How Do Metamagic Rods Work For Preparation Spellcasters?

[airwalkrr]

It seems there are two camps in the metamagic rod issue. I want to know what ENWorlders think about the subject. Here are the two camps as I see them.

Metamagic Rods Are Used Only When Casting The Spell: That is, when a cleric or wizard casts a spell that he wants to enhance with metamagic from a metamagic rod, he need only wield the rod during the casting. Use of the rod requires no preparation in advance and the character can decide to use it at any time, regardless of when spells were prepared.

Metamagic Rods Are Used Only When Preparing The Spell: That is, when a cleric or wizard memorizes spells for the day, they decide at that time which spells to enhance with the metamagic rods. Later, upon casting the spell, the rod is no longer needed as its magic has already provided the power for the metamagic during memorization.

So which interpretation do you favor? I realize there might be other opinions on the matter. If so, post them here. Note this isn't a discussion of the way it ought to be, just your opinion on what the RAW says (or implies as may be the case).

 

[Hypersmurf]

My most recent post outlining my thoughts on the matter.

The FAQ states:
Does a wizard (or other spellcaster who prepares spells) with a metamagic rod (Dungeon Master’s Guide, 236) activate it when preparing spells (thus preparing three
spells with a metamagic effect without paying the extra spell level cost) or when casting spells (allowing her to apply the metamagic effect to any three spells she likes)?

The latter. The metamagic rods function the same for any spellcaster—they allow her to apply a metamagic effect “on the fly” when casting the spell to be affected. The exception is the sorcerer (or by extension, any other spontaneous spellcaster) who must still use a full-round action to cast the affected spell.

I disagree with this answer emphatically

-Hyp.

 

[Thanee]

The FAQ answer is completely unreasonable.

The rods grant usage of the feat, but every caster has to use them the way the feats are normally used. It's not bearable, that sorcerers (or all spontaneous users) have to suffer through the extra casting time, while wizards (and other prepared casters) do not and furthermore can use them spontaneously unlike their regular metamagic.

Logically speaking, either the rods do the metamagic, or the caster does with the help of the rod. Like it is with the FAQ, sorcerers metamagic the spells themselves, while wizards let the rods do it. No way!

Therefore the rods have to be used during preparation for wizards (and there must be a limit that no more than three spells can be metamagicked at the same time from one rod, in order to avoid some issues that otherwise might surface).

Bye
Thanee

 

[Plane Sailing]

Our gaming group have always read this as allowing any caster (prepared or spontaneous) to apply the effect at casting time, with no additional penalties - pretty much as if it were a rod of sudden metamagic.

 

[Li Shenron]

I allow them to be used at casting time, applying the metamagic effect "on the fly" to anyone in the same way, without increasing the casting time to anyone.

But then I do not let the characters find these rods on sale.

 

[Stalker0]

The FAQ answer is completely unreasonable.

The rods grant usage of the feat,

If the rods really granted a use of the feat, then the cost would still be there The rod allows the caster to gain a benefit similar to the feat, but its not quite the same.

 

[Sithobi1]

It would, if it didn't specifically say that it didn't alter the slot cost.

 

[Thanee]

Metamagic rods hold the essence of a metamagic feat but do not change the spell slot of the altered spell.

Possession of a metamagic rod does not confer the associated feat on the owner, only the ability to use the given feat a specified number of times per day.

It's not similar to the feat, it's exactly as the feat with the single difference, that the spell level remains unchanged for determination of the necessary spell slot to cast the spell.

The FAQ answer contradicts this, and is thus to be considered errata to what the rulebook says, but I will gladly ignore that part of the FAQ, because it's inconsistent and unbalancing (even more than the rods already are, anyways ).


And before someone asks...

All the rods described here are use-activated (but casting spells in a threatened area still draws an attack of opportunity).

Using the rod during preparation of a spell is also use-activated.
Casting a spell in a threatened area is still relevant (for spontaneous casters).

Bye
Thanee

 

[Li Shenron]

I'd love to painfully torture the guy who wrote "Metamagic rods hold the essence of a metamagic feat" almost as much as whoever wrote the legendary "Using the foul sight granted by the powers of unlife..."

 

[Vuron]

Our gaming group have always read this as allowing any caster (prepared or spontaneous) to apply the effect at casting time, with no additional penalties - pretty much as if it were a rod of sudden metamagic.

This is the interpretation we've always used and is the most balanced.

The only way that you could justify the FAQ ruling vis a vis sorcerors is to assume that sorcerors are less skilled with monkeying around with the intrinsic formula of magic and thus require more time to change the fundamental nature of a spell through metamagic. As a result sorcerors are even slow to manipulate a spell with an external aid like a metamagic rod or power component (if you use Unearthed Arcana).

The only problem being that this theoretical justification is completely missing from the RAW and would have to be something that the DM arrived at for thier setting.