstrike right away. Consider it an extra attack with your gun with a teeny bit of bonus damage, and use it to finish off enemies that you don't want to waste real spells on.
1st-level Spells:
Mudball* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/m/mudball)does no damage, but it can blind your enemy. With a good magic weapon (or one enhanced by your arcane pool), this can have a pretty high DC though and blinded is a good condition.
Ray of Enfeeblement* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/r/ray-of-enfeeblement) also deals no hitpoint damage, but can outright incapacitate low-strength enemies and weakens most others. You do benefit from arcane gun here.
Snowball* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/snowball) is likely your best first-level spell. It is usable right away, it does some damage, and even better it can stagger the enemy and thus benefits from arcane gun.
2nd-level Spells:
Acid Arrow
Force Anchor
Molten Orb* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/m/molten-orb) calls for a ranged attack and is thus perfectly usable. Only use it if you want to damage several enemies, though the damage is not that great even then.
Scorching Ray* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/scorching-ray) will be your first spell that produces multiple rays. You don't have to worry about wasting rays either, as long as you're casting it with spell combat you always have enough attacks that all rays will be delivered. This is your best damage spell for quite a while
Stone Discus* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/stone-discus) is normally strictly inferior to Scorching Ray, since it does not attack touch-ac. However, by delivering it with your guns, you bypass that problem entirely. It does just as much damage, does not allow spell resistance and is not affected by elemental resistances. Unless you have an enemy with no resistance to fire, but high resistance to physical damage (or that has regeneration), you should take this spell over Scorching Ray.
3rd-level Spells:
Gloomblind Bolts* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/g/gloomblind-bolts) deal just as much damage as Scorching Ray or Stone Disk (though it's negative energy instead). For the additional spell level it can also blind opponents for 1 round. Technically, you could also heal this to heal undead by shooting them with bullets, though why you would ever do so, who knows?
Ray of Exhaustion* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/r/ray-of-exhaustion) will cripple melee enemies, and thanks to arcane gun you have a very good chance of success with it.
4th-level Spells:
Enervation* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/e/enervation) (SB) is a pretty powerful debuff, 1D4 negative levels really hurt.
6th-level Spells:
Disintegrate* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/d/disintegrate) does everything ranged spellstrike and arcane gun want. You can use it with spell combat and it requires a saving throw. At the level where this is available, you'll add +5 to the saving throw DC and 32D6 damage is nothing to sneeze at. Consider not delivering it with ranged spellstrike to take advantage of it's range (possibly even targeting some other target than that of your full attack), you'll still get the advantage of arcane gun.
Spells that become usable with the Reach arcana/metamagic:
1st-level Spells:
Shocking Grasp* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/shocking-grasp) is the staple of most magus builds for a reason. For you, this gets replaced by Snowball - but it still does good damage with a bonus to hit you might sometimes need.
Chill Touch* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/c/chill-touch) is a strong contender for snowball as your best low-level spell once you can use it at range. Unlike a normal magus, you can't store this for later rounds, but you can deliver multiple attacks with it at once.
Frostbite* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/c/chill-touch) is good for the same reason as Chill Touch, but since there is no save there is no benefit from arcane gun. Which doesn't make this bad, fatigued is a crippling condition to many enemies. If you want to focus on this at higher levels, it even works well with an Enforcer build.
2nd-level Spells:
Disfiguring Touch* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/d/disfiguring-touch) is a weaker version of Bestow Curse, I would recommend waiting for the latter.
Shadow Anchor* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/shadow-anchor) (SB) vastly reduces the enemies chance of moving closer to you, so unless they can attack you at range you can shoot them with impunity.
3rd-level Spells:
Bestow Curse* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/b/bestow-curse) (HC) offers some pretty powerful debuffs
Force Punch* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/f/force-punch) deals force damage (and is thus basically never resisted), benefits from arcane gun and pushes enemies away. If an enemy gets uncomfortably close, this is the spell for you - but be aware that you can push enemies outside of your guns range
Mark of Obvious Ethics* (http://archivesofnethys.com/SpellDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Mark%20of%20Obvious%20E thics) (HC) can be nice for a witchhunter-type of character, but isn't of much use in combat.
Trial of Fire and Acid* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/t/trial-of-fire-and-acid) just deals too little damage per round to be useful in most situations. Unless you have a high caster level and plan to hide/run away after casting this, it's not worth it.
Vampiric Touch* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/v/vampiric-touch) is as good for you as it is for the normal magus
4th-level Spells
Arcana Theft* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/a/arcana-theft) is a gamble. You can potentially take negative effects onto yourself, and it's not better at dispelling than Dispel Magic. You should generally avoid it.
