Hey all,
I'm making a sorcerer that's gleefully specialised in blasting, and I've a few questions about how the APG feat Spell Perfection works.
Spell Perfection:
You are unequaled at the casting of one particular spell.
Prerequisites: Spellcraft 15 ranks, at least three metamagic feats.
Benefit: Pick one spell which you have the ability to cast. Whenever you cast that spell you may apply any one metamagic feat you have to that spell without affecting its level or casting time, as long as the total modified level of the spell does not use a spell slot above 9th level. In addition, if you have other feats which allow you to apply a set numerical bonus to any aspect of this spell (such as Spell Focus, Spell Penetration, Weapon Focus [ray], and so on), double the bonus granted by that feat when applied to this spell.
My question has to do with the line "as long as the total modified level of the spell does not use a spell slot above 9th level". Does that mean that I can't select Chain Lightning with this feat and quicken it using a 6th-level slot? The modified level *would* use a 10th-level slot, but *doesn't*. Hence my confusion. Does it mean that, or something else?
Similarly, if I have Lightning Bolt as my Spell Perfection choice, can I cast an Empowered Maximised Lightning Bolt (8th level) and quicken it for free?
(Obviously, presuming I've the appropriate feats.)
Many thanks, guys!
I personally take it as you can't use it on spells going into epic with spell slots higher than 9th (namely an infinite heighten spell). I would rule your scenario as ok since it doesn't modify your spells' level to begin with.
|
If the spell would normally be above 9th level, Spell Perfection doesn't work. So Spell Perfection: Time Stop does nothing.
You may not cast Quickened Chain Lightning with Spell Perfection. If you have Spell Perfection: Lightning Bolt, then you may cast a Quickened or Maximized Lightning Bolt. But an Empowered, Maximized, Quickened Lightning Bolt would normally be a 13th-level spell. You may not use Spell Perfection (or any feat by RAW) to cast that spell.
It sounds to me like you should pick your favorite 5th level spell, one that stays useful at higher levels, and get ready to cast it quickened whenever you'd like!
Fireball? Please!
Enervation! Cast quickened enervation followed by empowered or maximised enervation. 2 4th-level spell slots and suddenly the enemy really hates you. But who cares? He just lost 6 levels or so (provided you hit each time, but that's not too hard, really)
I took this feat with Chain Lightning and I use the Maximize Spell feat with it. I do an insane amount of damage because of my Irrisen Ice Mage Feat and Spell Focus Evocation. At my current level (sorcerer caster level 15) it does 102 points of damage and I can cast it 5 times a day just using up 6th level spell slots.
The best way to get around the whole modified level part is to use rods. I have a rod of Quicken that I can use in conjunction with this spell and it's excellent.
Next level I'm going to take it with the Fireball spell and the next feat after I believe I will take Quicken Spell so I can cast a Quickened Fireball then a Maximized Chain Lightning.
I took this feat with Chain Lightning and I use the Maximize Spell feat with it. I do an insane amount of damage because of my Irrisen Ice Mage Feat and Spell Focus Evocation. At my current level (sorcerer caster level 15) it does 102 points of damage and I can cast it 5 times a day just using up 6th level spell slots.
The best way to get around the whole modified level part is to use rods. I have a rod of Quicken that I can use in conjunction with this spell and it's excellent.
Next level I'm going to take it with the Fireball spell and the next feat after I believe I will take Quicken Spell so I can cast a Quickened Fireball then a Maximized Chain Lightning.
Yikes, can you say toasty? I would recommend that instead of taking spell perfection again, take elemental spell (if you don't have it already) I would pick acid, as a back-up element) or take quicken and later take elemental spell.
Or dazing spell, it sounds good to do lots of damage+ a chance to daze for 5 turns.
is it possible to pick spell perfection more then once?
is it possible to pick spell perfection more then once?
Nope. One of its big balancing factors.
I've used it to great effect on both fireball and flesh to stone (two different characters).
Hey all,
I'm making a sorcerer that's gleefully specialised in blasting, and I've a few questions about how the APG feat Spell Perfection works.
Spell Perfection:
You are unequaled at the casting of one particular spell.
Prerequisites: Spellcraft 15 ranks, at least three metamagic feats.
Benefit: Pick one spell which you have the ability to cast. Whenever you cast that spell you may apply any one metamagic feat you have to that spell without affecting its level or casting time, as long as the total modified level of the spell does not use a spell slot above 9th level. In addition, if you have other feats which allow you to apply a set numerical bonus to any aspect of this spell (such as Spell Focus, Spell Penetration, Weapon Focus [ray], and so on), double the bonus granted by that feat when applied to this spell.My question has to do with the line "as long as the total modified level of the spell does not use a spell slot above 9th level". Does that mean that I can't select Chain Lightning with this feat and quicken it using a 6th-level slot? The modified level *would* use a 10th-level slot, but *doesn't*. Hence my confusion. Does it mean that, or something else?
Similarly, if I have Lightning Bolt as my Spell Perfection choice, can I cast an Empowered Maximised Lightning Bolt (8th level) and quicken it for free?
(Obviously, presuming I've the appropriate feats.)
