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Based on the casting time of binding, I'd think a one minute minimum time for a ritual would be appropriate. I think we agreed on that before, but it's been a while, and I'd like to reaffirm it.
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Yes.
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How about if the ritual adds 1 point of free factors per 3 spell levels contributed, and increases the caster level of the spell by the same amount? The spell contributed has to be of the same school as the base seed of the spell. A spell which incorporates a ritual effect has to specify what the free factors are used for. In the case of binding it would be to raise the HD/no save cap. In the case of a [summoning] it might be CR (if that is left open) or perhaps duration factors. Caster level boosts wouldn't so much be valuable in combat (the 1 minute caster time makes this use inconvenient) but might help very much in ensuring that nobody comes along and dispels your epic wards or curses or what not.
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I like this; although if we go this route, rituals are no longer mitigating factors, per se. We'd need to drop them from the 'Preferred Mitigation' line, and instead include a note in 'Conditions:' "Spells developed with this seed can be cast as ritual spells." Some could, others couldn't - which seems more appropriate, anyway - a ritual [blast] seems rather odd. A compound spell which included a ritual-eligible seed as its base seed would still be eligible.
6 casters as a maximum number sounds good, too; I really like the idea that spells contributed need to be of the same school as the epic spell.
There were 2 feats - Ritual Adept and Cabal Leader. I think Ritual Adept should allow the number of casters which you can coordinate to scale with Spellcraft: (ranks in Spellcraft/3) would resonate with a 15th-level Wizard casting a
binding spell, and would prevent rituals from getting too out of hand. It might need some additional perk, or it will be an unattractive epic feat.
I'd still like to incorporate the Leadership effect of Cabal Leader, but I'm not sure how. I think it should use a different mechanic to Ritual Adept, and not depend on the school of the contributed slot - in fact, I don't think that it should use spell slots at all. Or directly on the Leadership score. Maybe
No of free factors = (5*Level of your highest level spellcasting follower gained by virtue of the Leadership feat)
would work. Leadership score 43 (7th-level spellcasting follower) would mean 35 free factors; Leadership 56 (8th-level spellcasting follower) would mean 40 free factors. Maybe that's too much. It would scale very slowly, though - which is kind of nice.
I like the increased weight of contributed epic spells
a lot, although maybe a flat 10 free factors would be easier.