Bestow Curse* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/b/bestow-curse) (HC) offers some pretty powerful debuffs. Sadly you only get it as a 4th-level spell so it has to compete with lots of other good spells.
Brand, Greater* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/b/brand) (HC) is only good if you want to permanently mark enemies, in combat it's just 1D6 damage and sickens the enemy if they're within 30 feet of you (and you have a holy symbol on you).
Curse of Unexpected Death* (http://archivesofnethys.com/SpellDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Curse%20of%20Unexpected %20Death) (HC) could be cool if you want to shoot an enemy with a single bullet that can explode at a random point later. But for all other purposes, it's just mediocre damage that will likely hit way too late (or not at all!).
Dimensional Anchor* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/d/dimensional-anchor) (SB) sadly loses range when used with ranged spell strike on a gun, but if the enemy is too far away you can simply cast it the normal way.
Excruciating Deformation* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/e/excruciating-deformation) (SB) reduces an enemies, speed, inflicts nonlethal, dexterity and constitution damage and does so for quite a while. The extra saving throw each round will be much harder to make when fired through your arcane gun too. This is a good opener in combat.
Old Salts Curse* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/o/old-salt-s-curse) (HC) is great if you are on a ship - permanent stagger is great for a 4th-level spell. If you are not, permanent sickened is much too weak for the level.
Touch of Slime* (SB) can deal 1D3 constitution damage per round. That is, if the enemy is somehow prevented from removing it right away, though at least then you traded an action of yours and a spell slot (plus a full attack, I hope) for an action of theirs. Sadly this spell does not at all work in sunlight.
5th-level Spells:
Siphon Magic* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/siphon-magic) is way better than Arcana Theft. No save, no SR, not even a caster level check - if you want to remove one specific spell on an enemy, this is the best way to do it.
6th-level Spells:
Contagious Flame* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/c/contagious-flame) (SB) is an improved version of Scorching Ray - you get up to two more rays, and the rays can jump to other targets for three rounds. Still, at this level you should have better options available than a 6th-level spell you had to take with spell blending.
Hellfire Ray* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/h/hellfire-ray) (SB) doesn't offer better damage, but at least you'll almost certainly damn a slain target to hell - if that is something you want.
Other Spells:
Well, okay, a short section on notable spells for this character.
Reloading Hands* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/r/reloading-hands) can provide an alternate way of getting full-attacks while having your hands full. However, spending a second-level spell and a standard action for that each fight will probably be rather costly.
Named Bullet* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/n/named-bullet) (SB) is great because of it automatically threatens a critical hit. With your guns x4 crit modifier and the possibility of a x3 crit modifier on your spell...well, imagine what you can achieve if you combine that with Enervation (up to 12 negative levels!) or Disintegrate (an average of over 580 damage).
Well, you won't get terribly many here. One from level, and really never more than two from high Intelligence (and really just one for most of your career). They'll also be stuck at caster level 1 (unless you get an Orange Prism Stone or similar), and suffer from arcane spell failure (though yours won't be terribly high). Of course you can basically learn every 1st-level Wizard-spell since you're using a spellbook, but then again you also have four opposition schools. Really, you benefit more from being able to use Wizard-scrolls and other such spell-trigger items.
Nevertheless, here are some spells that don't suffer too badly from the restrictions.
Identify* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/i/identify) is a staple spell, you'll always need someone to identify magic items. You can do it with just spellcraft, but +10 to the roll certainly doesn't hurt! Low caster level just means that one casting is only enough for one item, but that's still good. You won't be harmed if you miscast this spell, and you can cast it at the end of the day when you take your armor off anyway. Oh, and best of all this spell isn't even on the Magus spell list.
Comprehend Languages* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/c/comprehend-languages) still allows for 10 minutes of conversation, or the deciphering of one message.
Discern Next of Kin* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/d/discern-next-of-kin) is certainly situational. But that's why you have it in a spellbook, and on spell slots you won't use terribly often. It can be great extortion material, and this spell basically does not suffer at all from low duration (learning about six relatives is good enough for most situations).
Heightened Awareness* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/h/heightened-awareness) should last long enough for several knowledge checks if you make them all at once, and even for just one it's a decent option. Or as a pre-combat buff if you're doing the "let's buff up before we bust into the big bads throne room" for +2 to Initiative.
See Alignment* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/see-alignment) is basically a more flexible detect evil. The one round duration is still enough to identify the alignment of several people (if they are all in your field of view).
