Just noticed another reason to love the Magus. The Pool Spell ability allows the Magus to add metamagic "on the fly", which makes use of the Merciful metamagic a lot more viable. Instead of being forced to memorize a spell and hope you didn't just prepare a spell that all your opponents will be immune to, a magus with the merciful metamagic can get a lot more use out it.
Come to think of it, I guess that pretty much applies to all metamagic feats. Hope the ability survives the final printing.
I agree that the Magus gets more miles out of his metamagic.
It's interesting to see a class that blends spontaneous and prepared casting. I also like that it sets the Magus apart from the EK and other 3.5 fighter/mage hybrids like the Duskblade.
I'm AFB at the moment, if a Magus applies metamagic to a pool spell does the casting time increase?
Nope. The adjusted level of the spell has to be within what the Magus can cast, and he/she has to have enough points to cast it. Even better than the sorcerer at this point...well, kinda.
Edit: Now, if you could cast a spell normally, then add metamagic on the fly using pool points, THAT would be sweet.
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I'm AFB at the moment, if a Magus applies metamagic to a pool spell does the casting time increase?
That's a good question and I don't think it's entirely clear at the moment.
Metamagic rules state that the increased casting time is occurs for both spontaneous casters and Clerics who swap out a spell to cast a cure or inflict spell.
Now, nowhere in Pool Spell does it describe the ability as spontaneous casting. The cleric ability doesn't mention it in its description either, but it is called Spontaneous Casting.
Given the lack of the word "spontaneous" anywhere around the Pool Spell ability, I tend to think no increase in casting time. However, check with your GM and keep an eye out for a change to this in UM, which could happen. It would probably be more consistent with existing rules.
Edit: Now, if you could cast a spell normally, then add metamagic on the fly using pool points, THAT would be sweet.
I'd be very tempted to play it like this I mean you don't have that many pool points anyway.
maybe with a secondary prereq you have to take the associated metamagic arcana or adding metamagic to a spell costs a swift action , meaning you can't use other arcana competing for that swift.