[EOM] EOM and Swift spells

[Kae'Yoss]

These Swift spells (not to be confused with quickened spells) first appeared in the Miniatures Handbook, I think, and many are to be found in Complete Adventurer. They can be cast as a swift action (practically a quickened spell), and work for only one round. So swift invisibility can be cast like a quickened spell, without pushup of caster level, but only works one round.

Now elements of magic doesn't support that kind of spell, so I have thought of a new general enhancement:


Duration, Swift (varies)
You can choose this enhancement only if you have the Quicken Spell feat. It doesn’t work on spells with a duration of instantaneous, especially evoke spells that deal damage.
The casting time becomes one free (swift) action, and the duration changes to one single round. Effectively, you can cast this spell at the beginning of the round and profit from its benefits until the end of the turn.
The following table shows the appropriate cost, based on its original MP cost. A swift signature spell must be prepared as such to take advantage of the reduced cost

MP Cost
Original/Signature Swift/Standard Swift
0 to 2 / 0/1
3-4/ 1/2
5+/ 3/5


Any thoughts on it? Should it be open to everyone? May the incresed cost be unnecessary (at least for signature spells). Should there be other or additional limits on the type of spell?

 

[Stalker0]

I created a metamagic feat a while back to convert spells to swift spells, and it worked fairly well...didn't find any balance issues with it. I would suggest you include the clause that spells with casting times longer than 1 round can not be made swift.

 

[RangerWickett]

KaeYoss, that works. The version I was going to put in was:

Duration, Brief (0 MP plus special). The spell only lasts for one round (until the end of your next turn), but you may purchase 4 MP worth of enhancements for free. This enhancement can only be chosen if the spell consists only of general enhancements, Abjure (or Hex), Charm, Compel, Create, or Infuse (or Drain) enhancements.

 

[Verequus]

Duration, Brief (0 MP plus special). The spell only lasts for one round (until the end of your next turn), but you may purchase 4 MP worth of enhancements for free. This enhancement can only be chosen if the spell consists only of general enhancements, Abjure (or Hex), Charm, Compel, Create, or Infuse (or Drain) enhancements.

Hmm, are the 4 extra free MP under the the same restriction like the other non-free enhancements? It should be, but I see a reading, where one can argue otherwise.

Regarding the types of enhancements: I see, why Evoke is bad and in the same line Dispel Magic (steipping on Dispel Specialist) and Heal, but the others? Illusion, Summon,Transform, Scry and Spellcraft are probably to short, but Divination could be useful, like Move. Are there balancing issues, I don't see?

And if we are already at the swift action, why aren't we including immediate actions? The Dispel Specialist feat could use this mechanic (or an improved version of this feat).

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Welcome to the boards, RuleMaster.

Stalker, I was thinking about such a metamagic feat, too.

 

[Kemrain]

Hmm, are the 4 extra free MP under the the same restriction like the other non-free enhancements? It should be, but I see a reading, where one can argue otherwise.

Regarding the types of enhancements: I see, why Evoke is bad and in the same line Dispel Magic (steipping on Dispel Specialist) and Heal, but the others? Illusion, Summon,Transform, Scry and Spellcraft are probably to short, but Divination could be useful, like Move. Are there balancing issues, I don't see?

And if we are already at the swift action, why aren't we including immediate actions? The Dispel Specialist feat could use this mechanic (or an improved version of this feat).

Welcome back to the boards, Rulemaster. Hope those computer troubles are coming along.

I think Move was left out because of Move Space. Being able to fly for a round, or run at +1000 feet for a round isn't a big deal. Teleporting and making a full attack is.

- Kemrain the Spacial. (x, y, z)

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Welcome back to the boards, Rulemaster. Hope those computer troubles are coming along.

I think Move was left out because of Move Space. Being able to fly for a round, or run at +1000 feet for a round isn't a big deal. Teleporting and making a full attack is.

- Kemrain the Spacial. (x, y, z)

Why not just ban Move Space?

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Based on the fact that a "Swift Spell" Metamagic Feat probably wouldn't increase the spell's level, I've changed the option to:

General Enhancements
Duration, Swift (0/3)
You can choose this enhancement only if you have the Quicken Spell feat. It doesn’t work on spells with a duration of instantaneous, especially evoke spells that deal damage.
The casting time becomes one free (swift) action, and the duration changes to one single round. Effectively, you can cast this spell at the beginning of the round and profit from its benefits until the end of the turn.
For signature spells, the cost isn’t increased (assuming they are built as swift), other spells cost 3 extra MP.


Still alright? What would be a good cost for swifting on the fly? Should it be 0, too? Or should it be banned altogether?

 

[Pyrex]

How about changing the wording from "It doesn't work..." to "Can only be applied to spells with durations of 1rd/lvl or longer"?

Instead of or in addition to that you could add a note that the Enhancement can only be applied to spells that Target a Creature and that the range of the spell then becomes Personal.

(IIRC, all of the Swift spells to date only target the caster)

 

[Kae'Yoss]

How about changing the wording from "It doesn't work..." to "Can only be applied to spells with durations of 1rd/lvl or longer"?

Instead of or in addition to that you could add a note that the Enhancement can only be applied to spells that Target a Creature and that the range of the spell then becomes Personal.

(IIRC, all of the Swift spells to date only target the caster)

Distract Assailant targets one creature for a round.

The wording isn't really that important since, as long as the spirit of the restriction is clear: nothing that would have been over in a second, anyway, like fireball and the like.