Alternate Metamagic - Powering Up.

[Oni]

Just had a thought.


It might be interesting to have metamagics that added instead of levels, full rounds to casting times. For instance a maximized fireball instead of it being a level six spell, it is a level 3 spell put takes 3 full rounds to cast. Seems flavorful. Unfortunately something like that would be easily abusable with long term spells that one usually cast ahead of time anyway, but I thought I would throw it out there because it seemed like an interesting idea and maybe someone would have some thoughts on how to make it workable.

 

[Sollir Furryfoot]

Perhaps have a separate line of feats and only make them usable in conjunction with spells that have a duration of instantaneous? That might take care of your problem. Perhaps an option of speeding it up 1 full round less by burning 2 con points per full round less (up to 1 full round to cast)

Just an idea

 

[haiiro]

You could always specify that only spells with certain durations (i.e., instantaneous or expressed in rounds only, let's say) would benefit from this multi-round version of metamagic, while spells with longer durations were affected normally (i.e., their levels would be modified by metamagic, not their casting times).

It's definitely an interesting idea, but as you point out it's quite vulnerable to abuse (particularly when it comes to buff spells).

Edit: Sollir posted while I was writing my reply. I like the idea of making a separate set of feats to handle this problem.

 

[msisden]

I personally think that if you do this, metamagic feats would become worthless for combat spells. Just think, increasing the casting time to a number of full rounds means a number of full rounds where the spellcaster is making Concentration checks against any damage that is dealt to him.
I doubt any spellcaster is going to want to be casting a spell for a prolonged period of time where everyone knows he is casting a spell, unless he is applying MORE metamagic feats (Still, Silent) and increasing the time even further to cast a spell he doesn't even know will be useful once the casting is finished.
Also, how would you take into account Quicken Spell? Unless you want to get rid of it altogether, using extended round guidelines you would be using 4 full rounds to cast a quickened spell.
I think what you have to really take into account is how anyone who is playing a spellcaster would respond. I personally would never use metamagic feats at all with this since my character would be standing around for a couple rounds doing nothing (since we are adding full round actions) except casting the meta-magic spell while the rest of the PCs are slaying things and getting the spotlight.
However, you could use this as an option in conjunction with the current system. The caster can either choose to burn a higher level slot OR increase casting time. Also, to prevent some of the abuse of buff spells and such limit the number of meta-magic feats that you can increase casting time to use to once per spell. That way you don't get the persistent, empowered, maximized buff spells at the start of the day.

Anyway, that's my two copper on the subject.

 

[Stalker0]

I think allowing the current system and this proposed system together would be fine, just have the restriction that only spells with instantaneous or some short duration could do the powering up thing. Also, you may not want to allow metamagics to stack with themselves under the new system, imagine a fireball that I spent 2 minutes powering up with empower spell to surprise a camp. Who needs meteor swarm?

I like the idea overall though.

 

[Someone]

Maybe something like that:

Energy gathering (Metamagic)
You can power spells by careful acumulation of magical energy
Prerrequisites: Any other metamagic spell
Benefits: You can reduce the level increase of other metamagic feats by increasing the casting time of the spell by the duration of the spell or one full round for level reduced, whicever is greater. This feat doesn´t allow you to cast spells that otherwise you wouldn´t be able to cast.

Examples: You want to empower Bull´s Strenght: Increase the casting time to 1 hour/level.

You want to Maximize a fireball and only increase the level by 1: Add 2 full rounds to the casting time and prepare it at 4 level.

You are a level 5 wizard and want to Maximize a fireball: You cannot, even with this feat.

 

[Saeviomagy]

I'd avoid making it a flat increase per level. It's much better to go with some form of doubling (ie - for each +1 level from metamagic you try to negate, the casting time doubles). In addition you need to specify that a free action spell doubles to a standard and a standard to a full-round.

Otherwise it's not really that difficult to produce an extended, extended, extended, extended cone spell which wipes out an army or three, and is cast at a ludicrous range (you can still do it, but the doubling puts a real limit on it - linear isn't sufficient).