If you were holding the charge and discharging it in addition to a melee attack do you still get the +3 bonus? You'd be rolling for the attack roll and not the spell.
If you were holding the charge and you were using a Maximized Rod....could this be done? Or in the second you cast the spell would it be discharged into the Rod because you are touching it.
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If you're getting bonuses to damage on your spells and/or exploiting elemental vulnerabilities, it can be quite good. Targeting touch AC means you're much more likely to hit, after all. However, the 5d6 cap gets worse and worse as you get to higher levels, and with two claws, a bite, and the strength bonus from Dragon Disciple, you're MUCH better off trying to full attack things to pieces when possible. In which case, you'd have been better off buffing yourself with Enlarge Person, Bull's Strength, Haste, etc.
It can be a good tool for approaching and against foes with high DR, but most Dragon Disciples are better off focusing on enhancing themselves and ripping enemies to shreds dragon-style. If you really want a Shocking Grasp-centered build, Magus is by far the best class for you.
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Shocking Grasp, Corrosive Touch, and Frostbite are probably the 3 best evoker gish spells at level 1[that do the evoker niche of rolling more damage dice]. Shocking Grasp takes 1st place, with the d6/level damage no-save and +3 attack, then Corrosive Touch at 2nd with less damage/level, and no bonus to attack, but does a rarely resisted element. Frostbite is in its own category because unlike the other 2, at high levels this will last several rounds, and has a save or suck on each attack, in addition to flat level to damage with no cap. But I'd say Shocking Grasp is definitely worth it for your Dragon Disciple. For Quickening though, IMO just getting a rod is better than the feat, since with level 5 spells, you have better spells to cast [like Cone of Cold, with its whole "No Damage Cap" and "AoE" stuff].
I agree, but is intensified or quickened shock worth it? Intensified would be viable until mid levels and ur strength takes over I believe, but have some doubts. And quickened, even though it would be level 5 spell, it would be similar to monk of elemental fist. Adding 5D6 to a strong strength attack and still having actions sounds good.If you're getting bonuses to damage on your spells and/or exploiting elemental vulnerabilities, it can be quite good. Targeting touch AC means you're much more likely to hit, after all. However, the 5d6 cap gets worse and worse as you get to higher levels, and with two claws, a bite, and the strength bonus from Dragon Disciple, you're MUCH better off trying to full attack things to pieces when possible. In which case, you'd have been better off buffing yourself with Enlarge Person, Bull's Strength, Haste, etc.
It can be a good tool for approaching and against foes with high DR, but most Dragon Disciples are better off focusing on enhancing themselves and ripping enemies to shreds dragon-style. If you really want a Shocking Grasp-centered build, Magus is by far the best class for you.
Intensified is definitely worth it, especially with higher-level spells, and if you have the CL to back it up. When you hit level 10, you can effectively cast 2 Shocking Grasps into one attack with the Intensify spell (and with Magical Lineage, it would basically be for free). Mix that in with Quickened (via Rod or otherwise, though Rod would be best), and you have a very nasty burst attack each round.
With a Fireball, you're essentially pre-empowering the damage dealt at level 15. You could then do an Empowered Intensified Fireball for even more increased base damage, though I'm not sure if the Empowered would amplify the Intensified amount as well.
It's not a Metamagic I'd take right away because of the CL you need to make it really good, but it's one you should definitely get when going that route, at 10th/11th level at the earliest, since that's when you can start getting the most bang for the bucks.
**EDIT** In terms of Quickened, I wouldn't recommend as a Metamagic feat to take; don't get me wrong, it's a great Metamagic, but the +4 Spell Level is really daunting to snatch, whereas the +1 from Intensified is a lot less restrictive, and still very powerful in the end-game (assuming combat is not ended before it begins).
Remember that Metamagic Rods don't increase the spell level needed to cast, they only expend a single charge to simulate the Metamagic effect, and that depending on the grade of Metamagic Rod, they can quicken spells that are otherwise impossible to Quicken (Quickened Time Stop or Wail of the Banshee is pretty dang overpowered, and only accomplished via a Greater Quickened Metamagic Rod). Keep in mind that traits like Magical Lineage may help, but only for one spell, and one effective spell level. So unless you plan to spam a single spell [one trick pony warning], I wouldn't take it, and even then it's debatable.
