is this an abuse of trait?

Scott DeWar

Prof. Emeritus-Supernatural Events/Countermeasure
Info:
trait "Magical Lineage" reads-

Benefit: Pick one spell when you choose this trait. When you apply metamagic feats to this spell, treat its actual level as 1 lower for determining the spell’s final adjusted level.

Given the number of meta magic feats that only increase the spell level by one, there would be a multitude of these feats that could be applied simultaneous to this one spell.

The question is this: Would this be an abuse?
 

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When you apply metamagic feats to a spell, you add up all the levels and it ends up with a final level. This trait is saying that when you add metamagic feats, you have a -1 to the final adjusted level of the spell.

If it was applying it to each metmagic feat individually, it would have to say so.

Sooo yeah. The way you said it would be abuse of the rules.
 

"final adjusted level."
I understand the spirit of the rule, I just misread the full thing and can see how this could be a serious case of "Character Optimization". I had not noticed that one word: Final.
 

What may be legal, I think, that might be an interesting and legal combination: Evoker + Magic Lineage (Ray of Frost) + 3 x Elemental Spell Feats = Ability to cast at will ray spells that do 1d3 + 1/2 level damage for all four elements. Kind of expensive, of course, but the utility is there. Add Enlarge Spell and you standard Ray of Frost has double the range too, or possibly Still Spell even.
 
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Well, if you could find a metamagic feat that's +0 adjustment (none in PF that I know of), you could end up with the spell being one level lower by the wording...

Magic Missile or Grease as an unlimited use cantrip would be...interesting.
 

Merciful Spell.

Good God, that is an Evil combo, hehehe...

Edit: Even if it is non-lethal force damage, unlimited ability to do 5d4+9 at 190 ft. at 9th level is just brutal.
 
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Merciful Spell.

Good God, that is an Evil combo, hehehe...

Edit: Even if it is non-lethal force damage, unlimited ability to do 5d4+9 at 190 ft. at 9th level is just brutal.

"Fear not, for Zed, mage of the nine signets, did not come here today to take your lives. Indeed, Zed's mercy knows no limits!"
 


Shame damage spells are the only ones you can make level 0. On the plus side, save DC would still be 11 + casting stat (still low by mid levels), if applicable. Magus would probably go with shocking grasp (I LOVE Frostbite, but the whole point of that spell is already having many uses of it per cast), some others Ear-Piercing Scream, and Magic Missile would be a nice stand-by choice for just sheer reliable damage.

If you were playing at high levels, an Arcane Trickster 10 with the Stone Call spell and Merciful Magic Missile (plus this trait) would be pretty good any time he could sneak attack.

EDIT: Actually, even without reducing stone call's level, the AT would want to apply merciful spell to it whenever facing foes not immune to nonlethal -- it's actually bludgeoning damage, so making it nonlethal means Sap Adept and Sap Master could apply to it. :D Oh well, just a haphazard build idea.
 
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If there are any level 1 spells with the darkness or shadow descriptor, or are shadow illusions spells, you can actually pull the same trick with Tenebrous Spell. So, you could use Shadow Weapon at will. Though the number of situations in which shadow weapon might be worthwhile is probably so few as to make it practically worthless.
 

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