Getting "Sword Beams" in Pathfinder

[Krazzman]

I remembered an Iron Chef or other challenge on this board about 3.5 builds about getting as many swordfighter tropes into one build as possible... and got curious about the "Sword Beam (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SwordBeam)" and how to get one in pathfinder.

Currently I am looking at either the "Hand of the Apprentice" Magic-Domain ability as a workable way to do this or refluffing other Domain/Bloodline abilities to be shooting out of the blade.
The spell "Storm of Blades" is another possibility but hauling many swords might get cumbersome quickly as well as contending with spells like Bestow Curse, Blindness/Deafness and other fun spells to put on the characters enemies.

[Sayt]

Hmm, Blood Crow Strike (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/b/blood-crow-strike) plus Ascetic Style (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/ascetic-style-combat-style)? The only first party thing that comes to mind that that you haven't mentioned.

[Ninjaxenomorph]

A Sharding weapon isn't strictly a sword beam, but the idea is similar.

[Slithery D]

I remembered an Iron Chef or other challenge on this board about 3.5 builds about getting as many swordfighter tropes into one build as possible... and got curious about the "Sword Beam (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SwordBeam)" and how to get one in pathfinder.

Currently I am looking at either the "Hand of the Apprentice" Magic-Domain ability as a workable way to do this or refluffing other Domain/Bloodline abilities to be shooting out of the blade.
The spell "Storm of Blades" is another possibility but hauling many swords might get cumbersome quickly as well as contending with spells like Bestow Curse, Blindness/Deafness and other fun spells to put on the characters enemies.

Sword Binder (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/wizard/archetypes/paizo---wizard-archetypes/sword-binder-wizard) takes Hand of the Apprentice further, you can use your flying sword to deliver touch spells.

[danielxcutter]

I don't know about Pathfinder, but the 1st level evocation Blood Wind and the psychic warrior power Keen Edge, Psionic, both from D&D 3.X, might work if you're okay with a gish character. If they're in Pathfinder, of course.

[MilleniaAntares]

Path of War Expanded's Mithril Current discipline has sword beams. You can also fluff certain ranged abilities from Elemental Flux as sword beams.

[Bronk]

This old thread might have some ideas that could transfer into Pathfinder...

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?336535-Magic-ways-to-give-a-sword-a-ranged-attack

[AslanCross]

If by sword beams you mean this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWnXFgwoghs

The Black Seraph discipline has ranged touch attacks that blast for profane damage.

The Mithral Current has some too, but it's more of just extended reach slashes.

[Seppo87]

Lunge + Swordmaster's Flair = 4.5 natural reach for a medium-sized character

You can easily fluff it as a sword beam if you like.

[Krazzman]

Thanks for the input so far. It seems the easiest ways would be Cleric or Wizard.


Hmm, Blood Crow Strike (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/b/blood-crow-strike) plus Ascetic Style (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/ascetic-style-combat-style)? The only first party thing that comes to mind that that you haven't mentioned.

I really find that spell cool... sadly it's a 4th level one.
Do I understand it right that I cast it and then directly attack with all my attacks or do I need to wait a turn?


A Sharding weapon isn't strictly a sword beam, but the idea is similar.

Nice... pricey but nice. Would prefer something "innate" to the character, but that would be quite awesome for a "special" weapon.


Sword Binder (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/wizard/archetypes/paizo---wizard-archetypes/sword-binder-wizard) takes Hand of the Apprentice further, you can use your flying sword to deliver touch spells.

Sweet, this can be really broken in one of our Gestalt games... or the Tristalt one...


I don't know about Pathfinder, but the 1st level evocation Blood Wind and the psychic warrior power Keen Edge, Psionic, both from D&D 3.X, might work if you're okay with a gish character. If they're in Pathfinder, of course.

I knew of them in 3.5 but haven't found them in Pathfinder.


This old thread might have some ideas that could transfer into Pathfinder...

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?336535-Magic-ways-to-give-a-sword-a-ranged-attack

I like the crossbow glued to the sword :D


Path of War Expanded's Mithril Current discipline has sword beams. You can also fluff certain ranged abilities from Elemental Flux as sword beams.

If by sword beams you mean this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWnXFgwoghs

The Black Seraph discipline has ranged touch attacks that blast for profane damage.

The Mithral Current has some too, but it's more of just extended reach slashes.

No funds for 3rd Party books atm... and our FLGS can't order Pathfinder books due to licensing fees being too high... I loved ToB and would love PoW from what I saw so far...


Lunge + Swordmaster's Flair = 4.5 natural reach for a medium-sized character

You can easily fluff it as a sword beam if you like.

Nice, that would be a mundane variant. Do I need to be a Swashbuckler or is there an Amateur Swashbuckler feat?

[Sayt]

I really find that spell cool... sadly it's a 4th level one.
Do I understand it right that I cast it and then directly attack with all my attacks or do I need to wait a turn?

Y'know, I presumed that the attacks are part of the casting off the spell, bur that isn't actually what the spell says. It just says that you can punch at a distance with every crows, with a duration of instantaneous. So... it looks like you just get it cast on you and you can do it wgen/for ever you want? That doesn't seem right...

[Zanos]

Y'know, I presumed that the attacks are part of the casting off the spell, bur that isn't actually what the spell says. It just says that you can punch at a distance with every crows, with a duration of instantaneous. So... it looks like you just get it cast on you and you can do it wgen/for ever you want? That doesn't seem right...
As written, the crows strike the target of the spell. So while you shouldn't cast it on yourself, you can cast it on anyone you want and then punch them forever from anywhere. The spell also has a 1 round casting time for some reason, so it doesn't go off until the start of your next turn.

[Sayt]

As written, the crows strike the target of the spell. So while you shouldn't cast it on yourself, you can cast it on anyone you want and then punch them forever from anywhere. The spell also has a 1 round casting time for some reason, so it doesn't go off until the start of your next turn.

That seems more reasonable! I think I got thrown by muddy wording.

[Seppo87]

Nice, that would be a mundane variant. Do I need to be a Swashbuckler or is there an Amateur Swashbuckler feat?
Amateur Swashbuckler is a thing, it exists.
Unfortunately it won't allow you to select the strongest 1st level deed, the opportune parry and riposte.
I'd rather make a 1 level dip in swashbuckler, the most interesting archetypes are to me either falcata Swashbuckler (treat Falcata as martial one handed piercing) or Inspired Blade (add INT to Panache in addition to Cha and free weapon focus-rapier)

[AslanCross]

No funds for 3rd Party books atm... and our FLGS can't order Pathfinder books due to licensing fees being too high... I loved ToB and would love PoW from what I saw so far...


They're all OGL, though.
(http://www.d20pfsrd.com/path-of-war)

I'd prefer the book, but it's all there on the SRD.