Bonus Spells and Enhancement Bonuses

rushlight

Roll for Initiative!

• Jan 9, 2004

• #1

So, there seems to be some debate in my group as to whether or not an Enhancement bonus (specifically from a headband of intellect) changes the number of bonus spells you get.

I ruled no, since the bonus doesn't apply to skill points. It seems to me that skill points and bonus spells should be based on the "Permanent" stat and not the "Temporary" stat after an Enhancement bonus (like from an item or a spell).

Am I wrong? Or if he casts a stat boosting spell, does he get extra spells (or if he wears an item)?

 

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Nightfall

Sage of the Scarred Lands

• Jan 9, 2004

• #2

Rush as far as I know none of the stat modifier "mental" scores affect bonus spells. They do increase the spell's DC but nothing else. I know it was stated before in 3.0 and I'm reasonable sure it is the same now.

 

Plane Sailing

Astral Admin - Mwahahaha!

• Jan 9, 2004

• #3

The buff spells specifically do not grant bonus spells.

The magic items have no such text, and because you have the higher attribute 24x7 I can see no reason why it wouldn't give bonus spells. What is the difference between an 8th level character with a pearl of wisdom +2 and an 8th level character who put his two attribute increases in Wisdom? For all intents and purposes they have the precise same wisdom all day and every day, and so are eligible for bonus spells.

If the magic item is removed they should lose the ability to cast those appropriate bonus spells, but that is all I can see as an issue, and it is minimal.

Cheers

 

Nightfall

Sage of the Scarred Lands

• Jan 9, 2004

• #4

Basically what Plane said.

 

Plane Sailing

Astral Admin - Mwahahaha!

• Jan 9, 2004

• #5

rushlight said:

I ruled no, since the bonus doesn't apply to skill points.

Click to expand...

Specifically, I think this is the flaw in your reasoning. The bonus never applies to skill points (even if you raise your INT in a legitimate way, eg. every 4th level bonus) because it doesn't retroactively affect *what you have learnt in the past*. Changed ability scores can affect your current status - ability to dodge, ability to save, ability to prepare spells (as long as they are long enough duration (3e) or not buff spells (3.5e), hit points - but they can't reach back into the past and affect what you learnt at 3rd level or 5th level or whatever.

Skill points is the only element which has this unique historical "you bought it at that level" factor IIRC, and so is a bad measure to use when assessing what other things might be changed.

You don't prepare spells once per level, you prepare them each day.

Cheers

 

M

MichaelH

First Post

• Jan 9, 2004

• #6

The buff spells do not grant bonus spells. But magic items such as the headband of intellect do allow the wearer the benefit of the higher Int score for bonus spells.

 

dcollins

Explorer

• Jan 9, 2004

• #7

If you have the 3.0 DMG, check out the sample NPC spellcasters in Ch. 2. You'll find that the higher-level ones have ability-buffing magic items, and that these do increase their spells apropriately. Ex.: 20th level wizard with +6 headband of intellect, Int goes to 26 for a total of 5 spells in each level 6, 7, and 8 (3.0 DMG p. 57).

 

Last edited: Jan 9, 2004

rushlight

Roll for Initiative!

• Jan 9, 2004

• #8

dcollins said:

If you have the 3.0 DMG, check out the sample NPC spellcasters in Ch. 2. You'll find that the higher-level ones have ability-buffing magic items, and that these do increase their spells apropriately. Ex.: 20th level wizard with +6 headband of intellect, Int goes to 26 for a total of 5 spells in each level 6, 7, and 8 (3.0 DMG p. 57).

Click to expand...

Thanks for all your help! My players appreciate it, and I do too. I wonder why that isn't in the books somewhere. It's odd that the spell the item is based on doesn't do it, but an item made with that spell does. Huh.

 

dcollins

Explorer

• Jan 10, 2004

• #9

Magic items are not, in general, just spell-replicators (other than potions/ scrolls/ wands). Plenty of magic items have their own unique effect, and the prerequisite spells only have to be suggestive of that effect, not a direct duplicate.

 

Nightfall

Sage of the Scarred Lands

• Jan 10, 2004

• #10

Exactly DC. There are number of instances of that, but for me it all depends on the "effect" someone is gunning for.