Memorize Page* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/m/memorize-page) is nice because it doesn't suffer at all from reduced caster level. Having this prepared can be a good idea if you ever run across written information that you only have momentary access to, but mostly you will cast this during your downtime.
Equipment, Magic and Mundane
You should probably take a look at a Magus-guide for information on most magic items. The main difference here is magic weapons, and what staves to choose if you do choose to be a Staff Magus.
First, let's take a look at how your class features interact with staves (only if you are staff magus of course):
- You can wield quarterstaves in one hand.
- Until Magus Level 7, you have no reason to do so other than allowing attacks of opportunity (which you can just do with a spiked gauntlet anyway, and without weapon finesse they won't ever be good anyway).
- At that level, wielding a magical quarterstaff gives you a shield bonus equal to it's enhancement bonus. That's very underwhelming, for less gold you could get a +1 mithral buckler that does grant a +2 shield bonus and keeps your hand mostly free (to, say, wield a buckler). However, at 13th level this increases by +3, and a +3 mithral buckler would actually have a noticeable cost (but the free hand would still be good for using a rod).
- At 10th level, you treat any magical staff as a magical quarterstaff with an enhancement bonus of (caster level/4). This will be a +2 or better, and it's for free in addition to the staffs cost.
- And last but not least, at 10th level you can recharge staves using your arcane pool. This is pretty expensive - you can easily pour most of your pool into this, especially for staves with high-level spells. However, you can do something nobody else can - you can put more than one charge per day into a staff. Even if you only recharge during downtime, that's pretty good.
So even as a staff magus, you'll only really start using staves from 10th level onwards. That being said, they can offer lots of options, including unique ones or spells not normally on your list.
Staff of the Master* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/staves/staff-of-the-master-necromancy). You don't want this one for the spells, you want it for the metamagic. However, let's first compare it to metamagic rods. A Metamagic Rod (Quicken) costs 75.500 gp, but can allow you to quicken any of your spells (you won't cast anything higher than 6th level) three times per day. The staff can quicken a spell for you two times, and does need recharging, but only costs less than half as much gold.
So, when is this staff preferable? It will give you a +2 shield bonus, and at 13th level a +5 shield bonus. It is efficient if you only need quicken a few times, and can recharge easily between adventures. However, if you are constantly out adventuring, recharging this staff costs 12 (!) points from your arcane pool for one quicken. Are 12 pool points and one third-level spell slot worth ~35k GP to you?
Staff of Travel* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/staves/staff-of-travel) allows you to use Teleport and Dimension Door. That's always useful to have. And wielding it actually gives you a +10 foot enhancement bonus to speed
Staff of Power* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/staves/staff-of-power). Yikes this is expensive. It only contains three spells that are not on your list (Continual Flame, Hold Monster and Globe of Invulnerability). It's enhancement bonus is redundant (it instead functions as a +4 quarterstaff for you), as is it's smite-function (you won't be attacking with it) and you shouldn't buy it for retributive strike. It also offers a +2 luck bonus to AC and Saves, which is better than any other luck-bonus I can think of. If +9 to AC and +2 to saves is worth occupying your hand and almost a quarter million gold to you, congratulations. However, for most people this will be entirely too expensive.
Staff of the Hierophant* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/staves/staff-of-the-hierophant). Yikes, this is also very expensive. But it actually has a much better spell-selection than the Staff of Power (some healing, some useful buffs) and offers the same luck bonus as the Staff of Power. If you have that much money to shell out, go for this one instead.
Builds:
With three recommended archetypes and some feat constraints, this build paints a rather narrow picture of build options. However, you can still decide between more precision, more shots, a more caster-focused build and so on. Below are a few sample-builds, some of them will only have the basics which you can expand upon.
This is a Wizard 1/Magus 2. Archetypes other than Eldritch Archer and Spellslinger don't matter yet.
Strength 10, Dexterity 16, Constitution 14, Intelligence 18, Wisdom 12, Charisma 8
Classes and Archetypes: Wizard 1(Spellslinger), Magus 2 (Eldritch Archer)
Races: Human
Traits: Roving Range, Paragon of Speed
Favored Class Bonus: Hitpoints
Skills:
Feats: Rapid Reload, Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot
Spells: three Cantrips, two 1st-level Wizard spells, three 1st-level Magus spells
Tactics: Your favored move in combat is pretty simple: blast your enemies with two pistol-shots per round. Use Ranged Spell Combat, fire off one shot, cast a spell and deliver it by firing another shot. Against most enemies, you'll use Acid Splash. But if there's something nasty, Snowball works very well to take them out of the fight for one round, while Mudball will likely blind them for several rounds. If you craft yourself a +1 Pistol for just 1000 GP and use your arcane pool, you should have a +5 to hit against an enemies touch-AC, and your Snowball/Mudball should have a DC of 17.
