Outlander: Lore Seeker (Fireball), Magical Heritage(Fireball), Metamagic Mastery(Fireball)

[PSusac]

OK, so here's the question:

For a blaster mage which is better?

fireballs that get +1 caster level and +1 DC and -1 level metmagic cost

OR

fireballs that get -2 metamagic cost?

I'm thinking that Intensify spell AND Piercing spell using a 3rd level spell slot is going to make a very powerful fireball.

What say you? Which is better and why?

[Aratrok]

Outlander is a campaign trait for Rise of the Runelords, so it's not available unless your GM explicitly allows you to snipe campaign traits from APs.

[PSusac]

go with me on this one.

[Claxon]

Probably the reduction in metamagic cost.

Because you can cast a dazing persistent fireball as a 6th level spell instead of a 8th level spell.

Persistent is definitely better than a +1 DC, and +1 caster level will get you +1d6 damage, if the damage isn't already capped. Which is probably is.

A dazing persistent fireball will damage the enemy and unless they succeed at both saves will daze them, after which melee characters will kill them without much risk. Dazed makes them unable to take any actions. Dazing spell does it for rounds.

[bfobar]

I would say that it depends on your level. I think in lower levels, caster level is king. At high levels, the caster level is already maxing the damage even after intensify, so having less metamagic costs would be nice for adding in the metamagic goodies. Or just take additional traits and take all of the above?

Also, a blaster build focusing on caster level may not need piercing spell metamagic. spell specialization and spell penetration are more than sufficient.

[PSusac]

That's what I thought. Thanks.

[voska66]

Aratrok wrote:

Outlander is a campaign trait for Rise of the Runelords, so it's not available unless your GM explicitly allows you to snipe campaign traits from APs.

While it is a RotRL Trait it is also an APG campaign trait. The funny thing about this is when I made a Character for RotRL I chose a trait from the APG when I didn't have the players guide. Later downloading it I found the trait I chose. What coincidence. It would outlander exile.