haiiro
First Post
I really like the new House Rules column that started in Dragon #305, and I think the idea presented in the first installment is great: allow metamagic feats to be used once daily (each) on the fly -- without preparation.
Since I don't think spellcasters need a free boost in my games, however -- and this is a big boost, IMO -- I'd like to propose an alternate implementation: make this ability a feat.
Rapid Metamagic Casting [General]
You have learned to apply your metamagical knowledge on the fly, without any special preparation.
Prerequisite: Spellcaster level 5th+, 3 metamagic feats, Int 13+
Benefit: You can apply the effects of any of your metamagic feats "on the fly," without prior preparation or an increased casting time. You can do this a number of times per day equal to your primary spellcasting ability bonus +1 (Int for wizards, Cha for sorcerers, Wis for clerics), and must decide to use this ability when you cast a spell you wish to modify. You can only apply one metamagic feat to a spell on the fly, although that spell can already have been prepared with metamagic feats as normal. You can pick and choose freely which feats to apply on the fly (the same one each time, several different ones, etc.). See the associated chart for the limitations on this ability (this chart is included in Dragon, and I won't reproduce it here).
The feat description/rules may need some work -- I essentially want it to do exactly what it does in Andy Collins's article, only as a feat not a free ability (and with a different limit on the number of times/day). I also don't think the name is too hot, although it gets the job done without being too clunky.
Overall, I think this is a nifty idea. It would scale with a caster's primary casting ability, gain versatility as she learned more metamagic feats, and it seems powerful enough to be interesting -- but not overpowered.
In terms of balance, prerequisites, utility, etc. -- what do you think?
Since I don't think spellcasters need a free boost in my games, however -- and this is a big boost, IMO -- I'd like to propose an alternate implementation: make this ability a feat.
Rapid Metamagic Casting [General]
You have learned to apply your metamagical knowledge on the fly, without any special preparation.
Prerequisite: Spellcaster level 5th+, 3 metamagic feats, Int 13+
Benefit: You can apply the effects of any of your metamagic feats "on the fly," without prior preparation or an increased casting time. You can do this a number of times per day equal to your primary spellcasting ability bonus +1 (Int for wizards, Cha for sorcerers, Wis for clerics), and must decide to use this ability when you cast a spell you wish to modify. You can only apply one metamagic feat to a spell on the fly, although that spell can already have been prepared with metamagic feats as normal. You can pick and choose freely which feats to apply on the fly (the same one each time, several different ones, etc.). See the associated chart for the limitations on this ability (this chart is included in Dragon, and I won't reproduce it here).
The feat description/rules may need some work -- I essentially want it to do exactly what it does in Andy Collins's article, only as a feat not a free ability (and with a different limit on the number of times/day). I also don't think the name is too hot, although it gets the job done without being too clunky.
Overall, I think this is a nifty idea. It would scale with a caster's primary casting ability, gain versatility as she learned more metamagic feats, and it seems powerful enough to be interesting -- but not overpowered.
In terms of balance, prerequisites, utility, etc. -- what do you think?
I'm not a bumper by habit, but I don't have much experience designing feats and I'm very interested in getting some feedback on this one.
