Metamagic idea

[Kershek]

Let me know if someone else has thought of this...

I'm looking for input on a new metamagic implementation idea I had today. Instead of using up a higher spell slot, how about using up multiple slots based on the level adjustment?

For instance, you could maximize a fireball for a 6th level slot (3+3). With this method, you could maximize a fireball for 3 3rd level slots. This will allow you to do something like a quickened magic missile as long as you have 5 1st level slots to burn (1+4).

It will keep you from doing the high-cost metamagic feats until you have enough slots in that level to cover for it, and yet it won't stop you from doing the cool spells at higher level.

A caster with an intelligence less than 20 would need to be 7th level to be able to drain all of his 1st level slots for a quickened 1st level spell. If he has 20-27 INT, he would be able to do it at 5th level. It continues like this for every 2 levels, so a 20 INT wizard could use all his 2nd level slots on a quicken at 9th level, etc. That's a lot of spells to use up for one low level spell. Try doing it to 2 or 3 spells and you're suddenly down to a mere fraction of the spells you could cast, even with lower level adjustment metamagic feats like enlarge spell.

Comments?

 

[Zhnov]

I like it a lot, but not sure I understand your math.

Basically, spread the metamagic spell level across how ever many lower level slots required to equal spell levels, right?

So:

Maxed FBall (normally slot3 > slot6), is 2x slot3. (rather than 3x slot3)
Quick MMissile (normally slot1 > slot5), is 5x slot1.

I like the concept, but one must be concerned if a maximized FB is a bit too powerful for a Wiz6 (or Wiz5 with Int16). This heads in the direction of NPC TPK. I would wager others might see some exploits here that make the concept as written unbalanced.

Recommend some regulators be applied to the concept... limit number of spells that can be prepared this way? Require an additional feat (called Variant Metamagic?)

In some ways, this rolls back to some variant spellcasting systems under 2E, like the SpellPoint system (5 1st level slots = 5 spell points, 5 5th level slots = 25 spell points, spend spellpoints any way that you like... kind of a freewheeling sorcerer type). Without constraints on use, it may be too flexible.

Orlic

 

[darkbard]

interesting concept. i wonder though at the abuse potential of being able to burn a prepared charm person spell or the like [1st level spell] to be able to spontaneously silence a lightning bolt spell against an enemy caster who has cast silence, or similar such cases. i mean, it's one thing to have given up charm monster for the ability [and had the forethought to do so] but here you're burning something of absolutely no consequence to the dire situation at hand.

 

[Kershek]

A maximized spell uses up a spell slot three levels higher than the spell’s actual level. Change that number three to mean "requires three additional spell slots of the same level of the spell being maximized." Therefore, a maximized fireball takes up a third level slot plus three additional third level slots to cast it. This means that you need to be able to cast four third level slots in a day in order to maximize fireball. Therefore, you need a Wiz 8 of Int 16 to be able to do it, and that would be the only 3rd level spell they get to cast.

An enlarged spell, in turn, would require one additional spell slot of the same level of the spell being enlarged.

So you get to cast your metamagic earlier (normal maximized fireball is at the earliest 12th level), but at a great price of other spells of that level you can cast. Would you give up 4 regular fireballs for one maximized one? Or how about two hastes for an extended haste?

I'm not sure what you mean, darkbard. Can you explain more thoroughly?

 

[darkbard]

i misunderstood your intent. i thought you meant that you needed to burn a spell of the level equal to the metamagic level adjustment. thus, to silence a lightning bolt, you would need to cast lightning bolt plus burn a 1st level spell [+1 level adjustment for silent spell]. in this case, i would say the penalty is too little; in your actual scenario, it seems a bit too harsh. what about some sort of compromise system where to apply a metamagic feat the caster must expend an additional spell slot equal to the metamagic feat's level adjustment x 1.5 [rounded up as an exception to the general rounding rules]? so, a silenced lightning bolt would expend lighting bolt plus a 2nd level spell.

 

[Kershek]

I personally think that only one additional spell slot of a low level isn't enough to offset the metamagic feat in the example you list. But I appreciate your ideas