It was one of the more easily abused prestige class of 3.X.
We managed to have it not break the game but it was:
1) Blasting Sorcerer
2) Polite Player
3) Epic Play - so, yeah
In hindight, I do not suggest its use.
Probably considering that part of pathfinder was to "tune" the balance between prestige classes and base classes.
I would judge thusly: If I allowed this one class in with all the OGC content with pathfinder right now, would it be "too good to pass up?"
Is this Prestige Class too powerful compared to the new ones?
Hahahahaha!
Yes, it's way way overpowered.
Don't even consider letting it in unless you are totally prepared for complete and total caster domination.
Its a good prestige class, but the part about using spellcraft checks to apply metamagics to other spells can be abused.
Just don't allow items that add to spellcraft be used with the class features, also note that the errata of the class doesn't allow you to use the spontaneous metamagic class feature, so that you can cast a spell higher than the higher level you can normally cast.
If you do these I think its workable.
The fact that banned schools are not so hardwired really hurts the cause of letting it in though.
Abilities that manipulate the cost of metamagic where never a particularly good idea to include in 3.x and it's one of the things that I dislike being incorporated into Pathfinder.
Casters that can routinely cast combinations of quicken, maximized, twinned, or empowered spells throughout the day without needing higher spell slots or a significant investment in metamagic rods significantly increase the power level of casters. The pre-requisites in order to get into the PrC really don't provide that much of a limitation on the power level of the incantrix.
Like others have said under very controlled situations it might be okay but for the most part it tends to create bad situations.
But the manipulation of metamagic is part of the game. First that is one of the advantages of being a universalist wizard (from 1 to 7 free levels of metamagic feats). Then, there are feats like Spell Perfection or many of the Magus Arcana.It is a powerful PrC (I think that it is more useful for Sorcerers - specially the Arcane Bloodline - if they use movement spells and/or have an intelligent mount that moves for them), but unless you rely a lot on wands, the really nasty abilities are not acquired until level 12 (and at that level the universalist has still some advantage). The real problem is level 15, when the character becomes a metamagic god. The good part is that my group does not use old feats (including twin spell and sudden metamagic).
A universalist can't go higher than the highest spell level he can normally cast.
The real problem is level 7 and 8 where you get copperative metamagic and metamagic effect. You just need a magic item with a bonus to spellcraft and you are set.
But the manipulation of metamagic is part of the game. First that is one of the advantages of being a universalist wizard (from 1 to 7 free levels of metamagic feats). Then, there are feats like Spell Perfection or many of the Magus Arcana.It is a powerful PrC (I think that it is more useful for Sorcerers - specially the Arcane Bloodline - if they use movement spells and/or have an intelligent mount that moves for them), but unless you rely a lot on wands, the really nasty abilities are not acquired until level 12 (and at that level the universalist has still some advantage). The real problem is level 15, when the character becomes a metamagic god. The good part is that my group does not use old feats (including twin spell and sudden metamagic).
A universalist can't go higher than the highest spell level he can normally cast.
The real problem is level 7 and 8 where you get copperative metamagic and metamagic effect. You just need a magic item with a bonus to spellcraft and you are set.
Neither can an Incantatrix, unless you are writing about copperative metamagic and metamagic effect.
It is strange that you affirm that levels 7 & 8 are the cheesy ones, because I always thought that this was the nice part of the PrC. It is a teamwork effort, improving the spells of another character or the tactical advantage of some spells. They increase the potential of a group as a whole.
It gets kinda ridiculous when they start persisting (the 3.5 persist) things that really ought not to be persisted (shapechange, true seeing, time stop...) and those are just the PHB spells; start digging through the spell conpendium and you'll see a few buffs that players shouldn't be having on 24/7 but will.
Actually the Bloatmage suffers medium encumbrance -- which does affect fly speed, and limits maximum Dex bonus as well as providing a penalty on all Dex and Str based skills.
In addition corpulence will reduce your speed even further.
Finally I think you are misunderstanding what the bloodpool does -- it is not spontaneous casting -- instead it is like pearls of power: it gives back spells you have cast. The difference is that a sorcerer could cast any spell with that slot -- the wizard can only cast the same spell he already cast from it again.
In addition you lose everything anyone going into a prestige class loses: The favored class bonus, the chance at the capstone of your original class, and any class feature you would have gained through leveling in your original class.
Yeah, having an Incantatrix in one of my last campaigns totally kriffed up the final fights for the side of the villains. Highly overpowered PrC and therefore not recommended. Unless you enjoy flushing down two days of prep time in 2 rounds of gameplay.
Time Stop is not a valid target for Persist. True Seeing is only a valid target if touch is considered fixed range, or you do something to make it fixed range. And besides,...It gets kinda ridiculous when they start persisting (the 3.5 persist) things that really ought not to be persisted (shapechange, true seeing, time stop...) and those are just the PHB spells; start digging through the spell conpendium and you'll see a few buffs that players shouldn't be having on 24/7 but will.
But the manipulation of metamagic is part of the game. First that is one of the advantages of being a universalist wizard (from 1 to 7 free levels of metamagic feats). Then, there are feats like Spell Perfection or many of the Magus Arcana.It is a powerful PrC (I think that it is more useful for Sorcerers - specially the Arcane Bloodline - if they use movement spells and/or have an intelligent mount that moves for them), but unless you rely a lot on wands, the really nasty abilities are not acquired until level 12 (and at that level the universalist has still some advantage). The real problem is level 15, when the character becomes a metamagic god. The good part is that my group does not use old feats (including twin spell and sudden metamagic).
A universalist can't go higher than the highest spell level he can normally cast.
The real problem is level 7 and 8 where you get copperative metamagic and metamagic effect. You just need a magic item with a bonus to spellcraft and you are set.
Neither can an Incantatrix, unless you are writing about copperative metamagic and metamagic effect.
It is strange that you affirm that levels 7 & 8 are the cheesy ones, because I always thought that this was the nice part of the PrC. It is a teamwork effort, improving the spells of another character or the tactical advantage of some spells. They increase the potential of a group as a whole.
Time Stop has personal range and has a duration, therefore is persistable. QED.
Alas the poor incantatrix!
The very first campaign I ever played in as a kid, was a 1E game modified with all sorts of supplements and Dragon magazine articles. (2E was already out, but our DM, my brother, hated it...version wars were a part of my gaming experience from the very beginning...)
The original 1E incantatrix was a great class; I played one. Had its own spell list, plus class abilities, none grossly unbalanced.
So with the advent of 3E, it becomes a prestige class. I had an abjurer that went on to become one...the 3.0 version, mind you, right here: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20010803
It wasn't the same as the old 1E class I loved, but still pretty good, and nothing game wrecking.
And then...the dreaded 3.5 version. Now, I can't even say "incantatrix" to most people I play with, without getting looks of horror or revulsion. And that's a bummer. :( Because I love role playing that particular class; it's not (and never is) a power trip for me.
I would love to play it in Pathfinder as a -base- class, modeled on the old (and fairly balanced) 1E version. One day, I'll probably write it up, for fun if nothing else. Obviously nothing from Forgotten Realms is gonna end up officially bolted onto Golarion. And with all the wizard, sorcerer, and witch options now, it's not like the game needs another arcane class, anyway. But, damn it, I miss my favorite class!