Outside of combat, you can contribute via cantrips, first-level Wizard spells and a good number of skillpoints.
Or: How to be Harry Dresden. (http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11120/111200753/4790159-9851108673-harry.jpg)
The Spellslinger Wizard Archetype is cool, but sadly cripples the Wizard entirely too much with four opposition schools and no cantrips. However, it's defining feature - Arcane Gun - can be used with spells from any source, not just Wizard-spells. Thus, the most common recommendation is simply a 1-level dip for the archetype and then going into any other class.
Of all the spellcasting classes, the Eldritch Archer (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/magus/archetypes/paizo---magus-archetypes/eldritch-archer-magus-archetype) Magus is the one best-suited for ranged weapons. With this archetype, you can cast spells and attack with a ranged weapon during the same full-round action.
This short guide explores the options for combining the two. Most of this can be just be put together by reading a good Magus or Gunslinger guide, but why not have it all in one place? For further options for the Magus see this guide (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?423754-Myrrh-Frankincense-and-Steel-Kurald-Galain-s-Guide-to-the-Magus), if you are interested in Gunslingers (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1En2ECuP1v63kTqGIUx5dpuhZQuoXl9Tc0UEj3P_xYN0/edit#) take a look at this one, and there is a guide to the Spellslinger Archetype here (https://docs.google.com/document/d/14PmQbDM8W-dbUMY4TrQv64I7Mn7lB58PiLv7hatGrAg/edit).
The foundation: Class Features and Archetypes:
The Spellslinger has two important class features. You only want a 1-level dip here, so other than this you just get a small amount of first-level spells that you can't cast properly in armor.
Arcane Gun: The Spellslinger isn't maligned because this is a bad feature, but because of what they have to trade away for it. This does three things: It grants you Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Firearms), it allows you to add your firearms enhancement bonus to your cone, line and ray spells, and if you let your gun explode it makes the explosion worse. Do note that the only reason to have two arcane guns is if you have a backup weapon - wielding two at the same time provides no bonus at all.
Gunsmith: This lets you build and maintain your own gun, but more importantly you can craft yourself Alchemical Cartridges for only 10% of their price.
The Eldritch Archer is the other main part of this build. It changes some options from your arcane pool, and makes spell combat and spell strike usable with ranged weapons.
Ranged Weapon Bond: You can cast spells with the same hand that holds your bonded weapon. Wielding two weapons or a two-handed one is no longer a problem with this. You can craft your own magic ranged weapon - this will be especially important if magic firearms are rare in your campaign. As a drawback, you must make a very hard concentration check if you lose your bonded weapon, and weapons are more likely to be confiscated than a small ring.
Ranged Spell Combat: This is the class feature that allows you to cast spells and attack with a ranged weapon on the same turn. Together with Ranged Spell Strike, this even amounts to an extra attack with your gun. Since you attack touch-AC, the small to-hit penalty will soon not affect you anymore, though you can't take a penalty to attack to improve your concentration-checks with this class feature.
Ranged Spell Strike: You can deliver any spell that calls for a ranged attack roll through your gun instead. For a normal Magus, this was almost always the drawback of targeting normal AC instead of touch AC - but you're using a gun, so that's not a problem for you! More on good spell selection for this later on. Very late, you get Focused Spellstrikes and can treat cone- and line-shaped spells as rays for this.
There are two other magus archetypes that can be combined with the Eldritch Archer and stand out. You don't have to take them, though I would recommend so for most builds.
Normally, the Staff Magus (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/magus/archetypes/paizo---magus-archetypes/staff-magus) only trades damage for better defenses. However, for you it basically has no drawbacks. The reduced weapon proficiencies don't affect you (you get Exotic Weapon Proficiency from your Spellslinger dip), you won't want to wear medium or heavy armor anyway and you likely won't have the feats to profit from Fighter Training.
Even just trading useless class features for the ability to recharge magic staves from your arcana pool could be worth it. However, this archetype really shines if you get some way of reloading your gun with your hands occupied - in that case, you can profit from a nice bonus to AC too by wielding your gun in one hand, and your staff in the other.
This archetype costs you spell recall (and thus improved spell recall). In exchange, you get a free Witch Hex, can take more Witch Hexes and add some spells to your list. Consider that you won't take either Arcane Accuracy or Accurate Strike, and thus have a bit more room to spend on Hexes.
