Circle Magic: OMG!

[Sammael]

I just realized how broken Circle Magic is. Thankfully, none of my PCs have it, but consider this for an NPC Red Wizard. He is an evoker 5/red wizard 6, who has five 5th level wizard apprentices. In the morning, he performs the circle magic ritual, receiving 15 spell levels from his apprentices.

He uses his 15 spell levels in the following manner:
-he uses 6 spell levels to raise his caster level by 6; he is now caster level 17th, or 20th for evocations
-presuming he has chain lightning memorized and an Int of 20 (not unreasonable), he can use the remaining 9 levels to cast an empowered maximized chain lightning Heightened to 10th level! Ladies and gentlemen, we now have an 11th level wizard with a potential to deal 120+10d6 electricity damage, with a DC of 10 +5 (Int) +10 (spell level) +1 (Spell Focus) +1 (Greater Spell Focus) +1 (Tattoo Focus) = 28.

Sick.

 

[Pbartender]

Where are you going to get that many 5th level apprentices from? With the Leadership feat, that 11th level Red Wizard will have, at best, one 9th level cohort, one 3rd level follower, a handful of 2nd levels, and two dozen or so 1st level followers. Are you going to drag them along wherever you go? How are you going to keep them alive during your excessively dangerous adventures?

Technically, it can be a very powerful feat; logistically, it can be a nightmare.

To me, it always looked like a feat that was designed for NPCs with strongholds.

It's usually just more trouble than its worth for a wandering adventurer.

 

[Sammael]

True enough from a PC perspective.

However, the NPC in question is in his stronghold. Looking at the Lords of Darkness sample red wizard encounters, an 11th level red wizard on the road is supposed to have one 8th level and two 6th level wizard underlings (along with a host of bodyguards). That's a potential of 10 spell levels (4+3+3). I don't think it's unreasonable that he'll have more resources (and apprentices) in his stronghgold, yet the potential for abuse is almost too great. I'll have to limit this encounter so that it doesn't prove too deadly for the party.

 

[Pbartender]

Well.. there's a reason you don't mess around with Red Wizards, hmmm?

 

[Sammael]

Certainly. Although the party will have no choice but to deal with this one, in his tower, should they choose a certain path.

 

[Darkness]

Int of 20 (not unreasonable)

As a human at level 11?

Yep, 16 + 2lvl +2item = 20 is reasonable enough.