A new metamagic feat: Potent Spell

[Ciaran]

Is this feat too underpowered? I'd like to balance it properly, particularly vis-a-vis Heighten Spell, without making it too strong. Suggestions are welcome!

Potent Spell [Metamagic]
You can cast spells that are more potent than normal.
Benefit: Your effective caster level is increased by 1 when casting a potent spell. In addition, the DC of a potent spell is increased by 2. A potent spell uses up a spell slot two levels higher than the spell’s actual level.

- Eric

 

[GuardianLurker]

I think it's a little underpowered.

Compare this to an Empowered and Heightened Spell.

 

[Ciaran]

Thanks for the reply, GL. Perhaps I should change my question.

I agree, the feat seems underpowered to me. But I'm not sure what to do to make it balanced. It seems fairly equivalent to a two-level-boosted Heightened Spell (+2 DC/+1 caster level vs. +2 DC/+2 to spell level for purposes of LGoI, GoI, etc), but Heightened Spell is a lot more flexible, and is probably itself a slightly underpowered metamagic feat in any case. So, basically, I dunno. Any suggestions?

- Eric

 

[las]

redus it so it only ups the spell level once. that will make it more in line.

 

[GuardianLurker]

I agree, the feat seems underpowered to me. But I'm not sure what to do to make it balanced. .... So, basically, I dunno. Any suggestions?

Well, this is probably overpowered, but how about:


Potent Spell
Prereq: Heighten Spell
Benefit: Use of this feat raises the spell DC by N (above the spell slot used to cast this spell), and the effective caster level of the spell by N/2 (truncated), where N is the number of extra spell levels used in casting the spell.
Special: A potent spell uses a higher spell level slot than normal.


E.G. A fireball prepared as a 5th level spell by a 9th level caster would have an effective caster level of 10 (=9+((5-3)/2)) and a spell DC of 17+Int (=10+5+2+Int)

As a limiter, it's worth noting that often, raising the effective caster level makes very little difference.

E.G. A potent 9th-level fireball would have an (minimum) effective caster level of 20, a spell DC of 25+Int, and still only do 10d6; compared to a heightened 9th level fireball with caster level 17, DC 19+Int, and 10d6.

This is probably still overpowered though.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Actually I think it is overpowered as is, because you are bundling together a DC increasing effect, a range increasing effect, a damage increasing effect and a duration increasing effect!

I'd be inclined to go for +1 levels and it gives you +1 caster level on all aspects of the spell. Ditch the DC side of it.

Cheers

 

[Ciaran]

Like this?

Potent Spell [Metamagic]
You can cast spells that are more potent than normal.
Benefit: Your effective caster level is increased by 1 when casting a potent spell. A potent spell uses up a spell slot one level higher than the spell’s actual level.

 

[Crothian]

I like the latet version of it and I think it should work pretty well.

 

[Ciaran]

Cool. Thanks for the help, guys!

- Eric