PCs and Empower / Quicken Spell-like Ability


Rules Questions


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

A lot of the base classes now have spell-like abilities and are therefore eligible for the Empower Spell-like Ability and Quicken Spell-like ability feats (GM permitting of course).

The feats say you have to be of a certain caster level first, based off of the spell-like ability's spell level. The problem is, it's not entirely clear what the spell level is for a butt-ton of abilities. Take the elemental sorcerer's elemental ray ability for example, what is the spell level of that? It doesn't say.

What about the summoner (who could greatly benefit from more creatures or faster summoning)? It doesn't say either. Even if one assumes the spell level is the same as the equivalent summon monster spell (which isn't really appropriate as it works differently due to faster summoning and longer duration) then you still have to deal with the changes in spell level (and thus the perquisite changes in the feat).

In fact, just how often do the books actually mention "this spell-like ability is equivalent to an Xth level spell?" I'm willing to bet it doesn't more often than not. How does one deal with spells that are on multiple class lists?


Here's what I have ruled in the past:

If you have a Spell-like ability you can apply a Metamagic feat as long as it doesn't change the level of the Spell-like ability.

Now that worked in 3.5 when you could have feats that keep a spell from increasing in level, but not in Pathfinder so I don't know.

Since you can't increase the level of a spell-like ability to satisfy a Metamagic feat I don't think you could apply a Metamagic feat to a Spell-like ability.

If you had a Metamagic feat that doesn't increased the level of the spell then I think it would be ok.


Ravingdork wrote:

A lot of the base classes now have spell-like abilities and are therefore eligible for the Empower Spell-like Ability and Quicken Spell-like ability feats (GM permitting of course).

The feats say you have to be of a certain caster level first, based off of the spell-like ability's spell level. The problem is, it's not entirely clear what the spell level is for a b%&&-ton of abilities. Take the elemental sorcerer's elemental ray ability for example, what is the spell level of that? It doesn't say.

What about the summoner (who could greatly benefit from more creatures or faster summoning)? It doesn't say either. Even if one assumes the spell level is the same as the equivalent summon monster spell (which isn't really appropriate as it works differently due to faster summoning and longer duration) then you still have to deal with the changes in spell level (and thus the perquisite changes in the feat).

In fact, just how often do the books actually mention "this spell-like ability is equivalent to an Xth level spell?" I'm willing to bet it doesn't more often than not. How does one deal with spells that are on multiple class lists?

I brought this up before. I think/hope it will be fixed in the next printing. For now I just go by the level the ability was gained at. As an example if the SLA does not imitate a spell and a wizard gains it at 9th level I say the SLA is a 5th level ability.

Sovereign Court

I know traditionally we tend to apply the old caster level is equal to the class level where the ability comes from.

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Rules Questions / PCs and Empower / Quicken Spell-like Ability All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.