Familiar (Metamagic) Spell

[James McMurray]

If a spellcaster has the Familiar Spell feat, could he grant his familiar the use of a metamagicked lower level spell instead of a 7th level spell?

I know it doesn't specifically say he can, and so the default answer is most likely no. However, does anyone see any balance issues in allowing it.

 

[AuraSeer]

That seems perfectly legal to me. If you're giving the familiar a sixth-level spell, why should it matter whether it's Chain Lightning or Maximized Fireball? They're both sixth level; one just has a lower save difficulty.

 

[James McMurray]

Thanks AuraSeer, anyone else have any input?

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Should be no problem.

In fact, we had a discussion whether (limited) whish can emulate spells with metamagic if their effective levels don't exceed the maximum level. Someone (I think it was hong, or was it KarinsDad?) said it doesn't work, I said it does. As it would emulate a spell and also access to a feat you don't have (although for a limited time).

If you're in doubt, you can say that it is possible, but the effective caster level's got to be one level lower than normal. So for a 6th-level spell you could use Chain Lightning, or Empowered Fireball, but no Maximized Fireball.

 

[James McMurray]

I was the originator of the Limited Wish thread.

I think I'll allow it. Of course, that will only matter if my Sorcerer decides to take Familiar Spell, or if the party's Wizard decides to take familiar AND Familiar Spell.

 

[KarinsDad]

In fact, we had a discussion whether (limited) whish can emulate spells with metamagic if their effective levels don't exceed the maximum level. Someone (I think it was hong, or was it KarinsDad?) said it doesn't work, I said it does. As it would emulate a spell and also access to a feat you don't have (although for a limited time).

Sorry, I wasn't in that discussion.

If you're in doubt, you can say that it is possible, but the effective caster level's got to be one level lower than normal. So for a 6th-level spell you could use Chain Lightning, or Empowered Fireball, but no Maximized Fireball.

From my POV, this should be totally allowable as long as the original caster has the feat.

Spells are spells. Metamagicked spells are still spells with a different level than normal (and sometimes a different casting time).

One question though (not having MoF in front of me). What exactly does Familiar Spell do? Do you give the Familiar the spell way ahead of time? Just curious.

In any case, the Familiar is casting a Meta-magic spell. So, if it is a Sorcerer's Familiar, it should be a full round action (typically) for the Familiar to cast it. If it is a Wizard's Familiar, it should be one action (typically) to cast it. JMO.

 

[James McMurray]

Familiar Spell is in the ELH. You choose a spell you know and can cast of up to 8th level and your familiar can now use the spell once per day as a spell-like ability with a caster level equal to your level. You can't grant a spell with a material cost greater than 1gp or one with an XP cost. You can gain the feat multiple times, choosing a new spell each time.

 

[AuraSeer]

In any case, the Familiar is casting a Meta-magic spell. So, if it is a Sorcerer's Familiar, it should be a full round action (typically) for the Familiar to cast it.

The familiar isn't actually casting the spell; it gets a spell-like ability. Even for a sorcerer's familiar, using the ability should be a standard action.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

From my POV, this should be totally allowable as long as the original caster has the feat.

Right. Forgot about the prerequisite that it must be a spell you can cast. So if you want to grant your familiar a maximized fireball, you'll have to be able to cast a maximized fireball.

In the old wish spell discussion, it was about feats you don't have (but after all, it's about spells you don't have, maybe even spells that are from a forbidden school or only on other people's spell lists, like heal)