Hidden Magic [Metamagic] (see revision below)

[Jack Simth]

Detect Magic and Arcane Sight can both be Permanencied - which is about ideal for the Wizard that never wants to be caught off-guard by a magic trap, never fooled by an invisibile door, never fooled by an Illusory Wall, and so on.

This feat, potentially, stops such.

For that matter, though, there's no particular reason to limit it to illusion spells. A Hidden Alter Self makes a fair amount of sense. A Hidden Baelful Polymorph, and they are... unlikely... to ever be restored. A Hidden Contingency is wonderful for when you're going through a Wizard-paranoid society (run by Clerics with Detect Magic), and so on.

 

[the Jester]

I like it. I'd prolly keep it at +2 levels, and get rid of the Gnome prereq.

For that matter, though, there's no particular reason to limit it to illusion spells.

I think Jack makes a good point. I'd certainly consider letting it apply to other spells.

 

[Nifft]

On reflection, I'd make it +1 level and allow it to apply to any spell school, but add one more cost: if the spell has an XP or expensive material component, the Stealth version requires +50% more of whatever it is. (Also, I'd call the feat Stealth, because Stealth is one of the coolest. words. evar.)

I'd explicitly stipulate that a Stealthy permanent effect incurs +50% of the XP for a permanent regular (non-Stealth'd) effect.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I think Jack makes a good point. I'd certainly consider letting it apply to other spells.

I hadn't thought about that before, but it certainly would make the polymorph and comparable spells a lot more potent. An excellent idea.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Revised

Hidden Magic [Metamagic]

Prerequisites: Spell Focus (any)

This feat, when applied to spells, makes them not register as magical when viewed with a detect magic spell or effect.

A hidden spell uses up a spell slot two levels higher than the spell's actual level.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

To be honest, this spell was inspired by me being irritated with the 2E Complete Book of Gnomes & Halflings, which I reread the other day. In Midwood, the gnome settlement of Wit's End is a grand manor hidden by illusions that make it appear to be a thicket of fallen trees in the woods.

The Complete Book of Gnomes & Halflings says this would never happen, because someone would find the gnomes with detect magic, which struck me as offensively dumb: The preeminent illusionists would either come up with a more advanced version of permanent illusion or have an ability (a feat in 3E) that would hide the magical aura of an illusion.

Excellent point about transmutations, though, so I changed it to embrace all spells. I like the Spell Focus prerequisite, although I suspect that could be dropped without any balance issues.

Does everyone but me think this is only worth a +1 level bump?

 

[Nifft]

Does everyone but me think this is only worth a +1 level bump?

I think it should cost extra XP or GP (if such is required in the first place), because it will be harder to detect and therefore target or counter.

Cheers, -- N