Spell Storing.

[mvincent]

How does one judge the writer's intent

Seriously?

I guess I usually try to go by precedent, intuitiveness and balance.

 

[Legildur]

It's not really at all unclear; it uses the minimum ability score required to cast the spell.

I thought that might prompt you to pop your head into this discussion

 

[Sejs]

I would like a reason. I don't dislike it at all. But I have this idea in my head that the spell is cast at a certain caster level by someone and is stored that way aswel.

I'm just looking for a good rationale.

Same reason why, unless specifically crafted otherwise, wands, potions, etc all operate at the minimum caster level for a given spell, and completely disregard any non-metamagic modifiers the crafter might have had (stat mods, items, feats, etc).

The item just isn't made to handle magic like that. You're essentially loading a template copy into the item's memory, and then the item is casting the spell.

And the item is a really crappy caster.


However, by the same token, I don't see why you couldn't craft an item of spell storing to function more in the manner of a staff. That wouldn't solve the issue of caster level, but it may help mitigate the issue of crappy save dcs, etc. Mind you, it'd be based on the current user's stat mods and such rather than that of the person who loaded the spell, but it's something.

 

[kjenks]

I would like a reason. I don't dislike it at all. But I have this idea in my head that the spell is cast at a certain caster level by someone and is stored that way aswel.

I'm just looking for a good rationale.

I don't have a rationale for you, just the rules in the DMG. None of the spell storing items cast the spell at the same level as the original caster. Some of the items (like the Ring) cast the spell at the minimum caster level, but most items that store spells (potions, scrolls, wands, weapons) specify the caster level in the item description (like the wand "Magic missile (5th)"). Staves have their own special rules.

There are a few oddball items, like the potion of Enlarge Person, where some thought is required. Ask your DM.

 

[Infiniti2000]

...most items that store spells (potions, scrolls, wands, weapons) specify the caster level in the item description ...

They specify the minimum caster level. Note that a +5 sword of spell storing would have a caster level of 15.