Of particular note here is the Prehensile Hair (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/witch/hexes---3rd-party-publishers/hexes/common-hexes/hex-prehensile-hair-su) Hex. You can use it to reload your gun, and thus it can allow you to wield two guns or the Staff&Gun combo that the Staff Magus favors. It will take a standard action to activate, but since you will have to move into range of your guns quite often, this is not as large of a drawback.
Races&Attributes:
Most of what goes for a Dexterity-focused Magus goes for you as well. You can favor Intelligence more than usual, since you should have an easier time hitting. Dexterity is still important, especially at the early levels, but having more spells and even higher DCs can be better.
Feats:
Building a ranged combatant is pretty feat intensive, but fortunately you get a few bonus feats over your career. It probably means that you will have less feats to spend on other things though, but for those you can look into a magus guide.
Rapid Reload: Of course this is mandatory, regardless of what gun you use. Together with alchemical cartridges, this will allow free-action reloads of your guns and thus full attacks.
Point-Blank Shot: You will get the bonus from this almost all the time, and you need it as a prerequisite as well.
Precise Shot: Sure, you can live with a -4 penalty early on, but later it will hurt. It also helps once you start laying on penalties from rapid shot or two-weapon fighting.
Improved Precise Shot: You can get this as a +1 weapon bonus, and will often be able to ignore cover via positioning. However, getting a means to ignore concealment is still quite valuable.
Clustered Shots: You will get between 2 and 5 (potentially even more) attacks on a full attack. The more you have, the more this feat pays off since DR will only be applied once. And you should already have it's prerequisites as well.
Deadly Aim: You should hit most enemies with ease after the first few levels. You don't have to take this right away, but in the later levels it's a very good damage boost.
Rapid Shot: It's an additional attack at -2 penalty. You can already do this via spell combat+spell strike, but it stacks and equals more damage.
Two-Weapon Fighting: You can do this, if you don't use Staff Magus. It's yet another attack at a -2 penalty, stacking with all others. With the Improved&Greater version, Rapid Shot, Spell Combat+Spell Strike and Haste, you could get 9 shots per round, and have a good chance with hitting all of them. But you can already deliver tons of damage via spells, and can of course only do this if you have a way of reloading your weapon for free.
Improved Critical: You should take this. Yes, it only brings you to a 19-20 critical chance, but remember that your guns get a x4 damage multiplier and that your spells should get a x3 one. Especially if you deliver multiple rays through ranged spell strike, this has a good chance of triggering.
Traits:
Roving Range: add 5 feet to the range increment of your guns. And thus to the range of all spells you deliver with ranged spellstrike, which can include a lot of spells that would otherwise be melee touch spells.
Magus Arcana:
Spells:
This section explores what spells are good with your ranged spell strike, and how it combines with arcane gun. For all other spells, please see a magus guide.
- You can only deliver spells that call for a ranged attack. Lines, cones or anything else does not qualify. Spells with a range of "touch" do not qualify unless you take the reach spellstrike (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/magus/magus-arcana/paizo---magus-arcana/reach-spellstrike-su) arcana or the reach spell (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/metamagic-feats/reach-spell-metamagic) metamagic (I recommend the former).
- You gain no benefit from Arcane Gun unless your spell also calls for a saving throw, because you now don't attack with the spell but with your gun (that just happens to also deliver a spell effect).
- Spells will be rated for use with Ranged Spellstrike, if you want to affect multiple enemies or cast at a longer range other spells may well be better.
- Some of the spells listed here will only be available if you take the Spell Blending arcana (SB) or are a Hexcrafter (HC), I will make note of those.
- All curses (http://archivesofnethys.com/SpellsCustom.aspx) can be delivered with spellstrike if you take the Accursed Strike arcana - ask your GM if this works with Ranged Spellstrike. I will only mention those curse-spells that can be delivered without this arcana.
Spells that are usable without the Reach arcana/metamagic:
Cantrips:
Acid Splash* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/a/acid-splash) is great because it qualifies for ranged spellstrike right away. Consider it an extra attack with your gun with a teeny bit of bonus damage, and use it to finish off enemies that you don't want to waste real spells on.
1st-level Spells:
Mudball* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/m/mudball)does no damage, but it can blind your enemy. With a good magic weapon (or one enhanced by your arcane pool), this can have a pretty high DC though and blinded is a good condition.
