Spell Focus - too weak now?

[Shard O'Glase]

I don't really have a problem with Iron Will, Great Fortitude and Lightning Reflexes, because a wizard specializing in a school only needs to take two feats for a total +2 bonus to their DC, whereas the target must take three feats to get a +2 bonus on their saving throws.

(A target doesn't have the luxury of knowing what spell is going to be cast, while a caster does.)

Wow I'm on the other side of that. A spellcaster doesn't get to choose his targets they may have good will saves or good fort saves or whatever you have to choose your spells based on your guess of the targets weakenesses putting the spellcaster in the hole here. Add in that each save boost feat covers proteciton vs multiple schools and a + to a save outperforms a + to a dc to a specific school IMO.

 

[Jhyrryl]

The +2 save feats are weak, IMO. I'd like to see them scale a little with level, something along the lines of +1 plus 1 per 6 character levels.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Hello!

We are thinking about the new Spell Focus feat.

Is it too weak now? Actually, I think... yes!

The defensive feats still grant +2 to saves and generally there is a lot that increases saves at higher levels, but spell DCs are generelly rather weak in comparison. Of course, spellcasters are very powerful, but that's not really because of high spell DCs!

A spellcaster chooses the save, not the victim.
A spellcaster can boost his primary stat with an item, while the victim has to boost three stats to keep up. (The same applies to inherent bonuses, but this varies widely from one campaign to another.)
A spellcaster can boost his primary stat with levels, while the victim would need 3 times as many level-stat boosts to keep up.
Using only items actually found in the DMG, it's easier to boost saving throws than save DCs.

Advantage: spellcaster.

They removed the really bad spell power abilities (Archmage, Red Wizard, etc), which is a good thing, but the new Spell Focus seems a bit much.

What are your thoughts on the halved bonus for Spell Focus?

It doesn't bother me. It could be an over-reaction, since the 3.5 monsters often have better Will saves (especially the giants - now they're a challenge!), but so far I haven't had any trouble with it.

House Rule: We are considering a change, so that it grants the old +2 to spell DCs, but in turn make Greater Spell Focus weaker (drop it completely, or limit it to high level by giving a high caster level requirement, like 12th).

I think dropping Greater Spell Focus entirely is a good house rule. If my DM told me I had to wait until 12th-level to get it, but it still gave +4 DC in total, I would take it.

Bye
Thanee

Bye

 

[ForceUser]

Hello!

We are thinking about the new Spell Focus feat.

Is it too weak now? Actually, I think... yes!

The defensive feats still grant +2 to saves and generally there is a lot that increases saves at higher levels, but spell DCs are generelly rather weak in comparison. Of course, spellcasters are very powerful, but that's not really because of high spell DCs!

They removed the really bad spell power abilities (Archmage, Red Wizard, etc), which is a good thing, but the new Spell Focus seems a bit much.

What are your thoughts on the halved bonus for Spell Focus?


House Rule: We are considering a change, so that it grants the old +2 to spell DCs, but in turn make Greater Spell Focus weaker (drop it completely, or limit it to high level by giving a high caster level requirement, like 12th).

Bye
Thanee

It's not too weak. The 3.0 version was too powerful.

 

[Legildur]

I agree that a net +4 for 2 feats was too extreme (had a monk/evoker once with nice fireball saves).

What about keeping Spell Focus as +1 to the chosen school, but when you gain Greater Spell Focus the DC for your chosen school increase by a further +1 (stacks with SF) AND the DC for all other schools increases by +1 to reflect your mastery in casting spells?

 

[Legildur]

Multiple post - sorry all.

 

[Legildur]

Multiple post - sorry all.

 

[Legildur]

Multiple post - sorry all.

 

[Legildur]

Multiple post - sorry all.

 

[Legildur]

Multiple post - sorry all.