Idea: Metamagick slots

[Firzair]

Hi everybody!
I just had an idea for the use of metamagicks.
What if every spellcaster gets a number of metamagick slots equal to his caster level? These can be used for metamagicking spells without using a higher slot. So even a first level wizard could use a silent or still spell on a first level spell.
Would it be very unbalancing?

When all metamagick slots are used you are still able to use higher slots for more metamagicked spells.

What do you think?

Greetings
Firzair

 

[the Jester]

Well, say you're a third level caster with 3 metamagic slots.. you could maximize your second level spell, say melf's acid arrow... for free. Ouch! And as you get higher level it gets much worse.

I don't really think it's balanced, I'm afraid.

 

[Chacal]

How about this one:

You get one metamagic point with every metamagicfeat you have.
Metamagic points can be used to reduce by one the cost of a metamagicked spell. Only one point can be used by spell.

With this one, you'll have less slots, you can
cast a silent spell at 1st level.

It's still free advantage for the spellcasters. so you might want to balance that.



Another one (weaker):

When you want to cast (or prepare) a metamagicked spell you can pay
one spell of the equivalent base level to reduce the metamagiked level by one.


(well, not very clear so I add an example)

A 1st lvl wiz with int 12 wants to prepare a silent spell: he uses 2 1st level slots.


A 7th level wiz wants to prepare an empowered fireball : he uses a 3rd level slot (base fireball level to reduce the cost)
and a 4th level slot (3(fb)+2(empower) -1(reduction))


the same one wants to cast an empowered empowered melf's acid arrow:
he can't because even if he spends a 2nd level slot, he still have to use a 5th level slot ( 2(mar)+2 (emp)+2(emp) -1).


Just random Ideas...


Chacal

 

[BluWolf]

I would have to both ideas bump the power level. Which is not a problem if that is the point but I don't see away of attempting this with out making mages more powerful.

Again, no big deal if that is the goal you are trying to accomplish. Its one of the nice things about 3E. Its very easy to monkey with the mechanics. You just need to be aware of the conciquences.

I wouldn't use it.

 

[Firzair]

Ok, so it would be too powerful.
How about one free use of the apropriate feat per day?

Currently IMC the casters can metamagick their spells spontaneously by taking subdual damage of 2 points per enhanced spell level, maximum total spell level of the level of the caster. But that's somewhat overpowered I found out.


Thanks for the feedback.

Greetings
Firzair

 

[Anubis]

NEVER allow spellcasters to spontaneously metamagic their spells, and DO NOT put this new system in place either. Spellcasters are already the most powerful classes in the game, and this only makes them more powerful. BAD. See the discussion of how ridiculously powerful wizards get in my "proof that Empower Spell is broken" thread. And with any version of this new system you thought of, things like Enhance Spell and Intensify Spell are made to be ultra-powerful.