Ray of Enfeeblement* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/r/ray-of-enfeeblement) also deals no hitpoint damage, but can outright incapacitate low-strength enemies and weakens most others. You do benefit from arcane gun here.
Snowball* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/snowball) is likely your best first-level spell. It is usable right away, it does some damage, and even better it can stagger the enemy and thus benefits from arcane gun.
2nd-level Spells:
Acid Arrow
Force Anchor
Molten Orb* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/m/molten-orb) calls for a ranged attack and is thus perfectly usable. Only use it if you want to damage several enemies, though the damage is not that great even then.
Scorching Ray* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/scorching-ray) will be your first spell that produces multiple rays. You don't have to worry about wasting rays either, as long as you're casting it with spell combat you always have enough attacks that all rays will be delivered. This is your best damage spell for quite a while
Stone Discus* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/stone-discus) is normally strictly inferior to Scorching Ray, since it does not attack touch-ac. However, by delivering it with your guns, you bypass that problem entirely. It does just as much damage, does not allow spell resistance and is not affected by elemental resistances. Unless you have an enemy with no resistance to fire, but high resistance to physical damage (or that has regeneration), you should take this spell over Scorching Ray.
3rd-level Spells:
Gloomblind Bolts* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/g/gloomblind-bolts) deal just as much damage as Scorching Ray or Stone Disk (though it's negative energy instead). For the additional spell level it can also blind opponents for 1 round. Technically, you could also heal this to heal undead by shooting them with bullets, though why you would ever do so, who knows?
Ray of Exhaustion* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/r/ray-of-exhaustion) will cripple melee enemies, and thanks to arcane gun you have a very good chance of success with it.
4th-level Spells:
Enervation* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/e/enervation) (SB) is a pretty powerful debuff, 1D4 negative levels really hurt.
6th-level Spells:
Disintegrate* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/d/disintegrate) does everything ranged spellstrike and arcane gun want. You can use it with spell combat and it requires a saving throw. At the level where this is available, you'll add +5 to the saving throw DC and 32D6 damage is nothing to sneeze at. Consider not delivering it with ranged spellstrike to take advantage of it's range (possibly even targeting some other target than that of your full attack), you'll still get the advantage of arcane gun.
Spells that become usable with the Reach arcana/metamagic:
1st-level Spells:
Shocking Grasp* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/shocking-grasp) is the staple of most magus builds for a reason. For you, this gets replaced by Snowball - but it still does good damage with a bonus to hit you might sometimes need.
Chill Touch* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/c/chill-touch) is a strong contender for snowball as your best low-level spell once you can use it at range. Unlike a normal magus, you can't store this for later rounds, but you can deliver multiple attacks with it at once.
Frostbite* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/c/chill-touch) is good for the same reason as Chill Touch, but since there is no save there is no benefit from arcane gun. Which doesn't make this bad, fatigued is a crippling condition to many enemies. If you want to focus on this at higher levels, it even works well with an Enforcer build.
2nd-level Spells:
Disfiguring Touch* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/d/disfiguring-touch) is a weaker version of Bestow Curse, I would recommend waiting for the latter.
Shadow Anchor* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/shadow-anchor) (SB) vastly reduces the enemies chance of moving closer to you, so unless they can attack you at range you can shoot them with impunity.
3rd-level Spells:
Bestow Curse* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/b/bestow-curse) (HC) offers some pretty powerful debuffs
Force Punch* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/f/force-punch) deals force damage (and is thus basically never resisted), benefits from arcane gun and pushes enemies away. If an enemy gets uncomfortably close, this is the spell for you - but be aware that you can push enemies outside of your guns range
Mark of Obvious Ethics* (http://archivesofnethys.com/SpellDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Mark%20of%20Obvious%20E thics) (HC) can be nice for a witchhunter-type of character, but isn't of much use in combat.
Trial of Fire and Acid* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/t/trial-of-fire-and-acid) just deals too little damage per round to be useful in most situations. Unless you have a high caster level and plan to hide/run away after casting this, it's not worth it.
Vampiric Touch* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/v/vampiric-touch) is as good for you as it is for the normal magus
4th-level Spells
Arcana Theft* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/a/arcana-theft) is a gamble. You can potentially take negative effects onto yourself, and it's not better at dispelling than Dispel Magic. You should generally avoid it.
Bestow Curse* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/b/bestow-curse) (HC) offers some pretty powerful debuffs. Sadly you only get it as a 4th-level spell so it has to compete with lots of other good spells.
Brand, Greater* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/b/brand) (HC) is only good if you want to permanently mark enemies, in combat it's just 1D6 damage and sickens the enemy if they're within 30 feet of you (and you have a holy symbol on you).
