Words of Power and Meta Words

[Keneth]

I might be misunderstanding something here but meta words seem rather confusing in some aspects.

First off, as I understand it, meta words by themselves don't alter the level of the wordspell, the level of the meta word affects only when you are able to learn it. This seems fairly clear but feel free to correct me.

Secondly, some meta words seem to alter the level of all effect words in the wordspell. I'm guessing this limits which effect words you can use in the wordspell.

So for instance applying the irresistible meta word to a wordspell with 4/2/2 effect words (6th level), assuming all of them allow a saving throw, this increases the levels to 6/4/4, making it effectively an 8th level wordspell. What if the meta word raises the level of only some of the effect words? Let's say you end up with a 6/4/2 wordspell, what level is it?

Additionally, Servitor IX states "If the target word is boosted, a wordspell with this effect word summons 1d4+1 of the chosen creatures." Servitor can only have the Selected target word and the rules state that boosting this word increases the level of all effect words by 3 levels. That would make a boosted Servitor IX wordspell a 12th level spell. How do you go about casting that in Pathfinder? Is this just the consequence of copy-pasting or am I missing something? Is the increase in level of effect words not considered an actual increase in spell level?

Finally, there's a question I've seen asked before but never quite answered. The rules state that "A wordspell can have multiple meta words arranged within it so long as each target word and each effect word are modified by only one meta word apiece." Most meta words affect the spell as a whole, not specific words, so how do you combine these? Is the Careful meta word considered to affect only one effect word and the wordspell uses only the components of the effect word with the fewest spell components? Can you choose which effect word it links to or does it link to the highest level effect word? Or can all this be simplified by saying that each effect or target word can only have one meta word that affects it specifically and any number of general meta words?

I feel like words of power need some further clarification from the devs since it's a wonderful idea for a free form magic system (especially combined with spell points). Maybe an errata that can be added to later printings...

[Dragonchess Player]

1) Meta words have a level, which determines when you can learn them and the minimum level of a wordspell containing them. For example, a selected distant cold snap wordspell would be a medium range (100 ft + 10 ft/level) ranged touch attack doing 1d3 points of cold damage, but would remain a 0-level spell; however, the limitation on the number of meta words used per day means a wordcaster wouldn't be able to cast it at will like most cantrips/orisons.

2) You're correct. For a three effect word wordspell (6/4/2), the wordspell is still level 8; see the last sentence in the selected alignment shield enhance form grave bane wordspell example on page 165 of Ultimate Magic.

3) You cannot use a meta or target word with a wordspell if it will increase the minimum or effective level of the wordspell beyond what you can cast. A boost selected servitor VI (effective level 9) is possible for a cleric, druid, sorcerer, witch, or wizard; likewise, a cleric, druid, sorcerer, or wizard could cast a boost selected enhance form servitor V (level 9 from 8/5 effect words). A boost selected servitor VII (effective level 10) is not possible for anyone under the current rules (unless you use some of the options from the 3.x Epic Level Handbook).

4) Most meta words specify whether they can be applied to target words or effect words (or both/either). Careful is the only meta word that doesn't specify, but I'd say it probably works the same as quiet and simple: "A wordspell with this meta word does not require a [verbal/material] component. This meta word can modify a target word or an effect word." It applies to the whole wordspell, but you choose which word it modifies (within the limitations of applying meta words: no target or effect word can be modified by more than one meta word and you can only use (caster level/2) meta words per day).

[Keneth]

Dragonchess Player wrote:

Meta words have a level, which determines when you can learn them and the minimum level of a wordspell containing them.

Totally missed this part, thanks for pointing it out.

Dragonchess Player wrote:

For a three effect word wordspell (6/4/2), the wordspell is still level 8

It doesn't explicitly say so but it's a fair assumption judging from the example that you use "ceiling" to determine the level of the wordspell. This was my reasoning as well although I would prefer a more logical way of determining the wordspell level on-the-fly, looking at the table every time is gonna waste precious time.

Dragonchess Player wrote:

You cannot use a meta or target word with a wordspell if it will increase the minimum or effective level of the wordspell beyond what you can cast.

Which is what I figured, I was just kinda looking forward to summoning 1d4+1 astral devas. I guess they'll errata this eventually unless they give us some epic level rules first.

Dragonchess Player wrote:

Most meta words specify whether they can be applied to target words or effect words (or both/either).

That's what I get for skimming through the text, I just looked at careful and figured quiet and simple worked the same. So basically it's 2-4 meta words depending on the number of effect words.

I'm really looking forward to testing this system out in battle. It might even make me forget about Warlocks for a while (though I imagine not for too long). Thanks for the reply.