Viktyr Gehrig
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Is "Spellcasting Prodigy" feat too powerful?
- Thread starter mooby
- Start date
Olgar Shiverstone
Legend
I run a 25-point game in a low-magic variant of FR and allow the feat as 1st-level only, requiring appropriate background to support.
I have to say that in play, it's not that impressive. One of three casters in the campaign has taken it, and he's overshadowed by the specialist who has taken SF and GSF.
You can take a feat to be slightly more effective at everything, or spend feats to be much more effective at one thing. The problem is, when you try to be good at everything, you end up being good at nothing. The enchanter IMC who had +7 to save DCs at 1st level is a nightmare, because he's so focused. Is that unbalanced? Not really. since he's not that good at other stuff.
25-point buy actually helps balance this feat, since the character doesn't see the benefit of the additional bonus spell for a number of levels. Not a single one of the characters IMC has an 18 score in any attribute, yet.
I have to say that in play, it's not that impressive. One of three casters in the campaign has taken it, and he's overshadowed by the specialist who has taken SF and GSF.
You can take a feat to be slightly more effective at everything, or spend feats to be much more effective at one thing. The problem is, when you try to be good at everything, you end up being good at nothing. The enchanter IMC who had +7 to save DCs at 1st level is a nightmare, because he's so focused. Is that unbalanced? Not really. since he's not that good at other stuff.
25-point buy actually helps balance this feat, since the character doesn't see the benefit of the additional bonus spell for a number of levels. Not a single one of the characters IMC has an 18 score in any attribute, yet.
Pax said:
I did wrote unclearly, ok, but if you read the post above mine, it was pretty clear I was referring to Spell Focus, which was referred as "balanced in comparison to Spellcasting Prodigy" due to the fact that it gives double benefit to a Wizzy/Cleric.. ..take it easier once in a while..
LordAO said:
The same here. As a 9th level transmuter with quite good DCs thank you (20+spell level, not counting buff spells), I thought I would be blasting my way easily through combat but it's far from the thruth (I learned this the hard way. My party members are surprised when I am still standing at the end of a combat.
)Even my 5th level spells get saved against most of the time (the last 3 combats, none of my offensive spells gave a result). Since I took Spellcasting Prodigy and SF+GSF, I have good DCs but that's it. No metamagic feats and 1 item creation feat.
It is a very good feat, don't get me wrong. But as with any other feats, adding it to your list is done at the detriment of some other cool and/or powerful abilities. I wish I had some free slots to take SP and GSP since SR is starting to really kick in at the level I am. But spellcasting classes don't get that many feats.
It is a very useful feat but defnitely not God's answer to every munchkin's dreams, IMO.
Tar-Edhel said:
The same here. As a 9th level transmuter with quite good DCs thank you (20+spell level, not counting buff spells), I thought I would be blasting my way easily through combat but it's far from the thruth (I learned this the hard way. My party members are surprised when I am still standing at the end of a combat.
Even my 5th level spells get saved against most of the time (the last 3 combats, none of my offensive spells gave a result). Since I took Spellcasting Prodigy and SF+GSF, I have good DCs but that's it. No metamagic feats and 1 item creation feat.
What are your other two feats? Assuming you're not human:
Character 1, Spellcasting Prodigy (Wizard)
Wizard 1*, Scribe Scroll
Character 3, Spell Focus (Transmutation)
Wizard 5, Greater Spell Focus (Transmutation)
Character 6, ???
Character 9, ???
Even assuming your "1 item creation feat" wasn't, in fact, "Scribe Scroll", that still leaves you with ONE open feat slot as a 9th level specialist-Wizard. And next level, you get another (Wizard 10).
SpikeyFreak
First Post
Limper said:
What difference does that make when considering whether its too powerful or not?
A 1st level spell that automatically kills any target is too powerful, even if the enemy can have it too.
--Lop-sided Spikey
Pax said:
Craft wands (taken a 5th level) and Improved famliar at 9th. I couldn't take GSF at 5, a wizard is limited to item creation feats or meamagic feats for bonus feats. SF, GSF, SP and GSP being General feats, they don't apply for the wizard's bonus feat (each 5 levels).
Improved familiar was to get a pseudodragon. With Alertness and See invisibilty at will 60', I was hoping to avoid being surprised (a real killer when you only have 30hp
).At 10th level, I was considering Craft Wondrous Items.
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Spellcasting Prodigy might be fine for a FR game, but that is a lot higher of a power level than standard. I hate the flavor too - he's a really, really good spellcaster! Wow - imagine that. Can I have a Swordfighting prodigy that gives me +1 BAB?
That would actually be closer to SP than Weapon Focus. This is one of the many, many reasons I don't allow anything that says 'Forgotten Realms' on it.
That would actually be closer to SP than Weapon Focus. This is one of the many, many reasons I don't allow anything that says 'Forgotten Realms' on it.
maddman75 said:
If you don't even give an FR-sourced option a fair shake, then you're as bad in THAT extreme, as the worst of the FR materials is at IT'S extreme.
I daresay several of the Weapon Enhancements in "Magic of Faerun" fill holes that shouldn't have been left IN the DMG ("Impact" -- keen for bludgeoning weapons; Corrosive / Acid Burst a la Flaming / Fiery Burst; etc).
Some fo the Prestige Classes too. Master Alchemist isn't an uberpowerful class, but it could be a -fun- one.
OTOH, yes, some things are much higher-powered than the core books (spellfire).
But everything deserves a fair and honest review before being denied or discarded out of hand.
