Spellfire--Is it too powerful?

[candidus_cogitens]

The reason I ask is that I am creating a new character and this feat (from FRCS) appeals to me a lot, but at the same time I almost feel that taking such an incredibly powerful feat would de-legitimize my character. The munchkin in me loves this feat so much that the rest of me is very suspicious.

What is your opinion about the power level of this feat?

BTW, does anyone know why it says that you must have DM approval to take this feat? Is that because of the power issue, or some other reason?

 

[Crothian]

It is a powerful feat, that's why you need DM's approval. It can overbalance the game, it really depends what the campaign is like. You are not a munchking for taking the feat, it takes more then that to make one. Talk it over with the DM.

 

[Darklone]

It is only balanced if the friends of the character are not allowed to "fuel" him by casting spells on him.

At higher levels, it might be ok.

 

[hong]

It becomes a problem only if you let the other PCs "charge up" the spellfire guy whenever they have downtime. Most PCs are going to have 14 Con at least, so over time, that's 14d6 damage potential. Being able to that much in one hit at 4th or 5th level is pretty major.

 

[Magic Slim]

The reason I ask is that I am creating a new character and this feat (from FRCS) appeals to me a lot, but at the same time I almost feel that taking such an incredibly powerful feat would de-legitimize my character. The munchkin in me loves this feat so much that the rest of me is very suspicious.

What is your opinion about the power level of this feat?

BTW, does anyone know why it says that you must have DM approval to take this feat? Is that because of the power issue, or some other reason?

IMO, the reason that the feat requires DM approval is that, yes, it's powerful, and the mitigating effect is not the simplest. In the Forgotten Realms, there are very few people that wield True Spellfire. These people are hunted, constantly. Everyone is after them, for profit, for the advancement of magic science, the Red Wizards, the Drow, every gosh darn it organization is after the wielders of True Spellfire.

This, to me, means that if the DM plays the fact that you wield True Spellfire correctly, you'll be the center of the campaign. You'll be the star. A lot of what he'll have to plan will have to do with you. The various organizations will constantly be after you. You'll have to be very careful in your travels and when you manifest your power. The people who associate with you will also constantly be in danger. Realistically, you shouldn't be able to trust anyone...

As for the power of Spellfire... are you planning on getting the Spellfire Channeler prestige class? It's very much like a sorcerer, IMO, except that you'll probably be wands of various cantrips and gobbling them down like a pig at a watermelon eating contest...

Slim

 

[buchw001]

Here's my $0.02

I am currently running a campaign in which I allowed one of the players to take this feat. I DO NOT think it is over-powered as he started at 1st level and is now 4th level and he has NEVER used it. He does hve a "charge stored up" and could expel it at will, but he does not want the other pc's and anyone else watching to know about it. He got this "charge" by having an npc cleric cast a cure spell on him, but instead he readied his action to store the spells energy instead of taking the healing.

He has found it difficult to ready his "special action" in order to "charge his ability" wihtout being obvious to the other players. For this reason this game has been VERY ineresting with many notes being passed around.

I should also mention that the players are all excellent role players. The one in question has a full page history about his childhood describing his first experience with this inner magic and how he keeps it secret and only uses it (almost unwilling) only in desparate situations.

As for DM approval I think it is also based on the fact that this feat is VERY RARE. To wield this ability puts you "close" and "in touch" with the weave, and as stated before very sought after. Your DM will have to do a little extra reading, but tell him/her it is worth it. I have really enjoyed myself. Good Luck...

 

[buchw001]

One more thing

The energy of the spell that you store must have YOU as the target. You can NOT store an area spell of any kind.

Also, the caster level is irrelevant. You store charges equal to the SPELL's LEVEL period.

More reasons why it is not over-powerful

Please let us know how it goes if you get to take the feat. I would like to hear about your experiences...

 

[Celtavian]

re

IMO, at higher levels it is very lacking in power compared to the Spellfire you read about in the book. At low levels, it lets you get one good shot off here and there throughout the adventure. This can often allow you to beat a creature that might otherwise have been a challenge.

Spellfire definitely needs some tweaking.

 

[LordAO]

It can be strong at low levels, but it is ridiculously weak later on.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Quite frankly, it should have been a DM-plotline-special-effect, not a feat. It's not something that you can have on a character without it seriously messing with a campaign, and it's far too powerful for it to be just a simple feat.