UA Transmuter Variant

[Altamont Ravenard]

A transmuter using this variant can alter some of his prepared spells in a short amount of time. Once per day, the transmuter can give up a number of prepared spell levels (up to a maximum level equal to half his class level) and prepare different spells in their place, as long as the number of newly prepared spell levels is equal to or less than the number of spell levels given up (0-level spells do not count).

They then proceed to give the example of a 12-th level transmuter who ditches 2 1st-level spells, and 2 2nd-level spells (spell level total: 6) and replaces them with 2 3rd-level spells.

Let's take another example, so that I'm sure I understand.

6th level transmuter, 16 int, uses this variant instead of getting a bonus transmuter spell per level. This character may prepare 4/3/3/2 spells per day. Does this mean that he could, basically, prepare 4/2/2/3 spells per day instead, ie drop a 1st-level and a 2nd-level spell, and prepare a supplementary 3rd-level spell?

Basically, what it comes down to, is that the transmuter may decide to prepare less spells, but of greater power. The 12th-level transmuter above could decide to ditch a prepared Enlarge, Spider climb, Endurance and Knock to get a Disintegrate or Tenser's Transformation instead?

Doesn't this seem to be slightly overpowered?

Thanks in advance

AR

 

[shilsen]

Not at all. As you note, this is capped at half the class levels of the character, so the most he can get is one extra spell of the highest level he can cast, or two or more spells of lower levels than that. Consider what he is losing. Since he has to give up recieving the extra spells per day for being a specialist, the 12th lvl caster in your example would already have had the extra 6th lvl spell slot (and an extra spell slot at 0th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th lvl). The caster actually gives up a very large amount of power for some versatility, since this ability does not need to be used at spell preparation for the day but can be used at any time. Frankly, I think it's a fairly weak ability.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

I forgot about the (very important) fact that the character wouldn't be receiving his transmuter bonus spells of every level...

But the ability does work with any spell, not just the transmuter spells...

AR

 

[shilsen]

But the ability does work with any spell, not just the transmuter spells...

Sure, but I don't see how that makes any real difference power-wise. It just makes sure that if the character takes time in the middle of the day, he can access a useful spell for a given situation (and must take a few minutes to do so, which makes it next to useless for combat). It adds versatility, but not power. The normal transmuter can just leave an empty spell slot at each level and achieve almost the same thing, just having to take more time (15 minutes) to fill those slots when needed.