Double Empower?!?!?

[Croaker]

One of the drawbacks of multiple empowering is that when adding half the original random amount, you have to round down. For large random numbers, Fireball for instance, this is insignificant, but when you want to empower a buffing spell like Cat's Grace, rounding down is a substantial loss. An average roll on such a spell is 3, so each Empowering you stack on only adds a single point. Maximizing is more efficient, but if I recall the Sage correctly, applying Maximize and Empower to the same spell requires a roll to determine how much Empower adds, not just adding a flat 50% of maximum potential.

 

[Numion]

So...as an Incantatrix you could have a quadruple-empowered, energy substituted (sonic) cone of cold that does 15d6 x 3 (e.g. 1+.5+.5+.5+.5 = 3) as a 9th level spell. 157.5 points of damage (average), save for half, for everyone in the area. Who needs Power Word, Kill?

That'd be the wizard fighting against a rogue

 

[psionotic]

Not quite..

Well, if you want to be nasty, you can empower Fox's Cunning 7 times, adding (1d4+1)*4,5 intelligence points, on average adding 15 points of intelligence, in effect +7 to DCs, maximum 22 points, increasing DCs by 11. A lot better than those Headbands of Intellect, yes?
Even better to use for Monks when they use their stunning attack, perhaps? Or for fighters and their strength...

Actually, you could only empower it 3 times. Empower spell increases the spell level by 2, and Fox's Cunning is a 2nd level spell.

 

[Demogorge]

Re: Not quite..

Actually, you could only empower it 3 times. Empower spell increases the spell level by 2, and Fox's Cunning is a 2nd level spell.

They are referring to the Incantrix PrC's ability to lower the metamagic level requirement by 1, so each empower only increases the spell level by 1.

And yes, it is disgusting, like most of the PrC's in Magic of Faerun...

 

[Iku Rex]

One of the drawbacks of multiple empowering is that when adding half the original random amount, you have to round down.

Sometimes a special rule makes you multiply a number or a die roll. As long as you’re applying a single multiplier, multiply the number normally. When two or more multipliers apply, however, combine them into a single multiple, with each extra multiple adding 1 less than its value to the first multiple. (DnD multiplying )

The extra multipliers from more than one "Empower Spell" still apply to the same number, and should be added together before calculating the final result.

 

[SpikeyFreak]

Sometimes a special rule makes you multiply a number or a die roll. As long as you’re applying a single multiplier, multiply the number normally. When two or more multipliers apply, however, combine them into a single multiple, with each extra multiple adding 1 less than its value to the first multiple. (DnD multiplying )

The extra multipliers from more than one "Empower Spell" still apply to the same number, and should be added together before calculating the final result.

Wow. I've never seen that before. I'd sure like to know how "official" it is.

That does make empowering stat buffing spells a lot more powerful.

--Excited Spikey

 

[kreynolds]

I'd sure like to know how "official" it is.

It's on the WotC website man! How much more official do you need it to be! What? Do ya' need an official WotC stamp on your rear first?! Just pokin'.

 

[SpikeyFreak]

Go look at the characters in the Sword and Fist web enhancement.

One of them says basically (IIRC): "You can take the PrC one level sooner, but if you do you don't get the extra attack from a high BAB." The problem is that the PrC grants a perfect BAB, so the character gets the extra attack with or without going into the class at level 6.

There are LOTS of things on WotCs website that are wrong.

--Skeptical Spikey

 

[Caliban]

Wow. I've never seen that before. I'd sure like to know how "official" it is.

That does make empowering stat buffing spells a lot more powerful.

--Excited Spikey

It's on page 275 of the PHB.

Basically, Iku is saying that a double empower would increase the spell by (1.5+.5) = 2.0 times.

 

[SpikeyFreak]

Well, I guess the PHB is pretty official. Rule noted.

--Number Crunching Mode Spikey