Arcane Consumption (PHB II) too consumptive?

[Scharlata]

Hi!

Does anyone accord with me that the price for Arcane Consumption (PHB II feat, p. 74) is too high to pay?

Does a once-per-day +4 bonus on a save DC outweigh a -4 penalty to Con for 12 hours plus fatigue?

In which common case (spell/class feature/granted power) is a swift +4 bonus on a save DC unbalancing/disruptive?

Your opinions are welcomed.

EDIT: Error alert: The table mentions a +2 bonus to the save DC. The text mentions a +4 bonus on the save DC. The text takes precedence over the table's entry.

 

[Thanee]

Well, anytime, when the Con penalty makes no difference.

Bye
Thanee

 

[EyeontheMountain]

I would say it is mostly too much, but there are certainly times you can cast a spell and not suffer from the con damage at all. But considering how magical items ignore your own DC at non-epic levels, I cannot see many at all.

Generally DCs = combat and this feat = not combat

So I don't thik I will ever take it.

 

[Wilphe]

Can you take it as a lich or other undead?

 

[Scharlata]

Can you take it as a lich or other undead?

Ahhh! There you go!

You need Toughness, Arcane Toughness (Toughness), and an arcane caster level of 6th or more to take the feat.

The "fluffy" text (not the description of the benefit, mind you!) tells us to "sacrifice the caster's health".

So, it seems that you can take that feat if you're an arcane undead spellcaster. No Con penalty and no fatigue applicable.

OK, that's a beginning...

 

[Thanee]

If you manage to become a zombie wizard, you get Toughness for free!!!

Bye
Thanee

 

[Ditch]

When you are an Archmage with Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus and anything else you can pile onto a spell (Heighten Spell, etc.) and the BBEG is weak to a certain save.

Lets say you really need to kill the boss guy who happens to be a mage also. Round one you throw out a Finger of Death and sac some CON. BBEG rolls crappy and the fight just got whole lot easier. Why do you care if you lose 2 HP per level and -2 to Fort save if that pretty much ended the fight. Just grab all of his loot and teleport home to lick your wounds. Although I think this makes the module pretty anti-climatic and detracts from the fun, it is definately one way to go about it.

This feat being used by NPC's who are about to die anyway and just want to throw out one last save-or-die spell at the PC's is very cheesy.

I don't think this feat is weak in the least. Its just not something you toss on every other fireball. It requires some timing. If you are playing in FR setting you can take the Tireless Feat at 1st level if you qualify, or just accept the -2 STR and DEX, etc. It's not a game ending drawback for most mages.

Just my 2 coppers.

 

[frankthedm]

This feat being used by NPC's who are about to die anyway and just want to throw out one last save-or-die spell at the PC's is very cheesy.

That is called "Failing the NPC test."

It is as equally cheesy for player to do it to an NPC.

 

[Seeten]

I like campaigns where DM and Players all agree to limit the "save or die" .

 

[Scharlata]

When you are an Archmage with Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus and anything else you can pile onto a spell (Heighten Spell, etc.) and the BBEG is weak to a certain save.[...]

OK, that's another way to look at it. I'll scribe it down.
Kind regards




Zombie Wizards with Haste!