Question about fighter/magic-using builds

[Thanee]

Yep, Shapechange will surely be of more use, if cast.

But as a Wizard you don't always have the right spell prepared and so Arcane Strike is a good way to use those spells you have no real other use for at that moment.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Not necessarily. If using your best spells to deal extra damage in melee were reliably an obviously optimal choice, the Arcane Strike feat would be busted.

It's not always an obviously good choice even to sacrifice your mid-level spells for Arcane Strike bonusses. However, it is often a good choice to upon consideration to sacrifice a mid or high level spell for Arcane Strike bonusses. That's all that's needed to be a good feat. (It's not always obviously advantageous to power attack but often is upon consideration. It's not generally obviously advantageous to use Combat Expertise but is often a good idea. It's not always a good idea to use Improved Trip but it often is. All of those are good feats).

That probably has a lot to do with Shapechange being busted.

 

[nameless]

I just thought I'd note that Arcane Strike is a free action, which plays a large part in its usefulness.

A 9th level spell doing 100 damage or so is pretty standard, but it will usually take a standard action to toss that spell out. Combining a 100 damage 9th level spell with a 100 damage full attack action (especially considering the +9 to hit might make the later iterative attacks connect) is where Arcane Strike really shines.

Shapechange is definitely busted, though. Other spells don't even compare to its versatility OR power.

 

[Votan]

Of course, I could play a cleric... on looking at the pantheon, the good "champion" god can grant the War and Fire domains (as well as Law, Good, and Protection) which look interesting... (edit) but, pessimistically, I'd spend most of my time casting healing spells instead.

If you go this way make sure of two things:

1) One domain is magic
2) Neither domain has ANY heal spells (you can't spontaneously heal with domain spells).

The first will enable you to use scrolls and wands as a wizard of 1/2 your level. It isn't ideal but it will give you some reasonable access to arcane magic.

The second will ensure that you have some protected spells that can't be cast as heals so there is no pressure to give up this reserve of interesting spells to cast.

I love fighter/magic-users but they are hard to make work with only core material. Eldritch knight is a pretty amazing class, though.