For those who have played in an epic level campaign, I have a few questions. I have not been a DM in an epic level campaign but now find myself with two PCs at epic level. One is in a FR campaign and the other is in a Wilderlands campaign. Both campaigns are high magic from what I know. Here are my questions.
1) How can a player increase his spellcraft checks? Besides maxing the skill, taking the skill focus feat, magical aptitude feat and epic skill focus feat.
2) I do not care very much for the mitigating factors in the ELH. There are too many ways to mitigate the spellcraft DC without too much trouble. One example is using a slay seed(25) reduce casting time from 1 min to 1 round (+18) increase spell DC by 20 (+40) MITIGATE backlash 20d6 (-20) burn 2,000 xp (-20). Total DC 43. This is easy to achieve with a 25th level caster provide he takes epic skill focus. The spell affects any character up to 80HD. The Fort DC is 40+ability modifier. Assuming starting at a modest 16 int. It would be a 22 int by 24th level, with a headband of intellect +6 (standard by 20th level) the total modifier is +9 for a total save DC of 49. Placing this DC against the highest NPC Fort saves (p310 ELH) +28 for a 30th level paladin. Every 30th level NPC needs a 20 to save. The burned xp is an easy wash against the xp gained. The average damage (70)is easily absorbed by having a +6 amulet of health which will grant +75 hp at 25th level.
Now for my question: what limitations have you placed on mitigating factors? At this point I would only allow existing epic spells from Wotc sources.
3) Where can I find epic spells outside of the ELH? A friend has some FR books. But I saw a spell in Champions of Ruin (Aumvor's Soulshatter that has an incorrect DC, it is listed as DC51 but should be DC 32) I am hoping this is just a typo.
4) Help me create an epic spell that my 26th level cleric could caster with help from 3 or 4 friends who have access to 8th and 9th level spells. He has 214hp and by 27th level will have a spellcraft of +48. My enemy would be the Green Emperor of Vertistan. He is around 40th level( I don't know what) and also rumored to be a 0 level diety. My idea is to channel an avatar of his diety much the way of channeling a celestial paragon (p.122 BoED) I am imagining this could kill him or drain a level as with the paragon spells. I also welcome other spell ideas.
1) Rod of Epic Spellcasting. Or have your epic bard buddy inspire competance in Spellcraft *Weave, weave those finger and sing, sing those arcane syllables!*
2) Epic spell DCs are 20 + mod, not 40. Also remember that NPCs don't have the cash to dump into Cloaks of Resistance and ability booster items that PCs do, so their saves will always be sub-par. If you don't like mitigating factors, just disallow them. Or lower the max allowance for each particular factor (max backlash = HD) or create an overall mitigating factor ceiling (no more than -1 per rank of Spellcraft).
3) No idea, I've never seen epic spells outside of ELH.
4) I would help you, but I just ate half a quart of pork fried rice and so I have the attention span of a kender at the moment.
1) Rod of Epic Spellcasting. Or have your epic bard buddy inspire competance in Spellcraft *Weave, weave those finger and sing, sing those arcane syllables!*
2) Epic spell DCs are 20 + mod, not 40. Also remember that NPCs don't have the cash to dump into Cloaks of Resistance and ability booster items that PCs do, so their saves will always be sub-par. If you don't like mitigating factors, just disallow them. Or lower the max allowance for each particular factor (max backlash = HD) or create an overall mitigating factor ceiling (no more than -1 per rank of Spellcraft).
3) No idea, I've never seen epic spells outside of ELH.
4) I would help you, but I just ate half a quart of pork fried rice and so I have the attention span of a kender at the moment.
I have a mitigating factor increasing the DC by 20 to get the 40+ modifier pertaining to this spell.
Thanks for responding Tequila.
There is also a variant rule in the Epic level handbook that allows PCs to use there primary attribute instead of Int for those members of your party who qualify. (Such as Sorcerers, Bards, Clerics, etc.)
Also a "Tome of Clear Thought" could increase the Int attribute permanently as much 5 as an inherent bonus. The rules state that a character is only allowed up to 5 for inherent bonuses, but for Epic you might allow your PCs to take up to another 5.
If your PCs already have access to Epic seeds, "Seed:Fortify" can do the same job as any of the Tomes.
There are also Epic Prestige classes that can help offset some cost,Spellcraft DC, XP, etc. of your Epic Spells.
In Player's Guide to Faerun you have the "Netherese Arcanist" and in Races of Faerun you have the "Elven High Mage."
As far as Epic Spells goes you will find them in:
Epic Level Handbook (of course)
Players Guide to Faerun
Lost Empires of Faerun
Frostburn
Stormwrack
Sandstorm
(I am not aware of any other official publications but would be interested to know.)
But I will tell you from experience, take it slow on introducing Epic Magic.
I might suggest making "lost lore" a part of an Epic Quest for you intrepid heroes. Giving them the opportunity to learn to cast spell seeds first (,which doesn't require that they be cast as a part of an Epic Spell and has benefits of there own.)
Chris P.
a.k.a. Spectrecor
Adventure waits for no one
There are also other feats in the books that add +1's and +2's to your spellcraft. But, since I am nowhere near my books, I can not tell which feats or which books. There is one feat I can call to mind from the PG to Faerun, it is called Spellcasting Prodigy and it counts your primary stat as 2 higher for purposes of spellcasting and bonus spells and such.