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NEW FAQ UPDATES!!!
If I use Empower Spell on a spell that has a die roll with a numerical bonus (such as cure moderate wounds), does the feat affect the numerical bonus?
Yes. For example, if you empower cure moderate wounds, the +50% from the feat applies to the 2d8 and to the level-based bonus.
—Sean K Reynolds, yesterday
I am personally quite thrilled with the reversal of the old ruling (which stated, unofficially, that the static modifiers were not included in the calculation). However, I am quite interested in hearing whether or not you believe this new, official FAQ entry is a good thing.
Discuss.
NEW FAQ UPDATES!!!
If I use Empower Spell on a spell that has a die roll with a numerical bonus (such as cure moderate wounds), does the feat affect the numerical bonus?
Yes. For example, if you empower cure moderate wounds, the +50% from the feat applies to the 2d8 and to the level-based bonus.
—Sean K Reynolds, yesterday
I am personally quite thrilled with the reversal of the old ruling (which stated unofficially, that the static modifiers were not included in the calculation). However, I am quite interested in hearing whether or not you believe this new, official FAQ entry is a good thing.
Discuss.
i always thought it should... I'm a fan
Yeah, this is the good ruling we have been waiting for :-)
I´m sure there´s some munchkin combination that will leverage this in some dubious way,
but I will put that up more to ´free´ meta-magic and related tricks rather than Empower Spell itself.
Yeah for FAQ/Errata!
Makes sense to me. Of course, I've always thought Empower came into effect after you got the final total after rolling and added bonuses. So, I guess that just reinforced my position.
NEW FAQ UPDATES!!!
If I use Empower Spell on a spell that has a die roll with a numerical bonus (such as cure moderate wounds), does the feat affect the numerical bonus?
Yes. For example, if you empower cure moderate wounds, the +50% from the feat applies to the 2d8 and to the level-based bonus.
—Sean K Reynolds, yesterday
I am personally quite thrilled with the reversal of the old ruling (which stated, unofficially, that the static modifiers were not included in the calculation). However, I am quite interested in hearing whether or not you believe this new, official FAQ entry is a good thing.
Discuss.
My houserule is no longer a houserule, nice. :)
NEW FAQ UPDATES!!!
If I use Empower Spell on a spell that has a die roll with a numerical bonus (such as cure moderate wounds), does the feat affect the numerical bonus?
Yes. For example, if you empower cure moderate wounds, the +50% from the feat applies to the 2d8 and to the level-based bonus.
—Sean K Reynolds, yesterday
I am personally quite thrilled with the reversal of the old ruling (which stated, unofficially, that the static modifiers were not included in the calculation). However, I am quite interested in hearing whether or not you believe this new, official FAQ entry is a good thing.
Discuss.
I read this yesterday as well. I think I will use it. But only for the variable numeric portion of the spell, not for additional damage added by abilities like the Dragon Sorcerer Bloodline or the Evocation Wizard Intense Spells.
It does improve cure spells, which are far behind offense spells right now. Even a Mass Cure Light Wounds with an Empower Greater Metamagic Rod does not come close to healing an Empowered Caustic Eruption or Delayed Blast Fire cast by a Red Dragon Bloodline Sorcerer. This will make the cure spells more attractive to use with metamagic feats. Empowering a 4d8 spell to 6d8 isn't the most attractive way to spend an Empower Feat, but Empowering the flat numeric portion would make it moreso.
How are some of you going to play it? You going to Empower everything including the Sorcerer Bloodline bonus or Evocation Specialist bonus or the static numeric portion of the spell?
Cheers
It says variable, numeric effects of an empowered SPELL, which sounds to me like only numeric effects from the spell itself, not enhanced by other modifiers. At least it's how I interpret it.
I only have to say, in this way Maximize Spell will definitely go the way of the dodo (same as Enlarge Spell vs. Reach Spell... which makes Enlarge useful ONLY for Long range spells).
Empowered CSW (CL 15°): (3d8+15)x1,5 -> min. 27 hp, max. 58 hp, avg. 42 hp; 5th-level spell slot
Maximized CSW (CL 15°): 39 hp ; 6th-level spell slot
Oh, well, not that Maximize was a good feat anyway. But still...
How are some of you going to play it? You going to Empower everything including the Sorcerer Bloodline bonus or Evocation Specialist bonus or the static numeric portion of the spell?
I believe a lot of those abilities modify the spell, but the added bonus is still considered part of the spell, so we include those in the calculations in my games. It gives the blasters a much needed leg up and makes those bonus damage abilities more worthwhile and fun.
I only have to say, in this way Maximize Spell will definitely go the way of the dodo (same as Enlarge Spell vs. Reach Spell... which makes Enlarge useful ONLY for Long range spells).
