Rod of Lesser Substitution with Empowered Spells

[Rashak Mani]

Rod of Lesser Substitution for those who don't know is a rod that works like the Energy Substitution Feat. They are keyed to one type of element. So for example my sorceror has a Rod of Lesser Acid Substitution... 3 spells per day of 3rd lvl or lower can become Acid Spells. Fireball -> Acidball.

My question is... if I Empower my Fireball and I want to use the Rod to make it into an Acidball... is it possible ? My spell still has 3rd lvl DC saves and is a 3rd lvl spell or is it considered a 5th lvl spell ? The rod allows only for 3rd lvl spells.
(I know empowering needs a full round action... and the rod another action. Haste 3.0 allows me that)

 

[Kodam]

Hi!

Metamagic doesn't change the spell level or the save DC but only the slot it takes to cast the spell. Your rod therefore could be used with an empowered 3rd level spell.

Kodam

 

[c47]

Consider what it says under metamagic feats:

Spells modified by a metamagic feat use a spell slot higher than normal. This does not change the level of the spell, so the DC for saving throws against it does not go up.

So this means that no matter what slot its in (unless heightened) it is a 3rd level spell and hence the rod will work on it.

However I'm afraid to say that haste no longer gives you another general action, it only gives one another attack. So in order to get this combo to work you'd need to be a wizard.