Familiar Replacement

[thullgrim]

Ability Ideas

Type I
Bonus Meta-magic
The staff allows you to modify a spell as it is being cast.
Benefit: Choose one meta-magic feat with a +1 level addition or less. The staff will allow you to apply this meta-magic feat to any one spell in a 24 hour period, without having to prepare the spell as such. Note the spell must still be prepared and cast as normal.

Type II
Bonus Meta-magic II
As Bonus Meta-magic I except the level modifier of the metamagic feat can be no more than +2 levels.

And so on through a Type IIII ability which would apply to a single +4 level meta-magic feat.

Thullgrim

 

[Purzel]

Ability Ideas

Type I
Bonus Meta-magic
[...]

Type II
Bonus Meta-magic II
[...]

Hmm, isn't metamagic too powerful? I had a discussion about metamagic a while ago with the result, that metamagic feats can be really good when used by an intelligent player. So i don't like to give away metamagic for free.

I'd restrict the free use of a metamagiced spell to a metamagic feat the character already has.

Purzel

 

[candidus_cogitens]

I would try to stay away from abilities that are already available by other means. Avoid granting feats, or duplicating Spellfocus.

One reason that I proposed more spontaneous casting abilities was that this is something that wizards generally cannot do. It seems like they should be able to do it at least to some very limited degree, and I think this could be done without making the wizard become too much like a sorcerer.

 

[comrade raoul]

How about this ability, based on a similar ability from the Spellsword prestige class? In practice, it's much like Scribe Scoll, except for the fact that the "scrolls" are stored in the safer, more accessible form of the staff. Wizards with this ability shouldn't get Scribe Scroll at first level, as the abilities are too similar.

Spellcache
At first level, the wizard learns how to store spells in her staff. Effectively, she gains the Scribe Scroll feat using an alternate medium. All rules, XP costs, and expenses that apply to Scribe Scroll also apply to this ability, with the following exceptions. Once cached, the spell remains intangible, resonating within the wizard's staff until it is needed. A wizard can call upon a cached spell at any time she desires it, without any requirements (except that the spell is one that the wizard has cached herself, within her own staff) or chance of mishap. Once activated, a spell activated from a staff works exactly like a spell prepared and cast the normal way. The time it takes to call upon and cast a cached spell is equal to the casting time of the spell.

The wizard can store a number of spells in her staff equal to her class level plus her Intelligence modifier. Cached spells are never accidentally lost during combat. If the staff is ever broken, all the spells cached therein are immediately ruined.

edited: Note that the nice thing about this ability is that, by giving them a safe, accessible, and cool way to store "scrolls", it adds a bit more spontaneity to the wizard class without watering them down or making them like sorcerers. I imagine wizards with this ability will take advantage of it frequently, preparing their most useful spells but keeping a number of spells that might be needed in an especially dangerous or specialized situation safely stored away in the staff (and thus easily available at hand).

 

[Purzel]

Version 2

Version 2 is ready!

http://www.heim1.tu-clausthal.de/~purzel/staff_v2.pdf

Here you go. Have fun

 

[Purzel]

Made a HTML page of the Version 2 of my Wizard Staff for everyone who can't read the PDF format.

http://www.heim1.tu-clausthal.de/~purzel/staff_v2/

 

[candidus_cogitens]

I must admit, I had my doubts about this power level business ... but now that I see your product, I am impressed. You have made it quite flexible: Players can make many choices according to what suits their character best. This also allows for a DM to veto some of the options, without throwing out the whole concept.

I REALLY like the "Improved Somatic" ability. Has that idea been published? It's a very nice option for wizards. I do think it could have a better name though. Something like "Somatic Enhancement" perhaps ...

You did an excellent job incorporating everyone's suggestions. I appreciate being mentioned in your credits.

 

[Firzair]

Wow, thanks for the credits Purzel.
You really did an amazing job with this! I really like it and I will use it. My wizard will hate to dismiss his familiar but this staff is so much cooler!

Greetings
Firzair

 

[Purzel]

More ideas for powers:

Level 3 Power:
Slippery: The staff behaves still normal in the hands of the owner. But for everyone else the surface is extremely slippery. To get hold of it a Reflex save against a DC of 10+Class Level is needed every round.

Level 4 Power:
Immovable: The staff gains the ability of an "Immovable Rod" at will of the caster with unlimited range.
(I call this the ultimate anti-theft device.)

Level 5 Power:
Immune to ...: The staff gains elemental immunity to one energy type of the wizard's choice.

Unbreakable: The staff cannot be broken or sundered with normal weapon damage nor broken by strength.

 

[Quip]

Hello Purzel!

For a level 5 power, you might as well make it immune to all energy damage. Thats a better trade off for stuff like intelligence.

Slippy is a cool idea, and you can make a lot of different powers like that. If someone grabs it, they can get burned or shocked, or they can be under some kind of curse like -4 Str when they hold it

The immovable rod power is just a really awesome idea