** spoiler omitted **
Oh, well, not that Maximize was a good feat anyway. But still...
I don't think so. Maximize still remains good on a number of other types of spells, namely those that don't use static numbers (like fireball). It's often nice to know exactly what you are going to get.
This would work on the Draconic Bloodline's - Bloodline Arcana, right? +1 damage per die in damage spells of a specific element.
His empowered scorching rays are going to do ridiculous damage.
Edit: While I'm at it, how exactly do you count empowered? Does 4d6+4 become 6d6+6, or do you take the result of 4d6+4 * 1.5?
Nice! Now, I hope we'll get FAQ entries for Ultimate Magic soon. :p
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The ruling that strikes me as a bit off is the Quicken Spell ruling. Somehow, they've ruled that a casting time of 1 round isn't longer than a casting time of 1 full-round action
It's not:
A spell that takes 1 round to cast is a full-round action. It comes into effect just before the beginning of your turn in the round after you began casting the spell. You then act normally after the spell is completed.
In other words, if a spell's casting time is "1 round", it only takes your character a full-round action to cast it. The difference between that and a casting time of "1 full-round action" is that the effect of the spell doesn't occur until just before the beginning of your next round.
I only have to say, in this way Maximize Spell will definitely go the way of the dodo (same as Enlarge Spell vs. Reach Spell... which makes Enlarge useful ONLY for Long range spells).
** spoiler omitted **
Oh, well, not that Maximize was a good feat anyway. But still...
Or take the healing domain and get an empowered CSW in a third level slot.
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Okay so...
A level 6 crossblooded Orc/Primal (fire) bloodline half-orc Sorcerer, with the APG favoured class option casts an empowered burning hands and does...
(5d4+13) x 1.5 damage = 25.5 x 1.5 (average) = 38.25 rounded down to 38 average damage.
Whereas with the previous ruling he'd have done...
[(5d4) x 1.5] +13 damage = (12.5 x 1.5) + 13 (average) = 31.75 rounded down to 31 average damage.
Sound about right?
How are some of you going to play it? You going to Empower everything including the Sorcerer Bloodline bonus or Evocation Specialist bonus or the static numeric portion of the spell?I believe a lot of those abilities modify the spell, but the added bonus is still considered part of the spell, so we include those in the calculations in my games. It gives the blasters a much needed leg up and makes those bonus damage abilities more worthwhile and fun.
I don't think so. Maximize still remains good on a number of other types of spells, namely those that don't use static numbers (like fireball). It's often nice to know exactly what you are going to get.I only have to say, in this way Maximize Spell will definitely go the way of the dodo (same as Enlarge Spell vs. Reach Spell... which makes Enlarge useful ONLY for Long range spells).
** spoiler omitted **
Oh, well, not that Maximize was a good feat anyway. But still...
You can build a really insane blaster now. If I allow my static bonus to be enhanced, that will be insane.
I imagine not everyone allows the Orc bloodline. I have a sorcerer with the Orc and Dragon (silver) bloodline. When I use Empower Elemental (Cold) Caustic Eruptions at 17th level with Spell Specialization Caustic Eruption and Magical Lineage Caustic Eruption, I do 19d6+38 cold damage for an average of 157 damage.
For single target damage that isn't the greatest maybe at 19th level, but as an AoE attack that is insane. Last week I did this combination with the bard loading me with heroic finale, the cleric casting heroic fortune, and my own action. The DC on my spell is 30 reflex. I did 400 plus points of damage in one around to 12 creatures.
I don't know. Blasting seems pretty tough with as many things as you can combine it with. Then again the two-hander warrior is averaging over 300 points a round without limited spell slots.
I might go full spell. I don't know. Caustic Eruption is pretty much the best direct damage spell in the game now. Kind of lame that it is conjuration, but the designers seem real keen on keeping the evocation spells toned down.
Though I guess a Meteor Swarm with a Greater Metamagic Empower Rod can hit the hardest.
Super-Necro
How does Empower/Maximize work for spells like Threefold Sight and Embrace Destiny?
I would argue that Empower and/or Maximize wouldn't do anything. Threefold Sight allows you to roll 3d20 instead of 1d20 when you need to roll them. Rolling the d20 isn't an effect of the spell, being able to roll three of them is. (So if it was a 1d4 roll to see how many d20s you rolled the 1d4 could be empowered/maximized.)
Same premise goes for Embrace Destiny.Plus, a level 5 (empowered Threefold) or 6 (maximized Threefold) spell that gives you those bonuses for 3 minutes is a joke beyond being broken and therefore, to me, clearly isn't how it's supposed to work.
Sure, some people online seem to say it's totally fine and GMs can allow it to work in their games, but there's not a chance I'd allow it in mine.