Tenser's Transformation + Arcane Strike

[Grant_Stoom]

What do folks think about combining these two? Arcane Strike is a feat from the Complete Warrior. It lets you channel a spell as a free action into a weapon or natural weapon to give you the level of the spell as a bonus to attack and 1d4 * level of the spell for all attacks that round.

Would the capability of channeling the spell be lost while under the effects of Tenser's Transformation?

Example - An 18th level wizard with a +2 weapon and 12 Str casts Tenser's Transformation giving him +4 enh bonus to Str and +18 BAB with now 4 attacks - +23/+18/+13/+8 (+ 2 weapon and +3 Str modifiers) then channels an 8th level spell via Arcane Strike and it hops to +28/+23/+18/+13 (again plus any weapon and Str mods) and does an extra 8d4 damage for all four attacks.

Now lets do this when shapechanged into a pit fiend with a large great axe + 2...
Str 37 + 4 enh = 41 = +15 modifier
+35/+30/+25/+20 with each one doing (2d8? + 30 2handed Str + 2 magic + 8d4) for an average of 61 per hit. Not sure if my math is right, so feel free to correct it.

It seems like a truckload of damage, but considering that he's using a 9th level shapechange + an 8th level spell + a 6th level spell, it seems more balanced. Thoughts?

 

[CRGreathouse]

I think Tenser's transformation prohibits using spells, even like this.

 

[mikebr99]

I think Tenser's transformation prohibits using spells, even like this.

I'll second that.


Mike

 

[silentspace]

Depends on how you define the feat vs casting a spell. Since its a free action, and doesn't seem to involve any spell-completion (does it?), I'd allow it.

Another way to look at it is that you're swapping one 8th level spell for 80 points of average damage (if all hit). Doesn't seem that bad. And you're in melee. You still might be killed by a 15th level cleric with Harm.

 

[silentspace]

It's a tough call.

"When you activate this feat (a free action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity), you can channel arcane energy into a melee weapon, our unarmed strike, or natural weapons. You must sacrifice one of your spells for the day..."

I can go either way.

I don't think it's overpowered though (see previous post).

 

[KarinsDad]

I would rule that you cannot do this.

"You lose your spellcasting ability, including your ability to use spell activation or spell completion magic items, just as if the spells were no longer on your class list."

This implies that you no longer have the spells during the duration of the Transformation spell.

I think the intent of Transformation is to turn an arcane caster into a combatant type and allowing that caster to still use his spells, even if he is not actually casting them, is counter to that intent.

 

[silentspace]

I would rule that you cannot do this.

"You lose your spellcasting ability, including your ability to use spell activation or spell completion magic items, just as if the spells were no longer on your class list."

This implies that you no longer have the spells during the duration of the Transformation spell.

I think the intent of Transformation is to turn an arcane caster into a combatant type and allowing that caster to still use his spells, even if he is not actually casting them, is counter to that intent.

Yes, you're right. Should've read the Transformation spell. You don't even have the spells to convert.

 

[Grant_Stoom]

Cool. Thanks.

I thought the wording of the spell precluded the use of the feat, but wanted some other opinions.