No, there are specialized metamagic feats for spell-like abilities in the Bestiary, like Empower Spell-Like Ability, for example. Normal metamagic feats cannot be applied, and hence, neither can metamagic rods.
Not officially, if an ability or magical item refers to spells, it does not mean it also goes for spell like abilities those are two different things and should be stated explicitly to work for spell like abilities as well.
Not officially, if an ability or magical item refers to spells, it does not mean it also goes for spell like abilities those are two different things and should be stated explicitly to work for spell like abilities as well.
Now, this isn't entirely true. In PF SLA's and spells have gotten more close than ever, and there are other cases where what you say isn't true. For example, there was some discussion if Augment Summoning and Spell Focus worked for SLA's, and IIRC it ended with someone on the staff stating that yes, they work, since spell-like abilities are like spells.
I think in PFRPG, we can in most cases assume that spell-like abilities work exactly like spells without components. Obviously, meta-magic feats won't work since SLA's don't have slots, but meta-magic rods might very well work.
tl;dr - other effects work, so I'd say rods do to, but I'm not 100%.
I haven't seen what the paizo folk said, so I don't know if it matters, but neither Augment Summoning nor Spell Focus are metamagic feats. If paizo specifically opens up spell-like abilities to standard metamagic feats, that opens up a whole world of wonderfulness if we convert the game in which I play a warlock, though...
As far as what seems reasonable, metamagic rods work more like the old "Sudden Whatever" feats, which were available for Spell-likes as well as for Spells. But I'd be leery, as a player, asking for metamagic rods to work with spell-likes because monsters have spell-likes more often than players do, and they have ONE ENCOUNTER A DAY: ME. Eep.
Of course, there's nothing to stop your DM from having a world in which rods of Empower Spell-like Ability are available. If you're a player you might have to make them, but with the new crafting rules that might not be such a losing proposition.
One last thing: remember that metamagic makes spontaneous casters take longer to cast their spells. So the Summoner's standard-action summons -- which are GREAT! -- would turn into full-round summons if you metamagic'd them with anything but Quicken. And, at least in the games I play in, summoning as a full-round is very difficult to pull off without being interrupted.
Another thing to think about. How do you raise the spell level of a spell-like ability? Gotta find an answer to that to use most metamagic feats. And I mean the spell level, not the caster level or save DC.
Another thing to think about. How do you raise the spell level of a spell-like ability? Gotta find an answer to that to use most metamagic feats. And I mean the spell level, not the caster level or save DC.
I haven't seen what the paizo folk said, so I don't know if it matters, but neither Augment Summoning nor Spell Focus are metamagic feats. If paizo specifically opens up spell-like abilities to standard metamagic feats, that opens up a whole world of wonderfulness if we convert the game in which I play a warlock, though...
This is what I was talking about, the reason why they won't work with metamagic feats. There's no slots so it won't work.
Rods, however, don't require any slots, so it seems they would work.
Read the definition of SLA's:
"Spell-Like Abilities: Usually, a spell-like ability works just like the spell of that name. A spell-like ability has no verbal, somatic, or material component, nor does it require a focus. The user activates it mentally. Armor never affects a spell-like ability's use, even if the ability resembles an arcane spell with a somatic component.
A spell-like ability has a casting time of 1 standard action unless noted otherwise in the ability or spell description. In all other ways, a spell-like ability functions just like a spell."
Note that is specifies that it has a set casting time and uses no components, but otherwise functions just like a spell. As such, one would assume anything that works for spells works for it too. Of course, they don't have slots, and as such can't use metamagic feats as they increase the slot - much like how a 1st level mage can cast magic missile, but not quickened magic missile as he doesn't have 5th level slots.
I don't think it is intended as such, personally I think it is a typical item paizo would write into an adventure with a demon BBEG using it because it is cool.
summoner will get very good use out off metamagic rods since they cast several spells at lower level already, I'd just look at the summoner and decide wether it is too much value for the rod based on that, it is a ruling that can go either way it's typically what you got DMs for, I guess we can now bother paizo with these questions for a second opinion though. Ofcourse there is a good chance the DM still overrules it, if he thinks it is too much.
I don't think it is intended as such, personally I think it is a typical item paizo would write into an adventure with a demon BBEG using it because it is cool.
summoner will get very good use out off metamagic rods since they cast several spells at lower level already, I'd just look at the summoner and decide wether it is too much value for the rod based on that, it is a ruling that can go either way it's typically what you got DMs for, I guess we can now bother paizo with these questions for a second opinion though. Ofcourse there is a good chance the DM still overrules it, if he thinks it is too much.
Some items are more useful to certain classes than others. Sure, the summoner would have great use of it (though I don't think more than full casters) but a fighter is getting at least as much use out of his full plate.
EDIT: And whether or not it could potentially be too useful (not really too powerful) an item to pass on, isn't really a matter when discussing what the rules say.
I'd say RAW it's pretty explicit that metamagic rods would work. It says that SLA's function just like spells except for A, B, and C - and metamagic rods is neither of A, B, or C.
I don't think it is intended as such, personally I think it is a typical item paizo would write into an adventure with a demon BBEG using it because it is cool.
summoner will get very good use out off metamagic rods since they cast several spells at lower level already, I'd just look at the summoner and decide wether it is too much value for the rod based on that, it is a ruling that can go either way it's typically what you got DMs for, I guess we can now bother paizo with these questions for a second opinion though. Ofcourse there is a good chance the DM still overrules it, if he thinks it is too much.
Some items are more useful to certain classes than others. Sure, the summoner would have great use of it (though I don't think more than full casters) but a fighter is getting at least as much use out of his full plate.
EDIT: And whether or not it could potentially be too useful (not really too powerful) an item to pass on, isn't really a matter when discussing what the rules say.
I'd say RAW it's pretty explicit that metamagic rods would work. It says that SLA's function just like spells except for A, B, and C - and metamagic rods is neither of A, B, or C.
oh yea, in that case I just disagree by raw it says nothing about it being usable for SLA, just spells. Sometimes the rules say it works sometimes not, they are not consistent throughout, the dwarven ability says +2 saves vs spells and SLA for example. Augment summoning is a case of not according to raw unless ruled otherwise by the gamedesigner staff, by raw still no good.
oh yea, in that case I just disagree by raw it says nothing about it being usable for SLA, just spells. Sometimes the rules say it works sometimes not, they are not consistent throughout, the dwarven ability says +2 saves vs spells and SLA for example. Augment summoning is a case of not according to raw unless ruled otherwise by the gamedesigner staff, by raw still no good.
RAW states that:
1. Spell-like abilities are like spells except for X.2. Metamagic rods work with spells.
3. Metamagic rods aren't X.
Note that by point 1, they specifically state that "in all other ways", they work as spells. "All other" is pretty harsh wording, and if they didn't work that would contradict this piece of RAW.
Thus, it seems they would work. Augment Summoning and Spell Focus don't explicitly state they work for SLA's in their text, yet they do because SLA's are like spells "in all other ways". Do you have any indication whatsoever that this should be treated differently than Augment Summoning?
I agree that it's confusing with the dwarven ability and such, but that's at most an indicator that they wouldn't be the same - while the part quoted above is direct proof that by RAW, if it works for a spell and isn't about components, casting stats or casting time, it works for a spell-like ability.
