Spell Focus - Still Worth It?

[Marshall]

My take on it:

Excellent! Hear, Hear!

Spell focus and Greater spell focus no longer make spell casters good--they are able however, to keep them from being utterly worthless.

Which is the epitome of BAD GAME DESIGN.

If you have to make choice A to stay viable, then choice A is not a choice.
Indeed, choice A, should be a class feature. The underlying mechanic needs to be repaired to restore the Option to choice A.

Spell Focus was nerfed to stop the Red Wizard/Archmage/Spell Power abuses that got to ridiculous levels.
However, the problem was allready fixed by the changes to spell power and/or a flat removal of GSF.
More and more it looks like the 3.5 design team came up with two or three ideas to 'fix' problems in 3.0, tested them in vacuum, then inserted all of them without regard to the cross-nerf synergies.

 

[Winternight]

Don`t see the point

Most of my monsters do have class levels.
Lich, DeathKnight, Orc Barbarian, Dragon Sorcerer.
So if a feat is a must have feat, all of them have it too. If it's weak some take it some not.

If you are playing a wizard or even a specialist you should take the feat, just because it is your profession.
It dosn`t matter if it +1 or +2. it makes you better.

 

[Larcen]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned yet that the broken Spellcasting Prodigy is even more broken due to this Spell Focus change.

 

[Methos]

[
Which is the epitome of BAD GAME DESIGN.

If you have to make choice A to stay viable, then choice A is not a choice.
Indeed, choice A, should be a class feature. The underlying mechanic needs to be repaired to restore the Option to choice A.

Spell Focus was nerfed to stop the Red Wizard/Archmage/Spell Power abuses that got to ridiculous levels.
However, the problem was allready fixed by the changes to spell power and/or a flat removal of GSF.
More and more it looks like the 3.5 design team came up with two or three ideas to 'fix' problems in 3.0, tested them in vacuum, then inserted all of them without regard to the cross-nerf synergies. [/B][/QUOTE]

I agree that GSF could have been eliminated, instead of reducing each feat to +1.

In addition, the DM that I play with doesn't all either Red Wizard (not a FR campaign), nor does he allow the Archmage (thinks it is too powerful).

I do agree that some of the design team may not have thought it through. To the extent that a DM can change whatever he likes/dislikes, it isn't a big deal, however, it does matter in things RPGA.

Cheers

 

[DonAdam]

Wouldn't +1 save DC and +1 caster level check to overcome spell resistance be more balanced, then?

No, because not all schools focus spells that allow spell resistance (ie, illusion).

 

[Knowledge Sinkhole]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned yet that the broken Spellcasting Prodigy is even more broken due to this Spell Focus change.

Whoah, you're right. Seriously; should I take Spell Focus, giving my spells from ONE school +1 to their DCs, or should I take Spellcasting Prodigy and get +1 to ALL of my DCs, as well as the potential for bonus spells? Admittedly, that is really only an option at first level, but still. You'd need to take a spell focus in every school to equal the bonus to DC's provided by Spellcasting Prodigy.

 

[Number47]

Spellcasting Prodigy was broken already in 3.0. It was (and still is if not revised) simply too good.

 

[ruleslawyer]

Word is that the upcoming 3.5 FR Players' Guide will change SCP to confer only the bonus spells rather than the +1 DC.

 

[Simulacrum]

Word is that the upcoming 3.5 FR Players' Guide will change SCP to confer only the bonus spells rather than the +1 DC.

Exellent change, thats exactly how I have house ruled it ever since. I like the change, its very balanced and not overpowered this way! Bravo!

 

[Moleculo]

i told one of my players that i was gonna just make spell focus scale to +2 when he got to a certain level. I think the problem with the feat is that they wanted to include a greater (insert name), which traditionally just doubles the bonus, but the problem was +4 was too much, at least with the +2 from the normal focus it wasn't too unbalanced, so i think they just erred in the name of caution. Maybe +3 would be a good comprimise? (+1.5 from spellfocus which rounds down to 1? heh)