Why is the there no Mass Spell metamagic feat?

[irdeggman]

These were 3.5e and supplement changes. In 3.0 it was consistently +3 levels.

Except for mass charm (8th level spell, 2nd level base spell)and mass invisibility (7th level spell, 2nd level base spell)? I am sure there others.

 

[KarinsDad]

There is no good reason that I've seen. One of the first metamagics I houseruled into existence in 3.0 was Mass Spell (change a single target spell with range of close or further, to a 1 target/level spell where no target is more than 15ft from any other target or something similar). It was an obvious choice and dead easy to reverse engineer from the existing mass spells. Makes a lot more sense than chain spell too.

The problem is the Save or Die and other serious offensive damage spells.

They are already really serious spells. If you could throw them on all 4+ PCs simultaneously, you have the makings of a TPK.

For example, Mass Harm (if you increase it's range to Close) or Mass Finger of Death or Mass Phantasmal Killer.

Granted, this depends on how many spell levels you add for Mass.


WotC appears to mostly use Mass for Conjuration Healing and Compulsion / Charm type spells. To allow it for extremely offensive (e.g. damage) spells could introduce balance issues.

 

[Infiniti2000]

I'm thinking quickened true strike + mass disintegrate.

Anyone with me?

 

[KarinsDad]

I'm thinking quickened true strike + mass disintegrate.

Anyone with me?

So far, the discussion was limited to individual target spells, not ray spells. If you did allow Mass with ray spells, you would still need an individual touch attack roll for each ray, just like with Twin Ray. So, the Quickened True Strike would only work for the first ray.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Maybe, but it depends on the wording for the mass metamagic feat. It could be worded similar to Manyshot.

 

[KarinsDad]

Maybe, but it depends on the wording for the mass metamagic feat. It could be worded similar to Manyshot.

WotC is fairly consistent with limiting certain types of functionality. All of the core Mass spells are Target: Creature (sometimes touched) type of spells, hence, I doubt they would allow rays. If they did, I really suspect that they would go to the Twin Ray feat for guidance, not the Manyshot feat.

 

[Joker]

Probably because the value of making a spell 'mass' differs dramatically depending on which spell it is. Mass True Strike, anyone?


glass.

It exists in Relics and Rituals. Cast it and it will last until your first attack, 6th level. Not particularly unbalancing, though you do tend to get discussions with players (mages) saying that in the past three combats they haven't done anything requiring an attack role and want to use the +20 for their disintigrate spell.

Nothing that can't be houseruled (read: placing a .45 magnum on the table).

 

[Vanye]

Except for mass charm (8th level spell, 2nd level base spell)and mass invisibility (7th level spell, 2nd level base spell)? I am sure there others.

I think Mass Charm was based on Charm Monster, which is, as I recall, 5th level...

 

[Quartz]

If you were to make it +4 levels, that would put the major nasties (Disintegrate, Harm) into Epic territory while still providing reason to have the original Mass X spells.

 

[irdeggman]

I think Mass Charm was based on Charm Monster, which is, as I recall, 5th level...

Good catch. In 3.5 they renamed the spell Charm, Monster Mass to help clarify it.

Still Mass Invisibility doesn't fit the pattern.