Curse of Unexpected Death* (http://archivesofnethys.com/SpellDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Curse%20of%20Unexpected %20Death) (HC) could be cool if you want to shoot an enemy with a single bullet that can explode at a random point later. But for all other purposes, it's just mediocre damage that will likely hit way too late (or not at all!).
Dimensional Anchor* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/d/dimensional-anchor) (SB) sadly loses range when used with ranged spell strike on a gun, but if the enemy is too far away you can simply cast it the normal way.
Excruciating Deformation* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/e/excruciating-deformation) (SB) reduces an enemies, speed, inflicts nonlethal, dexterity and constitution damage and does so for quite a while. The extra saving throw each round will be much harder to make when fired through your arcane gun too. This is a good opener in combat.
Old Salts Curse* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/o/old-salt-s-curse) (HC) is great if you are on a ship - permanent stagger is great for a 4th-level spell. If you are not, permanent sickened is much too weak for the level.
Touch of Slime* (SB) can deal 1D3 constitution damage per round. That is, if the enemy is somehow prevented from removing it right away, though at least then you traded an action of yours and a spell slot (plus a full attack, I hope) for an action of theirs. Sadly this spell does not at all work in sunlight.
5th-level Spells:
Siphon Magic* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/siphon-magic) is way better than Arcana Theft. No save, no SR, not even a caster level check - if you want to remove one specific spell on an enemy, this is the best way to do it.
6th-level Spells:
Contagious Flame* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/c/contagious-flame) (SB) is an improved version of Scorching Ray - you get up to two more rays, and the rays can jump to other targets for three rounds. Still, at this level you should have better options available than a 6th-level spell you had to take with spell blending.
Hellfire Ray* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/h/hellfire-ray) (SB) doesn't offer better damage, but at least you'll almost certainly damn a slain target to hell - if that is something you want.
Other Spells:
Well, okay, a short section on notable spells for this character.
Reloading Hands* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/r/reloading-hands) can provide an alternate way of getting full-attacks while having your hands full. However, spending a second-level spell and a standard action for that each fight will probably be rather costly.
Named Bullet* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/n/named-bullet) (SB) is great because of it automatically threatens a critical hit. With your guns x4 crit modifier and the possibility of a x3 crit modifier on your spell...well, imagine what you can achieve if you combine that with Enervation (up to 12 negative levels!) or Disintegrate (an average of over 580 damage).
Well, you won't get terribly many here. One from level, and really never more than two from high Intelligence (and really just one for most of your career). They'll also be stuck at caster level 1 (unless you get an Orange Prism Stone or similar), and suffer from arcane spell failure (though yours won't be terribly high). Of course you can basically learn every 1st-level Wizard-spell since you're using a spellbook, but then again you also have four opposition schools. Really, you benefit more from being able to use Wizard-scrolls and other such spell-trigger items.
Nevertheless, here are some spells that don't suffer too badly from the restrictions.
Identify* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/i/identify) is a staple spell, you'll always need someone to identify magic items. You can do it with just spellcraft, but +10 to the roll certainly doesn't hurt! Low caster level just means that one casting is only enough for one item, but that's still good. You won't be harmed if you miscast this spell, and you can cast it at the end of the day when you take your armor off anyway. Oh, and best of all this spell isn't even on the Magus spell list.
Comprehend Languages* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/c/comprehend-languages) still allows for 10 minutes of conversation, or the deciphering of one message.
Discern Next of Kin* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/d/discern-next-of-kin) is certainly situational. But that's why you have it in a spellbook, and on spell slots you won't use terribly often. It can be great extortion material, and this spell basically does not suffer at all from low duration (learning about six relatives is good enough for most situations).
Heightened Awareness* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/h/heightened-awareness) should last long enough for several knowledge checks if you make them all at once, and even for just one it's a decent option. Or as a pre-combat buff if you're doing the "let's buff up before we bust into the big bads throne room" for +2 to Initiative.
See Alignment* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/see-alignment) is basically a more flexible detect evil. The one round duration is still enough to identify the alignment of several people (if they are all in your field of view).
Memorize Page* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/m/memorize-page) is nice because it doesn't suffer at all from reduced caster level. Having this prepared can be a good idea if you ever run across written information that you only have momentary access to, but mostly you will cast this during your downtime.
Equipment, Magic and Mundane
You should probably take a look at a Magus-guide for information on most magic items. The main difference here is magic weapons, and what staves to choose if you do choose to be a Staff Magus.
