A better spell focus?

[Grayhawk]

Let's for a moment forget about the 3.5e spell focus only giving +1.

Also, lets for a moment assume that you don't allow greater spell focus (like Andy said, if you don't use greater spell focus, letting SF give +2 would still be balanced).

So you're left with a balanced feat, that ups the DC of the spells from one school by +2.

Now, the spells from some schools don't improve a whole lot by having their DC increased, so I was thinking of house ruling spell focus to give it wider appeal (inspired by someone on this board, IIRC).

New spell focus: Increases your DC by +1 and raises your caster level by +1, for spells within the chosen school.

This will help with those spells that don't rely on a DC.

Would this feat be balanced?

Or would it be more elegant to keep SF at +2 to DC, and make a new feat that raises the caster level for one school of spells?

What would a good name for this feat be? Would CL +1 be enough?

 

[Kodam]

I'd love a feat which gives you +1 on DCs and CL for one school. How about naming it "school focus"? As long as it doesn't stack with itself it should be balanced.

But can s.o. explain me this: according to Andy Collins one feat that gives +2 to the spell DCs is balanced. Why do you need two feats to get this +2 in 3.5?

Doesn't that mean, that these two feats are quite weak?

 

[Chris_Nightwing]

+1 CL is too powerful for a feat. Hence it is only seen in PrCs or Cleric domain powers. My suggestion to my DM was +1 to the DC of spells from that school and either +2 to spellcraft with that school (fun stacking with the specialist bonus!) or reduced cost (by half) to enscribe spells of that school.

 

[IndyPendant]

I don't see +1 DC and +1 CL for one school as being too powerful at all for a feat; in most spell's cases, you hit a 'ceiling' anyways, where the +1 CL eventually gives only a tiny range and/or duration increase. Who cares if a 6th level Evoker can cast a 7d6 fireball as opposed to a 6d6, or gets a 4th MM missile one level early? Yes, it's good--but Feats are supposed to be good.

Actually, I'm seriously considering the option of eliminating Greater Spell Focus and allowing Spell Focus to give +2 DC. Still considering though.

 

[Khaalis]

I too like this version for a House Rule on Spell Focus. I rarely see casters take Spell Focus as it is in 3.0 (@ +2) because it only workls on roughly 25% of the caster's arsenal, so I know I will never see anyone take it with its puney +1 much less spend 2 feats to get a +2. Now with the idea of a +1 DC and +1 CL it will effect ALL spells of the school and make it 100% utility and thus more attractive. I will probably also House Rule Greater Spell Focus to raise this to a +2 DC and +2 CL (but I will increase the Pre-Req's).

Great idea!

 

[Dark Magus]

I think thats a VERY good idea, but I have one question, would there be a "Greater School Focus"?

 

[comrade raoul]

Personally, I just use the +2 version of Spell Focus, as in 3.0, and the +1 version of Greater Spell Focus, as in 3.5. +3 DC for two feats doesn't seem that broken, and the diminishing-returns aspect seems both balanced and conceptually appropriate.

 

[Grayhawk]

I think thats a VERY good idea, but I have one question, would there be a "Greater School Focus"?

Not sure.

If I were to make a 'Greater School Focus' I would probably have it grant the same benefits (+1 to DC and +1 to CL, stacking with the first feat, for a total of +2, +2).

But I would give it a prereq of Caster Level 9+, as this will lessens the feat's impact on spells that max out at 9th level (Magic Missile) and spells that max out at 10 damage dice (Fireball).

Of course, it will still be very useful for spells like Cone of Cold.

(Maybe too useful?)