Does this seems reasonable as a 2nd level spell?

[Magus Coeruleus]

Ok, it's not "exactly" a spell, but close enough. It's a power for a totemic magic item my DM created that lets you expend XP to gain powers using it. Usually the powers emulate spells fitting a theme, but I asked if I could get a power that augments something I can already do (fitting the theme).

It's a Cape of the Raptor that already lets me feather fall and speak with animals (raptors only) at will. For a 2nd level power usable once per day, I asked if I could speed the casting time of a Summon Nature's Ally spell from 1 round to 1 standard action, applicable only if the creature is partly or wholly raptor (e.g. eagles, owls, hippogriffs). As other alternatives, I suggested certain bonuses to hit, damage, AC, or hp. He thought these all sounded reasonable. I'd like this to be properly balanced, however, and was hoping to get opinions. My particular interest is in the rapidly cast version.

Again, we're talking the equivalent of a 2nd level spell per day. Once per day, SNA used to summon a raptor-type creature or creatures (only) as 1 std action instead of 1 round. Consider it compared to the Rapid Spell metamagic feat from Complete Divine which, for +1 spell level, lets you reduce casting time in a manner that would turn 1 round spells into 1 std action spells (feat applicable to any long casting time spell, e.g. multi-round becomes 1 round, minutes become 1 minute, hours become 1 hour). Or, you can think of it as an actual spell with a casting time of 1 swift action (from Complete Arcane and Complete Adventurer).

Does this sound too powerful, too weak, for a 2nd level spell equivalent? What about other effects improving summoned raptor-type creatures?

Thanks for your input.

 

[Terath Ninir]

I'd call it rather weak. Unearthed Arcana has a conjurer option where all your summoning spells have a reduced casting time all the time, in exchange for not being able to summon a familiar. Familiars are very weak, so I think the ability in turn is pretty weak.

I think a better version would be that as a swift action, you can use the ability, and it applies for 1 round/level. So you could summon raptors rapidly for that time period, including the round you use the ability. I think that would be a reasonable 2nd-level-spell equivalent. Not super powerful, but decent.

 

[Magus Coeruleus]

Thanks, Zombie. That's the way my DM went with it and it worked well last session. I was summoning hippogriffs to attack a group of opponents that included a basilisk, so as to "attack" from a distance and provide petrification fodder to distract.

Maybe you can offer some other suggestions for powers (let's just say spells) that would work like wild feats that interact with a druid's wildshape ability.

For instance, I'm thinking of a power that would be activated while expending a wildshape use to grant flight without actually turning into an animal (perhaps sprouting feathery wings, however). Presumably, it would have to be lower than 3rd level since for that I could just get a Fly effect without using a wildshape. That or maybe there's someway for it be 3rd level and be better than regular Fly somehow.

Another idea is a power that, activated while wildshaping into a raptor (e.g. eagle or owl) grants the same benefit as the Natural Spell feat for that one use of wildshape. That is, you can cast spells when wildshaped into a raptor but not any other creature. I wonder if 3rd level is appropriate for that.

Thanks!