How does Mnemonic Enhancer really work?

[Matt O'Dowd]

I would love some input on this spell, which has the potential to be powerful and versatile, or largely useless.

The first version of Mnemonic Enhancer, "Prepare", allows you to prepare up to three additional levels of spells, but it's very unclear how this works. Does it:

a) grant you thee levels of spell slots that fade after 24 hours, but may be filled in the usual way during that time?

b) grant three levels of spell slots that must be prepared immediately after Mnemonic Enhancer is cast, at the same time as you prepare the rest of your spells?

c) grant three levels of spells that are prepared at the same time as the Mnemonic Enhancer is cast, at any time during the day?

The fact that the spell description states: "You prepare and cast these spells normally" indicates to me that these extra spells are prepared at the same time as you prepare the rest of your spells: ie. when you study your spellbook for an hour, right after 8 hours rest. This would support interpretation a) or b). However there's no indication that those slots must be filled immediately after the enhancer is cast, so I tend towards a). This would of course allow you to cast Mnemonic Enhancer in the evening and still have those extra slots when you prepare spells in the morning, in addition to the recovery of your 4th level slot.

What do you think?

[PoorWanderingOne]

My wizard got around this very question by making a once per day magic item that casts ME and using it just before I study spells for the day.

Pretty nifty item and not too expensive, mind you the gm gave me a discount because the item cannot use the recall function of ME. It does mean that I'm walking around with a spell effect up, but I can live with that. I love having 3 extra first level spells handy.

As far as the OP question we are going whith a. Though I am effectively treating it as if option b were the case.

for what it's worth
~will

[erik542]

The answer is C.

[Matt O'Dowd]

erik542 wrote:

The answer is C.

But how does that jibe with the "You prepare and cast these spells normally" bit? "Normally" would suggest after 8 hours rest.

[Grick]

Matt O'Dowd wrote:

erik542 wrote:

The answer is C.

But how does that jibe with the "You prepare and cast these spells normally" bit? "Normally" would suggest after 8 hours rest.

Not really, but I don't really agree with C, either. A Wizard can sleep, prepare a cantrip, then go about his day. Hours later, he can stop for 15 minutes and prepare another spell in one of his open spell slots.

I would vote A) and say Mnemonic Enhancer lets you prep spells in the same way, except they go away 24 hours after casting ME if not used. (And you can't prep, cast, and re-prep later in the same ME slots, even with 8 hours rest)

[Shadar Aman]

I would also vote for A, with one change. Rather than lasting 24 hours, I would rule that the slots vanish when the Wizard's spell slots would normally replenish (after a rest).

EDIT: Just reread the spell and realized the 24 hours is specified in the description. Therefore my vote is for A, unchanged.

[Matt O'Dowd]

OK, thanks for the interpretations. I think it's clear that Mnemonic Enhancer doesn't need to be used at the start of the day, and that spells or spell slots gained carry over into the next day.

So, another question: does anyone see a problem with taking Mnemonic Enhancer as a Preferred Spell (a la the feat), which would allow you to swap out ALL unused 4th or higher level spells at the end of the day, in exchange for a bucket load of lower level spell slots for use the next day?

[PoorWanderingOne]

Wow.......

I don't see anything that would disallow this.

It looks good as RAW. This is a very powerful spell.

~will

[Psisquared]

Its a pretty good spell. Cast Mnemonic enhancer in the evening, memorize +3 spell levels.

Sleep 8 hours, then prepare your spells as normal, including the 4th level slot expended >8 hours ago on mnemonic enhancer. You retain the extra 3 spell levels until that evening.

Do this for each of your 4th level slots and you can prepare a fair number of extra spells.

[Bascaria]

Psisquared wrote:

Its a pretty good spell. Cast Mnemonic enhancer in the evening, memorize +3 spell levels.

Sleep 8 hours, then prepare your spells as normal, including the 4th level slot expended >8 hours ago on mnemonic enhancer. You retain the extra 3 spell levels until that evening.

Do this for each of your 4th level slots and you can prepare a fair number of extra spells.

OK... so thread necromancy is fun.

Just to point out to anyone thinking about doing this multiple times, remember that mnemonic enhancer has a 10 minute casting time.

[Callarek]

Can you use a Pearl of Power to remember a cast RME and cast it again, or would using the PoP remove the results of the initial casting?

[Ravingdork]

Callarek wrote:

Can you use a Pearl of Power to remember a cast RME and cast it again, or would using the PoP remove the results of the initial casting?

Pearls of Power do not cancel spells or their effects.

[nogoodscallywag]

I'm so confused...

So a 15th level wizard normally has these spells, base:

4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 1 —

If he uses ME, does this mean he goes to the 18th level spell usage numbers?

I'm not sure what "3 levels of spells granted" actually means...

[Mauril]

3 levels of spells means "3 first level spells, 1 first and 1 second, or 1 third".

Also, this thread has been double necro'd now. That's impressive.

[Atarlost]

Mauril wrote:

3 levels of spells means "3 first level spells, 1 first and 1 second, or 1 third".

Also, this thread has been double necro'd now. That's impressive.

Quick, find the thread's phylactery.

[Talonhawke]

I think its in the off-topic area and that place scares me.

[Aquaman258]

It took over 10 years, but I found the phylactery.

[Diego Rossi]

Aquaman258 wrote:

It took over 10 years, but I found the phylactery.

Link it, it should be exorcised!

[glass]

I doubt the OP cares about the answer now, but AFAICT the answer is definitely not B. I am not sure whether it is A or C, because I am not sure how they differ - can someone explain it to me?

_
glass.

[Lelomenia]

glass wrote:

I doubt the OP cares about the answer now, but AFAICT the answer is definitely not B. I am not sure whether it is A or C, because I am not sure how they differ - can someone explain it to me?

_
glass.

difference (between a and c) is whether after you cast it, you still need to prepare spells in those slots (or do the slots come filled). My question would be how this interacts with opposition school spells.