First, let's take a look at how your class features interact with staves (only if you are staff magus of course):
- You can wield quarterstaves in one hand.
- Until Magus Level 7, you have no reason to do so other than allowing attacks of opportunity (which you can just do with a spiked gauntlet anyway, and without weapon finesse they won't ever be good anyway).
- At that level, wielding a magical quarterstaff gives you a shield bonus equal to it's enhancement bonus. That's very underwhelming, for less gold you could get a +1 mithral buckler that does grant a +2 shield bonus and keeps your hand mostly free (to, say, wield a buckler). However, at 13th level this increases by +3, and a +3 mithral buckler would actually have a noticeable cost (but the free hand would still be good for using a rod).
- At 10th level, you treat any magical staff as a magical quarterstaff with an enhancement bonus of (caster level/4). This will be a +2 or better, and it's for free in addition to the staffs cost.
- And last but not least, at 10th level you can recharge staves using your arcane pool. This is pretty expensive - you can easily pour most of your pool into this, especially for staves with high-level spells. However, you can do something nobody else can - you can put more than one charge per day into a staff. Even if you only recharge during downtime, that's pretty good.
So even as a staff magus, you'll only really start using staves from 10th level onwards. That being said, they can offer lots of options, including unique ones or spells not normally on your list.
Staff of the Master* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/staves/staff-of-the-master-necromancy). You don't want this one for the spells, you want it for the metamagic. However, let's first compare it to metamagic rods. A Metamagic Rod (Quicken) costs 75.500 gp, but can allow you to quicken any of your spells (you won't cast anything higher than 6th level) three times per day. The staff can quicken a spell for you two times, and does need recharging, but only costs less than half as much gold.
So, when is this staff preferable? It will give you a +2 shield bonus, and at 13th level a +5 shield bonus. It is efficient if you only need quicken a few times, and can recharge easily between adventures. However, if you are constantly out adventuring, recharging this staff costs 12 (!) points from your arcane pool for one quicken. Are 12 pool points and one third-level spell slot worth ~35k GP to you?
Staff of Travel* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/staves/staff-of-travel) allows you to use Teleport and Dimension Door. That's always useful to have. And wielding it actually gives you a +10 foot enhancement bonus to speed
Staff of Power* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/staves/staff-of-power). Yikes this is expensive. It only contains three spells that are not on your list (Continual Flame, Hold Monster and Globe of Invulnerability). It's enhancement bonus is redundant (it instead functions as a +4 quarterstaff for you), as is it's smite-function (you won't be attacking with it) and you shouldn't buy it for retributive strike. It also offers a +2 luck bonus to AC and Saves, which is better than any other luck-bonus I can think of. If +9 to AC and +2 to saves is worth occupying your hand and almost a quarter million gold to you, congratulations. However, for most people this will be entirely too expensive.
Staff of the Hierophant* (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/staves/staff-of-the-hierophant). Yikes, this is also very expensive. But it actually has a much better spell-selection than the Staff of Power (some healing, some useful buffs) and offers the same luck bonus as the Staff of Power. If you have that much money to shell out, go for this one instead.
Builds:
With three recommended archetypes and some feat constraints, this build paints a rather narrow picture of build options. However, you can still decide between more precision, more shots, a more caster-focused build and so on. Below are a few sample-builds, some of them will only have the basics which you can expand upon.
This is a Wizard 1/Magus 2. Archetypes other than Eldritch Archer and Spellslinger don't matter yet.
Strength 10, Dexterity 16, Constitution 14, Intelligence 18, Wisdom 12, Charisma 8
Classes and Archetypes: Wizard 1(Spellslinger), Magus 2 (Eldritch Archer)
Races: Human
Traits: Roving Range, Paragon of Speed
Favored Class Bonus: Hitpoints
Skills:
Feats: Rapid Reload, Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot
Spells: three Cantrips, two 1st-level Wizard spells, three 1st-level Magus spells
Tactics: Your favored move in combat is pretty simple: blast your enemies with two pistol-shots per round. Use Ranged Spell Combat, fire off one shot, cast a spell and deliver it by firing another shot. Against most enemies, you'll use Acid Splash. But if there's something nasty, Snowball works very well to take them out of the fight for one round, while Mudball will likely blind them for several rounds. If you craft yourself a +1 Pistol for just 1000 GP and use your arcane pool, you should have a +5 to hit against an enemies touch-AC, and your Snowball/Mudball should have a DC of 17.
Outside of combat, you can contribute via cantrips, first-level Wizard spells and a good number of skillpoints.