Spell Mastery Variants That Do Not Suck

[Jack Simth]

It is my experience that campaigns where it is useful as written come up once in a blue moon. For me, they have never come up. I don't know (m)any DMs cold-hearted enough to steal a wizard's spellbook, just to prove that the wizard should have picked up spell mastery. And I have never seen the prison campaign. Have you? If you are going to defend the feat, you ought to have some evidence that isn't merely theoretical. I would be genuinely interested to hear it since no one has offered any such evidence yet.

I haven't run them very long, but I have run them.

Snitched a Wizard's spellbook to point out that it does need safeguards (gave it back shortly thereafter - it was examined for compliance with entry requirements into the Archmage PrC).

Dropped a defeated party (low-level, they'd gone unconscious without dying) off somewhere with no equipment (taken as loot) and dressed in rags (although no Wizard in the party at the time).

As a player, I tend to go with Sorcerers - who don't need spell mastry.

 

[airwalkrr]

Well, to be fair, I don't think variant 2 fits with the flavor, either

What about this fix to Variant 1?

SPELL MASTERY [SPECIAL]
Prerequisite: Wizard level 1st.
Benefit: Each time you take this feat, choose a number of spells equal to your Intelligence modifier that you already know. From that point on, you can prepare these spells without referring to a spellbook. In addition, three times per day, you can "lose" any prepared spell in order to cast these spells as long as they are the same spell level or lower than the lost spell, much like a cleric can cast healing spells.
Normal: Without this feat, you must use a spellbook to prepare all your spells, except read magic. Also, preparing a spell later in the day requires an open spell slot and takes at least 15 minutes.
Special: Taking this feat multiple times allows you to master more spells, but it does not increase the number of times per day you can spontaneously cast them.

 

[Sadrik]

How about choose 1 spell for every point of spellcraft you have...

Why make it a feat in the first place?

I like the (I believe it is called) signiture spell feat from forgotten realms. I would still require that the signiture spell be attached to a spell masteried spell.

Sadrik

 

[maggot]

I would go with

Variant 1B
SPELL MASTERY [SPECIAL]
Prerequisite: Wizard level 1st.
Benefit: Each time you take this feat, choose a number of spells equal to your Intelligence modifier that you already know. From that point on, you can prepare these spells without referring to a spellbook. In addition for each selected spell, once per day you can "lose" any prepared spell of the same level or higher to spontaneously cast that spell much like a cleric can cast healing spells.
Normal: Without this feat, you must use a spellbook to prepare all your spells, except read magic. Also, preparing a spell later in the day requires an open spell slot and takes at least 15 minutes.

or

Variant 1C
SPELL MASTERY [SPECIAL]
Prerequisite: Wizard level 1st.
Benefit: Each time you take this feat, choose a number of spells equal to your Intelligence modifier that you already know. From that point on, you can prepare these spells without referring to a spellbook. In addition you may prepare the selected spells into spell slots that already contain prepared spells replacing the currently prepared spell with the mastered spell. This uses the rules for prepareing a spell later in a day using an open spell slot and thus takes at least 15 minutes.
Normal: Without this feat, you must use a spellbook to prepare all your spells, except read magic. Also, preparing a spell later in the day requires an open spell slot and takes at least 15 minutes.

 

[airwalkrr]

How about choose 1 spell for every point of spellcraft you have...

Why make it a feat in the first place?

I like the (I believe it is called) signiture spell feat from forgotten realms. I would still require that the signiture spell be attached to a spell masteried spell.

Sadrik

Hmm. That is an interesting idea. Althought it does seem to give high level wizards a lot of spells. What about a number of spells whose levels equal ranks in Spellcraft?

 

[Sadrik]

Hmm. That is an interesting idea. Althought it does seem to give high level wizards a lot of spells. What about a number of spells whose levels equal ranks in Spellcraft?

I dont like that because, is the wizard going to save up until the very last levels to get very little return? 1 per rank allows all for (outside of first level) 1 spell that they pick up out of their 2 that they get for free. I think this is powerful enough to make a wizard not fret too much about losing their spellbook. At least they will have a good selection still if they lose it.

Sadrik

 

[airwalkrr]

So you are basically saying just ditch the feat and let all wizards get the feat for free, assuming they put ranks in Spellcraft? I'm not saying it is a bad idea, just clarifying your intent.

 

[R-man]

I like the idea of giving it to straight class wizards for free as written. Perhaps at 6th,12th and 18th levels? The idea being to give another admittedly small benefit for not multi/prestige classing.

I like the idea of the spontaneous spellcasting and the power would be better balanced by restricting the number of times per day and requiring a HIGHER level spell be lost to cast the Spell mastered spell. i.e. my wizard chose Fireball with spell mastery and would have to give up a 4th level or higher spell to be allowed to spontaneously cast the spell. This would keep the spontaneous crown still squarely on the Sorcerer were it belongs but still allow the wizard to use these spells from time to time.

Thus part of a viable build would be to take Spell mastery and learn the oddball utility spells that you rarely need as a Wizard but when you need them you really need them and don't mind blowing a higher level spell to be able to cast them.

 

[RisnDevil]

Your variants are too powerful, and the others have said why.

Here's what I use in my game:

Spell Mastery
Prereq: Wizard level 1
Benefit: You effectively have an in-memory spell book which can hold a number of spells equal to 3 + Int bonus (permanent Int bonus -- that is, pre-magic item, pre-spell effect).

You can "erase" from and "write" into your in-memory spell book for free whenever you prepare spells normally, choosing to write from whatever spells are available for you to prepare.

If your permanent Int increases, you gain room for extra spells, which you can fill when you next prepare spells.

If your permanent Int decreases, you do not immediately lose "written" spells. However, "erased" spells cannot be replaced if that would put your "written" spells above your current limit.

Special: You may take this feat multiple times. Its effects stack.


Cheers, -- N

I like this variant, alot, but think that it could use a bit of tweaking. A first level wizard with an 18 INT could cast two first level spells per day. With this feat, that same wizard could cast NINE FIRST LEVEL SPELLS PER DAY! That is one heck of a jump! Instead, although I still think it may be a bit powerful, how about simply making the spellbook equal to your INT bonus? Although it is still really powerful at lower levels, it isn't quite so uber-powerful.

requiring a HIGHER level spell be lost to cast the Spell mastered spell. i.e. my wizard chose Fireball with spell mastery and would have to give up a 4th level or higher spell to be allowed to spontaneously cast the spell. This would keep the spontaneous crown still squarely on the Sorcerer were it belongs but still allow the wizard to use these spells from time to time.

Thus part of a viable build would be to take Spell mastery and learn the oddball utility spells that you rarely need as a Wizard but when you need them you really need them and don't mind blowing a higher level spell to be able to cast them.

I think this too is a good ability, and think it synergizes well with the already existing Signature Spell.

 

[Nifft]

I like this variant, alot, but think that it could use a bit of tweaking. A first level wizard with an 18 INT could cast two first level spells per day. With this feat, that same wizard could cast NINE FIRST LEVEL SPELLS PER DAY! That is one heck of a jump! Instead, although I still think it may be a bit powerful, how about simply making the spellbook equal to your INT bonus? Although it is still really powerful at lower levels, it isn't quite so uber-powerful.

Cast? No, he would have a secret secondary spell book (which no one could take away) that holds 3 + Int (= 7) spells.

He could put all of his 1st level spells in it, or all but one and add Prestidigitation

-- N