I forsee a major issue with abundant casting

[Generic Villain]

The Archmage's abundant casting path ability allows him to expend a use of mythic power to target two creatures with a spell that can normally only target one creature. One serious problem I see is for spells like wish, permanency, temporal stasis, and other spells with high material component costs. In other words you could cast wish and grant two creatures an inherent stat bonus, for the price of a single wish. There should really be a line that states that "for spells with an expensive material component, that component must be supplied twice when targetting two creatures in this manner."

[Rynjin]

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't Wish classified as a "targetless spell" that just takes the target of the spell it replicates?

Meaning you technically couldn't do it with Wish?

So at least that one would be a non-issue.

[Generic Villain]

Well here's the exact wording: "...you can expend one use of mythic power when casting a spell that affects only one target." Wish's target is listed as "see text" because it can do so much. One of the things it can do is "Grant a creature a +1 inherent bonus to an ability score," in which case I would interpret the target to be the creature getting the bonus to its score.

Even if you take wish off the table, there are spells like temporal stasis (5,000 gp cost), stoneskin (250 gp cost), and permanency (2,500-12,500 gp cost). If you're a witch with this ability, you can use resurrection (10,000 gp cost). Considering there's another archmage ability that lets you ignore the cost of material components equal to 100 times your mythic tier, I seriously don't think abundant casting was intended to let you skirt much higher costs.

[Peter Stewart]

Rynjin wrote:

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't Wish classified as a "targetless spell" that just takes the target of the spell it replicates?

Meaning you technically couldn't do it with Wish?

So at least that one would be a non-issue.

My interpretation as well.

[Generic Villain]

Also binding (500 gp per HD of target).

As for wish, if you're granting a creature a bonus to its stats, or resurrecting it, than the target is that creature. Wish's target isn't "none," it depends on how it's used.

[ryric]

You can also use Itemcraft with charged wish items (such as a luck blade) to get "free" charges. So your example is not the only way this can happen.

[Generic Villain]

ryric wrote:

You can also use Itemcraft with charged wish items (such as a luck blade) to get "free" charges. So your example is not the only way this can happen.

Okay. I still see my example as a problem.

[SmiloDan]

While I understand your concern, I think one point of Mythic campaigns is to not overanalyze the accounting. I personally hate doing all the economics of buying and selling equipment, role-playing for an hour to save half a gold piece on a mansion, keeping track of how many copper pieces I have in the same pouch as my gems and platinum pieces, etc. etc. It just seems petty.

I personally think they should get rid of Wealth By Level as a guide and just give the PCs that much gold in equipment every level. You can exchange or upgrade all the equipment you have every level, etc. Just make it a part of character creation, like ability scores, feat selection, race and class choice, skill points, and class abilities.

Then gold can be used for "temporary" things, like food and lodging and fancy clothes and shows at the theater and bribes and the occasional heal or raise dead, etc. etc.

Mythic characters will be mythic, so it's OK if they can get a 2-for-1 deal on wishes or stoneskin or whatever. They still have to spend resources (a path power selection AND a power point), so there still is a cost for such transactions--they're just not monetary.

Mythic characters will most likely adventure to slay the dragon, save the kingdom, or rescue the prince, not increase their 401k by 2%.

[Generic Villain]

SmiloDan wrote:

Mythic characters will most likely adventure to slay the dragon, save the kingdom, or rescue the prince, not increase their 401k by 2%.

Bah, tell that to Scrooge McDuck. He's clearly a Mythic Trickster.

Seriously though, I wouldn't have a problem with this but for one fact. Another archmage ability (component power) allows the caster to ignore material component costs of a comparatively low amount - 100 gp times mythic tier. Abundant casting is already incredibly powerful when it lets you target two creatures with a one-target spell; I just don't think it should also let you waive the material component cost for a second target. However, the fact that - as you pointed out - the caster would still need to expend a material component the first time is a valid one, as he's not casting the spell for "free." In the end this is something I'd houserule. Other than that, I've said my piece.

[Hecknoshow]

Generic Villain wrote:

Bah, tell that to Scrooge McDuck. He's clearly a Mythic Trickster.

That's part of his mythic weakness

Generic Villain wrote:

Abundant casting is already incredibly powerful when it lets you target two creatures with a one-target spell; I just don't think it should also let you waive the material component cost for a second target.

You're supposed to be akin to a demi god. I think "incredibly powerful" is what they're aiming for.