Many thanks, guys!
If your DM allows traits, you can Quicken Chain Lightning with Spell Perfection.
I took Magical Lineage (Chain Lightning) and Spell Perfection Chain Lightning for my Admixture Evocation Wizard. I can now cast an acid Empowered and Quickened Chain Lightning in the same round.
At 17th lvl that will allow me to do one Chained Lightning for 25d6 and one for 17d6 for a total of 42d6 damage. An average of 163 points of damage before save with intense spells. Not quite as good as the melee types do in a round with all their bonuses. But pretty potent for an evocation damage dealer.
Not quite as good as the melee types do in a round with all their bonuses. But pretty potent for an evocation damage...
No, I suppose not, but the melee types aren't doing hundreds of damage to DOZENS of enemies at once. :D
Nope. One of its big balancing factors.
I've used it to great effect on both fireball and flesh to stone (two different characters).
It doesn't say anything in the feat about not being able to take the feat more than once. It just says that you pick a spell and etc. etc. etc. We've taken this to mean that you can take it multiple times but each time you have to choose a different spell.
It doesn't say anything in the feat about not being able to take the feat more than once. It just says that you pick a spell and etc. etc. etc. We've taken this to mean that you can take it multiple times but each time you have to choose a different spell.Nope. One of its big balancing factors.
I've used it to great effect on both fireball and flesh to stone (two different characters).
Do we have other feats that can be taken multiple times that aren't labeled as such? Not to my knowledge. I'm pretty sure this cannot be obtained more than once, and that seems reasonable, as it would be fairly possible for a wizard to just take this 4 or 5 times for a variety of spells to somewhat mimic the sorcerer's ability to cast spells spontaneously on a larger scale. Meanwhile, a sorcerer could take this for the 3-5 spells they have that they are likely to be using metamagics on frequently to skirt their restriction on metamagic usage.
It doesn't say anything in the feat about not being able to take the feat more than once. It just says that you pick a spell and etc. etc. etc. We've taken this to mean that you can take it multiple times but each time you have to choose a different spell.Nope. One of its big balancing factors.
I've used it to great effect on both fireball and flesh to stone (two different characters).
Notice how feats that let you take them multiple times, with different selections each time, specifically say that you can?
The general rule is that, if it doesn't say otherwise, you can only ever take a given feat once. Compare Ironhide (APG) vs. Improved Natural Armor (Bestiary). The latter you can take again and again, but the former you can't.
Being able to take Spell Perfection more than once breaks the feat.
|
Fire Snake. Shapeable blast spell, 5th level. My Gold Draconic Sorcerer has Perfected Fire Snake, with Focus, Greater Focus, Elemental Focus, Penetration, Varisian Tattoo (it adds a flat bonus to the caster level of the spell), and Silent, Maximize and Quicken spells.
That's 15d6+15 damage quickened, or 105 damage maximized, DC 30, and +21 against SR at 15th level.
He just has to be on the ground, and his targets have to be as well, so it's far from an auto-cast all the time.
--Penn
Notice how feats that let you take them multiple times, with different selections each time, specifically say that you can?
The general rule is that, if it doesn't say otherwise, you can only ever take a given feat once. Compare Ironhide (APG) vs. Improved Natural Armor (Bestiary). The latter you can take again and again, but the former you can't.
Being able to take Spell Perfection more than once breaks the feat.
I agree with you, and just did a quick search to find the rule stating that you can only take a feat once, to post in this thread. I couldn't find it. While it it obviously RAI, I couldn't find the RAW to back it up. The "special" entries on feats like weapon focus make the intent clear, but I was shocked I couldn't find it spelled out.
Anyone with search-fu better then mine want to take a stab at finding the RAW on this?
Consider Magical Lineage (Chain Lighting), and casting a Quickened followed by a Twin. On average comparable to Maximize, but if you like to see lots of dice hit the table . . .
The ideal spell is Ill Omen.
1. Ill Omen doesn't allow a save.
2. Ill Omen is a 1st level spell; by level 15, you can basically dedicate all your level 1 slots to Ill Omen and level 2 slots to Piercing Ill Omen (assuming you took Piercing Spell as one of your 3 required metamagic feats).
3. Ill Omen forces the target to roll twice on saves and take the lower result. This means they roll 10 or lower on a d20 75% of the time.
4. Because it affects the d20 itself, it scales. It's as useful at level 1 as it is at level 20.
5. Naturally you use a free Quicken on your Spell Perfected Ill Omen. Assuming you filled your L1-2 slots with it, and have been keeping your Headband of Intellect up to date, you should have 12 Quickened Ill Omens at your disposal. Twelve. That's all the non-buff spells you're going to cast today.
6. You cast Quickened Ill Omen (Quickened Piercing Ill Omen if the creature has SR) and then you hit it with your best save-or-lose spell. It has to roll twice, taking the lower result. Your save DCs already make it need to roll something in the range of 13-15 on its d20 to make the save. Now the chance it will do so has been dropped to 10% or worse.
Consider that Quickened Ill Omen can make Dominate Monster a sure thing. You can't use Spell Perfection with Dominate Monster. But you can use Perfect Ill Omen with it...