Ultimate Magus question

Malachei

First Post
The UM's augmented casting ability, easily the best of the PrC, allows the UM to sponaneously modifxy a spell of a spell level up to half the UM class level with a metamagic feat, powered by a spell from the other class whose spell level equals the metamagic feat's modifier.

(a) By RAW, this means that there is no upper spell level limit -- an 10th level UM could Quicken a fifth level spell (equivalent of a 9th level spell), expending a 4th level spell slot from his spontaneous class. The character would normally have access to 7th level spells only (having 13 wizard casting and 9th spontaneous casting with practiced spellcaster).

Although I'm fine with this, I want to make sure this interpretation corresponds with actual rules. Is there any FAQ or Errata on this? Is this RAI, in your point of view?

(b) In the PrC description, it says "... you can choose to sacrifice a spell or spell slot from one of your classes to apply the effect of a metamagic feat ..." and "The level of the spell slot sacrificed must equal or exceed the spell level adjustment of the metamagic feat" (emphasis mine) -- By RAW, I understand that this implies that you have to sacrifice a spell slot of the exact level (i.e. a 4th level spell slot for a metamagic feat with an adjustment of +4). Given this interpretation of the rules, I could not, for instance, take a combination of a 3rd and 1st level spell slot to power a Quicken or Twin Spell augmented casting. I've seen a lot of advice for the UM that suggested taking expensive metamagic feats, such as Quicken and Twin Spell (the UM Handbook on the Char Ops boards specifically suggests these two, and Persist). With this interpretation, it would be best not to take several metamagic feats with a high adjustment, but have a mix of low-adjustment and high-adjustment feats. Having both Quicken Spell (a must-have) and Twin Spell, as I had originally planned, would be a suboptimal choice, then. With Beguiler or Sorcerer having four 4th level spells (+1 bonus spell for high ability), this will also limit the number of uses to below the UM limit of 8 (3+1/2 PrC level) per day. In order to make full use of the ability, you would need a metamagic feat with a lower-level adjustment.

Is this reading of RAW correct? Do you play like this or do you allow UM's to power metamagic with combined levels, as well? If not, how has this affected your selection of metamagic feats?

Thanks in advance for your helpful comments and suggestions.
 

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I'd say your reading of the rules is correct. That means, free Extend, Enlarge, Silent, Still metamagic galore, but free Quicken comes only late and is quite limited in uses/day.
Depending on what you want to do with your UM, Extend Spell, Split Ray, Sculpt Spell and Empower Spell are the good metamagic choices here, maybe Quicken much later on.

Two things to remember, though:
1) There's a feat that lets you combine lower-level slots into higher-level ones. Somebody else on here will have to tell you what its name and source is, since I don't own the sourcebook in question.
2) Metamagic cost reducers very much come into play for a UM. Most importantly, Easy Metamagic, Arcane Thesis, and Metamagic School Focus.
 

Rings of wizardry are extremely usefull for an Ultimate Magus, since they double spells on both sides.
Pearl of Power allows you to replenish your wizard slots when they are used.

And yes, your reading of the rules is correct, with the following addendum: you can also spend a HIGHER level spell slot to power the metamagic effect. (equal or exceed....)
In addition, it is my understanding the casting time isn't increased as it is with metamagiced sorcerer spells.
 

Thanks for your thoughts.

you can also spend a HIGHER level spell slot

Yes, that's been clear. That's exactly why I think the advice in the UM handbook and other suggestions pointing towards high-adjustment metamagic feats is suboptimal. Of course, you will want to have Quicken Spell, but maybe not another 4-level-adjustment feat (like Twin Spell), otherwise, you will be draining your 4th level spell slots really fast. I just wondered, because many people coming from the character optimzing boards have suggested a UM will invest in adjustment-heavy feats.

So I'll have to take a look at some cheaper metamagic feats. Unless I happen to find a Ring of Wizardry, spell level 4 :-)
 


Thanks for your thoughts.



Yes, that's been clear. That's exactly why I think the advice in the UM handbook and other suggestions pointing towards high-adjustment metamagic feats is suboptimal. Of course, you will want to have Quicken Spell, but maybe not another 4-level-adjustment feat (like Twin Spell), otherwise, you will be draining your 4th level spell slots really fast. I just wondered, because many people coming from the character optimzing boards have suggested a UM will invest in adjustment-heavy feats.

So I'll have to take a look at some cheaper metamagic feats. Unless I happen to find a Ring of Wizardry, spell level 4 :-)

Don't overlook the fact that you can use Augmented Casting the other direction as well - quicken or twin one of your lower-level sorcerer spells by expending a 4th-lvl Wizard slot, for instance.

The Ring of Wizardry 4 is of course the most optimized solution... and if you're 15th level or higher you might even get one. *grin*
 

Sure. With use of Practiced Spellcaster, Sorcerer caster level will be above to wizard caster level until ~4th UM level (for many builds -- of course, there are other options, such as Illumian with the Krau sigil, etc.) -- so in lower levels, it will probably make sense to power sorcerer spells, whereas at higher levels, fueling the wizard spells with sorcerer slots will probably be a better choice in most situations.
 


Sure. SAD is a good thing. But I have great respect for players who also consider "suboptimal" builds. I think you can build a great UM with sorcerer, as well.
 

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