Can Someone explain Reserve Feats to me, please?!

[Nyaricus]

I have only the faintest inkling what reserve feats are - anyone care to explain them in detail? I know it allows spellcasters to do something magical whenever they wish, or something...

Also, list of books they are in?

cheers,
--N

 

[MarkB]

Basically: The feat gives you a simple, relatively low-power spell-like ability that you can use at will, as often as you like. The 'power source' for this ability is to have a spell of a particular type or school, of a certain minimum level, memorised - once you've cast all spells of that type and level, you can no longer use the reserve feat power until you re-memorise an appropriate spell.

So for instance, there might be a feat which allows you to shoot a close-range ray of fire at will, providing you currently have a Fire spell of at least 3rd level memorised. Once you memorise a Fireball spell in the morning, you can use your fire-ray ability at will as a standard action, as many times as you like - but if you cast that Fireball spell (assuming you don't have any other 3rd-level or higher Fire spells memorised), you can no longer use your fire-ray ability.

 

[Nifft]

The damage is usually about half what you'd get from the spell, too: 1d6/spell level, for example.

Cheers, -- N

 

[WhatGravitas]

Complete Mage, Complete Champion.

They're basically at will-spell-like abilities, that function, as long as you can cast a spell with a certain descriptor, and the power depends on the spell level of that spell.

For example, one feat (Fiery Burst) allows you to sling mini-fireballs, with 5 feet-radius, doing 1d6 fire damage per spell level of the highest available spell level.

For example: You have prepared a fireball and a scorching ray. The fireball is a 3rd-level spell, hence your Fiery Burst deals 3d6 damage (in 5'-radius) - until you cast your fireball.

Then your highest level fire spell is Scorching Ray, hence the Fiery Burst will only deal 2d6 fire damage. When you've cast the scorching ray (in this case your last fire spell), you cannot use Fiery Burst anymore.

I hope that clears up the whole stuff.

Cheers, LT.

 

[Asmor]

Also worth noting, the power of your at-will ability is based on the highest level appropriate spell you have prepared... that fire ray, for example, might do 1d6 damage per spell level. So if you've got an 8th level fire spell memorized, you can do 8d6 fire rays at will.

Usually the range is quite limited, though, which is annoying... The actual fire spell reserve feat, for example, creates a 5 or 10 foot burst (don't recall off the top of my head) within 30 feet. The lightning one creates a line that's something like 20 feet long. Puts you nicely in charging range.

 

[nittanytbone]

The feats usually also give a +1 bonus to a certain spell save (For example, +1 to saves vs. fire).

You can find them in Complete Champion and Complete Mage.

 

[Kurotowa]

The feats usually also give a +1 bonus to a certain spell save (For example, +1 to saves vs. fire).

Not quite. They usually give you +1 caster level to the same spell type as the one that powers it. So Fiery Burst grants +1 CL to fire spells, Sickening Grasp grants +1 CL to necromancy spells, and so on.

 

[nittanytbone]

Not quite. They usually give you +1 caster level to the same spell type as the one that powers it. So Fiery Burst grants +1 CL to fire spells, Sickening Grasp grants +1 CL to necromancy spells, and so on.

Duh, good catch. Sorry!

 

[Patlin]

I've found these very usefull for a Shifter alternate Druid, as they can be used while shapeshifted. Fly in, fiery burst (or, as my group insists on calling it, "poop fire") and (with the flyby attack feat from the aerial form) fly out. Small amount of damage, but pesky for the unprepared monster. Mostly usefull if they don't have one of my friends engaged. Also, they don't check spell resistance, which is always nice.

 

[Drowbane]

It is worth noting that Reserve Feats give you (Su) "spell-like" abilities... not (Sp).

edit: I think... hehe