Incense of Meditation

[Scion]

What do you mean, "seem to work?"

You have to rest for 8 hours before you can prepare spells.
You have to burn this incense and meditate for 8 hours before preparing your spells.

Seems very similar yes?

I dont see it as reading that you get your spells back while meditating for 8 hours. You meditate for 8 hours and 'then' you do the normal thing to get your spells back.


Personally, it doesnt matter if this item is used for both or not, it is incredibly powerful either way and I would likely have to limit it in some fashion for my own games.

However, as written it definately looks like it would be nice for the theurge. We only have a few conditions:

1) must be lit by a divine caster
2) must remain within a certain range and meditate for 8 hours
3) must then prepare spells

= all spells prepared are maximized.


I think that if they had wanted it to be all divine they would have simply said so. It could be looked at as a simple editorial mistake since it is really only one word of difference, or perhaps they meant for anyone who multiclassed into divine to be able to take advantage of it.

I did misread your example earlier, which is unfortunate ;/ I had simply thought you meant it only worked on healing spells ( I think it worked in this way in previous editions, that is why I thought I was missing something). If it was limited to only healing spells, or only spells of the healing subschool then I doubt I'd have any problem with it at all. It might even be a bit expensive for what it does. But even all divine spells would be pretty tough (druid, maximised and empowered flame strike? or call lightning? ouch)

 

[Infiniti2000]

Well, divine spellcasters don't need to sleep, so technically they could substitute this special prayer for 'sleep' and then pray as normal, but they'd be fatigued for lack of rest (correctable by a complete divine spell, too, IIRC). A mystic theurge who used this, however, would have to sleep for 8 hours, then pray/meditate with the incense for 8 hours (to recover divine spells) and then study for an hour (to recover arcane spells). A sorcerer just doesn't need the extra hour, but I think you get the idea. If the single-classed divine spellcaster did not want to be fatigued, then he must sleep 8 hours and then pray 8 hours.

The only way this item would function for arcane spells is when the arcane spells can be 'prepared in this way', i.e. spending 8 hours praying/meditating without studying/memorization.

 

[Scion]

'prepared in this way' as in 'prepared under the influence of the candle' which works so long as its conditions are met.

I dont see any limitation for divine only here. You use the incense, meditate, and then prepare your spells, all of the spells you prepare are maximised without additional cost.

 

[Infiniti2000]

'prepared in this way' as in 'prepared under the influence of the candle' which works so long as its conditions are met.

I dont see any limitation for divine only here. You use the incense, meditate, and then prepare your spells, all of the spells you prepare are maximised without additional cost.

Ah, I see where our views differ. You use the incense and mediate to prepare your spells. You don't use the incense and meditate and then spend an extra hour preparing your spells. The prayer and meditation with the incense (for eight hours) takes place of praying for your spells (the reason why they word it as 'prepared in this way' instead of just mentioning it as an extra action taking prior to preparing your spells). Try rereading the item description with this in mind and see if you change your viewpoint.

Fwiw, although I disagree with that interpretation, if you want to rule that you require an additional hour to pray for spells, then I can see your point.

 

[mikebr99]

'prepared in this way' as in 'prepared under the influence of the candle' which works so long as its conditions are met.

I dont see any limitation for divine only here. You use the incense, meditate, and then prepare your spells, all of the spells you prepare are maximised without additional cost.

From the dmg....

When a divine spellcaster lights a block of incense of meditation and then spends 8 hours praying & meditating nearby, the incense enables him to prepare all his spells as though affected by the maximise feat.

As you can see... it's all one sentence.

The incense is maximising all the the divine spellcaster's prepared spells, not anything else he "prepares".


Mike

 

[Scion]

When a divine spellcaster lights a block of incense of meditation and then spends 8 hours praying and meditating nearby, the incense enables him to prepare all his spells as though affected by the Maximize Spell feat

Spell Selection and Preparation: A divine spellcaster selects and prepares spells ahead of time through prayer and meditation at a particular time of day. The time required to prepare spells is the same as it is for a wizard (1 hour), as is the requirement for a relatively peaceful environmen

So you pray and meditate with the incense, then you pray and meditate for an hour preparing your divine spells, and then you spend an hour preparing your arcane spells and you are set for the day all powered up.

The incense, after 8 hours, enables the caster to prepare all of his spells in this fashion. After you spend 8 hours with the candle you 'still' need another hour at least to get your spells prepared.

The activation time for the incense is 8 hours. It wouldnt be any different in useage if it takes 8 hours or a standard action, you would still have to spend the extra hour at the correct time of day to get your spells back. The item in question merely modifies what happens to your spells when you do prepare them.

 

[Scion]

As you can see... it's all one sentence.

And so he does. It only works for a divine caster, but it makes no mention on limiting 'which' spells are maximised. It says, 'all'.

 

[Infiniti2000]

And so he does. It only works for a divine caster, but it makes no mention on limiting 'which' spells are maximised. It says, 'all'.

I agree. IMO it limits based on the 'prepared in this way' which does modify how the spells are prepared, i.e. for 8 whole hours with prayer and meditation, not 8 hours + 1 hour + 1 hour.

 

[mikebr99]

And so he does. It only works for a divine caster, but it makes no mention on limiting 'which' spells are maximised. It says, 'all'.

yeah... all his (aka the divine spellcaster) spells. Not any other spells from any other non-divine spellcaster portion of his person.


Mike

 

[Scion]

I agree. IMO it limits based on the 'prepared in this way' which does modify how the spells are prepared, i.e. for 8 whole hours with prayer and meditation, not 8 hours + 1 hour + 1 hour.

You are not preparing your spells during the 8 hours, that is merely the activation time for the effect that the item gives you when you prepare your spells.

yeah... all his (aka the divine spellcaster) spells. Not any other spells from any other non-divine spellcaster portion of his person.

One does not follow the other.

If I am a divine caster X/arcane caster Y then when I light the candle then I am a divine caster and when I prepare my spells (both prepare in this case) they are all maximised.

Nothing about only the divine parts. The sentence doesnt even read that way. The divine caster prepares all of his spells as if they were maximised. Are some of his spells on different lists? sure, but the item doesnt seem to care.

Spells you prepare after meditating with the incense are maximised.

Even if it worked the other way however (only divine spells maximised) I doubt I would allow it in the game. Incredibly strong effect for little price.