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I would like to see clear wording in Quicken Spell regarding what you can actually Quicken.
The Quicken Spell description states you can quicken a spell that does not require more than one full-round action to cast. (p. 92)
Some spells take 1 round to cast (they don't take effect until the beginning of your next turn).
Can 1 round spells be quickened?
Some know the answer to this already. To others, it's vague and requires referring to another area of the book to find that a spell with a casting time of 1 round "is a full-round action" (p. 161). The confusion comes from knowing that the casting actually continues past the end of your turn, when other full-round actions take place when your turn ends (or even allow a 5' step before your turn ends). Please, remove the vagueness with a simple addition to the description.
"A spell whose casting time is more than 1 full-round action cannot be quickened (spells with a casting time of 1 round qualify as full-round actions, so they can be quickened)."
Summoners rejoice.
"A spell whose casting time is more than 1 full-round action cannot be quickened (spells with a casting time of 1 round qualify as full-round actions, so they can be quickened)."
Summoners rejoice.
One curious thing to note, I think this is an error but I'm not entirely sure:
Special: This feat can be applied to any spell cast spontaneously (including sorcerer spells, bard spells, and cleric or druid spells cast spontaneously), allowing it to be cast as a swift action.
This seems to suggest that a sorcerer can apply quicken to 'any spell' they cast...
Hmmm... I'm putting this one on the errata thread.
I think the part he is saying is a typo is in the initial read through someone might get the mistaken impression that sponteanous casters who take the feat get to automatically use it without paying the level increase.
Not that it does allow this, but it could be construed that way.
I think the spontaneous bit was a Beta gift to give further oomph to casters.
I haven't played or DM'd with a sorceror with Quicken Spell yet, but that did raise my eyebrow a bit.
If it stays, even more reason to dance, for both DMs and PCs!
Could be. I haven't really poked around with it to see what it might break.
There are 2 non-core metamagic feats which I think need to have some sort of core equivalent. There might be some others but these two IMO are really super useful and worth the meta-cost without being overpowering.
#1 is Shape Spell -- If you don't know what it is it's pretty obvious, it allows you to reshape spells so for example a 20' radius spell affects a line instead of a burst. (+1 meta)
#2 is Energy Substitution -- Swap out the energy type on a spell. Pretty much a must-have for sorcerers and pretty decent for wizards on occasion too. (+1 meta)
In my opinion this sort of stuff is much more useful than the current uninspiring set of "do more damage" stuff.
Energy Substitution is in the SRD, hidden in the divinity section.
Ooh, jsut noticed, so is JOAT.
Why so it is, thanks for that:
Energy Substitution
#1 is Shape Spell --
#2 is Energy Substitution --
I'd like to see Metamagic more along those lines as well.
Heighten Spell Feat:
This shouldn't require a Feat, it should be free for any caster.
It pretty much only lets them use a higher DC with a weaker spell.
Since an ACTUAL higher level spell would have the same higher DC PLUS DO MORE, a Heightened Spell is WEAKER than the normal usage of a higher level spell slot, not something that should require a Feat to use.
In the same vein, the other Metamagic Feats should also raise the Save DC of the effected spell to equal it's new effective level.
Heighten Spell Feat:
This shouldn't require a Feat, it should be free for any caster.
It pretty much only lets them use a higher DC with a weaker spell.
Since an ACTUAL higher level spell would have the same higher DC PLUS DO MORE, a Heightened Spell is WEAKER than the normal usage of a higher level spell slot, not something that should require a Feat to use.In the same vein, the other Metamagic Feats should also raise the Save DC of the effected spell to equal it's new effective level.
I tend to agree... in fact I would say that a caster should be able to burn a higher level slot to cast a lower level spell to boost the DC at any time without metamagic.
i'm not sure what you mean...
if "Heighten Spell" is "free"/ doesn't require a Feat,
then all casters can raise the DC of any lower level spell by memorizing it in a higher spell slot.
if you mean burning a DIFFERENT higher level spell to cast another lower level spell at the higher level,
that would seem to destroy the wizard/ sorceror distinction too much, since it bypasses memorization.
i'm not sure what you mean...
if "Heighten Spell" is "free"/ doesn't require a Feat,
then all casters can raise the DC of any lower level spell by memorizing it in a higher spell slot.if you mean burning a DIFFERENT higher level spell to cast another lower level spell at the higher level,
that would seem to destroy the wizard/ sorceror distinction too much, since it bypasses memorization.
I was a wizard would memorize fireball in a 4th level slot instead of 3rd. A sorcerer casts it in a 4th level slot.
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I agree that the ability to memorize or cast a spell at a higher level to increase a DC should not require a feat. Heighten should go. I also think spontaneous casters should not be penalized for using metamagic feats by adding an extended casting time. The longer casting time has only a minor effect on balance and the greatest result that it causes is that the feats don't get taken cause they won't get used.
I agree that the ability to memorize or cast a spell at a higher level to increase a DC should not require a feat. Heighten should go. I also think spontaneous casters should not be penalized for using metamagic feats by adding an extended casting time. The longer casting time has only a minor effect on balance and the greatest result that it causes is that the feats don't get taken cause they won't get used.
Which is worse, having to decide which spells get meta magic at the beginning of the day or having to spend a full round to apply it on the fly?
Spontaneous casters are far better off than their prepared caster friends are with regards to metamagic.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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I'd point out that looking at psionics, both RAW and in personal experience, that metapsionic feats are useful enough on the fly that they're mechanically limited to one a manifestation.
They also a) will be a once every other round trick (Full round action to gain focus) or B) will require an additional feat (Psionic Meditation) and take both the standard and move action (standard to manifest, move to refocus, no 5' step for you)
To compete with the sorcerer, a psion will need to spend 2-3 feats (psycrystal affinity, psycrystal containment, psionic meditation) and even then won't be able to metamagic/metapsionic as fast.
Comparing the three (Wizard/Sorcerer/Psion) I'd say the metamagic = prepare or full round action is balanced.
Now to heighten... Again, the psion doesn't even get heighten, so that 17d6 crystal shard (effectively a 9th level spell) gets stopped by lesser globe of invulnerability. I do feel heighten is worth a feat, especially for the Sorceror, as he might not have a higher level offensive spell handy. (Example: Facing a cold subtype monster behind a globe of invulnerability when your only 4th level spell is wall of ice).
Having played a battle sorcerer, an even more spell starved caster than a regular sorcerer, metamagic rods were my best friend (I was prestiging into Archmage and Abjurant Cheesewhore so I didn't have that many feats left. Add an improved familiar...)