I enjoy making characters. So while making a potentially legal PFS character, i found something that seems rather broken.
Gnomish Wizard 1
Ghost Sound as a cantrip
Threatening Illusion (metamagic, +1 level, causes figment to threaten if fail will save)
Trait: Magical Lineage (-1 level after metamagic feat)
So basically, I can cast repeatedly with no penalty a ghost sound that potentially gives allies flank? 0+1-1 = 0 level spell = infinite a day?
Seemed broken to me, so I went with silent image instead, but what does the forum think?
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I think the ruling on this from a previous example was that if you metamagic a cantrip it becomes a higher level spell (even if only temporarily). If you then use magical lineage, it's still a level 1 spell that just counts as a zero level spell, so it's no longer a spell you can cast an unlimited number of times any more than magic missile would be if you did the same thing.
I'm sure there will be plenty of argument again, but I think that's how it went.
I think the ruling on this from a previous example was that if you metamagic a cantrip it becomes a higher level spell (even if only temporarily). If you then use magical lineage, it's still a level 1 spell that just counts as a zero level spell, so it's no longer a spell you can cast an unlimited number of times any more than magic missile would be if you did the same thing.
I'm sure there will be plenty of argument again, but I think that's how it went.
I haven't seen that specific ruling but you may be right. You certainly cannot under any circumstances use magical lineage or similar effects to actually reduce spell level lower than the original level (with +0 level metamagics).
If this DOES work, its pretty neat IMO, but definitely not unbalanced or cheesy. You're still using your action simply for a chance to provide an ally flanking. And the target gets a Will save to negate against a pretty easy DC considering its a 0th level spell. If they save you just did nothing on your turn. Its the SoD downside without nearly the upside.
Being able to do this all day is neat and situationally useful, especially at lower levels when the DC will be competitive, but OP? No way...
MT: Yea, but its a cantrip to start with, was my point.
AD: So would it use a 1st level slot?
From Threatening Illusion:
"If the target has reason to believe there is an invisible creature in the vicinity, even an auditory illusion with no visual elements (such as ghost sound) is sufficient to convince the target that the selected square contains an actual threat."
So, for the cost of two feats and a trait (spell focus: illusion is a requirement for threatening illusion), and if for some reason the target believes that there might be an invisible opponent (which may take a round or two to set up, possibly requiring a bluff roll), you can provide flanking to an ally, if the opponent fails his will save.
Compare that to daze (Humanoid creature of 4 HD or less can't act at all for a round), touch of fatigue (touch attack makes opponent fatigued for 1 round/level) or even flare (opponent is dazzled for a minute), which costs no feats or traits. I'd allow it, although I would recommend against it, especially since if you aren't playing PFS rules, you can't do it until 3rd level anyway.
