Metamagic and magic items

[kramis]

I know this topic has been covered a million times, but I'm going to ask again anyway.

How does metamagic apply to maximum spell levels for items? For example, wands can only have a certain level of spell stored in them, but what if you put a metamgic spell in a wand? Is it the equivalent level that matters, or only the base spell level that matters?

Also, where is the rule for this listed?

 

[Henrix]

As I said just the other day, on a another thread

PHB, p.78:

Magic Items and Metamagic Spells: With the right item creation feat, you can store a metamagic spell in a scroll, potion, or wand. Level limits for potions and wands apply to the spell's higher, metamagic level.


Also, DMG, p.241

Using metamagic feats, a caster can place spells in items at a higher level than normal. For example, a caster could heighten a spell's level to increase the effectiveness, or quicken a spell to allow it to be used as a free action, placing it within an item at the higher metamagic level.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Am I reading this correctly? I always assumed an empowered fireball was still a 3rd level spell and that I could place it in a wand, but that it would cost me as if it were a 5th level spell. But now I am thinking that I cannot even create a wand of empowered fireball.

 

[Crothian]

Correct, no empowered fireballs.

 

[Cedric]

And now we see the real reason why you should take Create Staff as an item creation feat....

Cedric

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Ok. I glossed over the rules for making these kinds of items and just assumed you could because the actual spell level did not change except for heighten spell. Also, no one IMC has tried to create any metamagic magic items yet, so I really have not needed to take a closer look at the procedure. I am glad I learned something today, though. And I guess it does make sense. Otherwise, watch out for those maximized empowered fireball wands.

 

[kreynolds]

Correct, no empowered fireballs.

Wondrous Items. Expensive? Yes. Effective? Oh, hell yes!

 

[Crothian]

Wondrous Items. Expensive? Yes. Effective? Oh, hell yes!

Anything without charges is a good thing.

 

[kreynolds]

Anything without charges is a good thing.

You ain't just whistlin' Dixie! You should see some the nasty wondrous items that my NPCs carry around! A couple of my players have some nice ones too.

 

[Crothian]

You ain't just whistlin' Dixie! You should see some the nasty wondrous items that my NPCs carry around! A couple of my players have some nice ones too.

Of course I'm not whisting Dixie. I'm above the Mason Dixon line.

I'm just so happy that none of my players in the 2 games I've ran, or the two games I've played in have ever taken anything other then Scribe Scroll as an Item Creation. These feats are insane for a creative PC. I have creative PCs, but for some reason they haven;'t realized the power of these yet.