Why no quicken spell for sorcerers?

[Thia Halmades]

Actually, my version has always been as such:

Sorceror's take a full round to prepare a Meta Magick.

Round 1: Quicken Spell (FRA).
Round 2: Cast Quicken Spell (free), follow-up action.
Round 3: Quicken Spell (FRA)

etc... So they get it, but the spells go off intermittently between rounds. However, Karin's Dad has an excellent point; Arcane Prep lets you just break it. Like, break it break it. But hey, it's a legal combo.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Actually, my version has always been as such:

That's not the way the rules actually work, however (I'm not certain you realize this)*.

Applying a metamagic feat to a spontaneously cast spell increases the casting time to a full-round action, not to a 1 round casting time.**

In other words, a sorceror can cast 1 spell per round, every round, when applying metamagic.

* - To further 'splain, I'm not sure if "my version" means "the way I read the rules" or "my houserule, given that I know the way the rules work."

** - Assuming a normal, 1-action-to-cast spell.

 

[Thia Halmades]

Hey Patryn.

The answer is: "my houserule, given that I know the way the rules work."

We know that you can't Quicken a spell that doesn't go off the same round... it's no longer Quickened (doi). I also know that using any MM Feat w/o Arc. Prep. is an FRA. However, I wanted a way for Sorcerors to be able to make use of it that remained balanced. So, IMC, I allow them to spend the round "quickening" (sorry, Highlander) and then having their Quickened Spell execute on their turn next round, instead of "just before" their turn on the next round.

Thus they lose a turn in-between to get two spells the following turn. I was okay with that.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Thus they lose a turn in-between to get two spells the following turn. I was okay with that.

Sorry to continue House Rule discussions, but ...

How does that work? I mean, how is it at all a benefit to give up a spell this round, take a higher-level slot, and then cast it and one additional spell next round?

Isn't it almost certain that a far, far better combination would be to just cast the spell this round and then cast another spell next round? You save a feat and a higher-level spell slot.

In fact, the only way I can see this working is if you had a particular two-spell combo that needed to go off immediately, one right after the other (like, say, a damaging fog / cloud spell and a wall of force) - but that should be rare enough to be of little practical benefit.

Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

Have I missed it or hasn't anyone mentioned Sudden Metamagic feats, from MiniHB / Complete Arcane?

AR

 

[KarinsDad]

I am fine with the situation above. It's pretty strong, but also quite costly.

Opps. Nevermind.

 

[Thia Halmades]

People are going to hate me for this one.

I have no idea when it would be beneficial, except as possibly a shock to someone else's system or to stack two effects on the same round, or attempt two save or dies instead of one. One of the player's (the sorc) asked "Can I quicken a spell?" and we all chewed on that for a minute and I said: "Sure, but it won't matter as it's an FRA." Everyone nodded sagely. I then said "Although, if it means that much to you, you can set it up as an FRA then set it off on your next turn as a free action, but you'd be skipping every other round."

Once again, the gathered nodded sagely, with muttered "yes yes" and grunted approvals. No one ever bothered to ask how it would be beneficial, just if it would be possible. I saw some possibilities for it, but nothing so drastic as what Karin's Dad said earlier with Arc. Prep.