Single Use Metamagic

[Pinotage]

This may have been discussed on these boards before, but I was toying with the idea of introducing single use metamagic items into our game. These items would enable the user to enhance a spell by some metamagic feat, based on the type of item they own. So, for example, a wizard could empower a spell if he had a circlet of empowerment. The circlet would then be consumed by the casting. Issues, of course, revolve around cost and balance. Ignoring balance, as I'm sure many will have a say about that, I've come up with the following costs for a few items:

Single use:

Energy Substitution - (0-3rd level spell) 150 gp, (0-6th level spell) 600 gp, (0-9th level spell) 1350 gp

Extend/Silent/Still/Enlarge - (0-3rd level spell) 300 gp, (0-6th level spell) 1200 gp, (0-9th level spell) 2700 gp

Empower - (0-3rd level spell) 900 gp, (0-6th level spell) 3600 gp, (0-9th level spell) 8100 gp

Maximise - (0-3rd level spell) 1500 gp, (0-6th level spell) 6000 gp, (0-9th level spell) 13500 gp

Quicken - (0-3rd level spell) 2100 gp, (0-6th level spell) 8400 gp, (0-9th level spell) 18900 gp

Basically I've used the prices of the metamagic rods in Tome and Blood as follows: Assuming that the 3/day limitation is based on the number of charges per day costing, the unlimited use price would be the listed price x 5/3 (1.667). Given that price and assuming that it's a charged item, halves the price. On top of that, a 50 charge item (wand) is 15 times more expensive than a single use item (potion), so the result is further divided by 15. These items can then take any form really, so long as the item is burnt after use.

Comments? Balance or cost?

 

[Cheiromancer]

They seem rather expensive, don't they?

One feature of potions is that anyone can use the spell they contain. By definition, only a spellcaster can use meta-magic. Maybe use scroll instead of a potion?

In any case, I think you want to find some way of reducing the cost by, say, a factor of three.

Just my two cp.

 

[Pinotage]

Good Point! So all the prices should be half of what they are listed as. Thanks!

 

[AeroDm]

I am not overly familar with the metamagic rods. Were they the driving motivation to divide these up by spell levels of 3? I think it would be best to find a simple formula that replicates your current numbers (or at least comes close) such that it could be done on the fly in your head. I can't imagine many people using a 0-3 item for a 0th level spell slot due to the cost benefit of saving that same item to use on a 3rd level spell. Very cool concept, however.

 

[Pinotage]

Yes. The metamagic rods in Tome and Blood specify the level range, and I've based these costings on that specification. However, if you wanted something that would allow you to say 'Extend a 4th Level spell' or 'Maximise a 3rd Level spell', then overall it seems to work that you take scroll prices of the metamagic modified version of the spell as if you had prepared it, and then divide the cost by 2. So, for instance, to Maximise a 3rd level spell would require a 6th Level spell slot, costing 825 (6*11*25/2) gp. Slightly more expensive than the numbers I've given, but then the lower level spells will be cheaper. e.g. Maximising a 2nd level spell costs 562.5 gp vs the level 0-3 version that costs 750 gp. At higher levels they get slightly cheaper, but that's because of the added versatility of having a level 0-6 version rather than a level 6 version on its own. Somebody stronger in math than me can come up with a decent formulation.

 

[Golem2176]

Pinotage are you using 3.0 or 3.5 DMG?

 

[Pinotage]

3e. I haven't and wasn't planning to switching to 3.5e anytime soon. I have adopted some 3.5e changes, though. You go me curious now. Why?

 

[Golem2176]

3e. I haven't and wasn't planning to switching to 3.5e anytime soon. I have adopted some 3.5e changes, though. You go me curious now. Why?

If you have downloaded the 3.5 SRD then check the magical items section. In the rods section there are now new items called Metamagic rods. This may solve your dilemma.

 

[Pinotage]

Ah, yes. Same rods that I based these prices for single use items on, but it looks like they've dropped the prices quite dramatically. Almost by half, it seems. Thanks for the info!

 

[Golem2176]

No prob!