Clarification on Metamagic Mastery

[hoss20]

Hello, all. I had a question about the Wizard's Universalist School Metamagic Mastery power. I searched a few threads here and found some answers, but I guess I just need a definitive interpretation of the rules.

At 8th level, you can apply any one metamagic feat that you know to a spell you are about to cast. This does not alter the level of the spell or the casting time. You can use this ability once per day at 8th level and one additional time per day for every two wizard levels you possess beyond 8th. Any time you use this ability to apply a metamagic feat that increases the spell level by more than 1, you must use an additional daily usage for each level above 1 that the feat adds to the spell. Even though this ability does not modify the spell's actual level, you cannot use this ability to cast a spell whose modified spell level would be above the level of the highest-level spell that you are capable of casting.

Now, what I'm reading is; that as a 9th Level Wizard, I could apply Enlarge Spell (if I've taken the feat) on a spell that's level 4 or below. Enlarge Spell uses up one spell slot higher than the spell's actual level and I can currently cast 5th level spells. Really, no different than using a Metamagic Feat in a standard fashion (other than it's spontaneous use). Some of my confusion is in the limits on how many daily usages I would have. It mentions increasing the spell level, but the definition of Metamagic Feats in the core rulebook states that, "In all ways, a metamagic spell operates at its original spell level." The only obvious exception to this would be Heighten Spell.

Did the writers merely use the term of "increasing the spell level" instead of what is used in the feats' individual definitions as, "uses up a spell slot X level(s) higher than the spell's actual level"? I noticed on the d20PFSRD site, that in their Metamagic Feat definitions, they use a "Level Increase" entry.

I have one other question. Do I still have to burn a higher level spell slot when I use this power? If I do, then this power is close to worthless as preparing a spell to be Metamagic isn't the problem; it's having to use up the higher spell slots.

I appreciate any help you folks can give me. If I've missed something somewhere, please let me know where I can find it. Thanks again.

[Nullpunkt]

Well, it does say Even though this ability does not modify the spell's actual level so I'm not sure what needs interpretation here.

[MurphysParadox]

You can enlarge a level 4 spell that you have memorized as you cast it without paying any additional costs. It will not affect higher level spell slots.

Now, if you maximize a level 4 spell, it will take up 3 uses of this special ability (which you can use once a day at eight, twice at 10, and an additional time per day for every 2 levels afterwards).

As for the level increase question, that phrase and the one used by the feat are effectively interchangeable.

The intent on the ability is to allow you a limited number of times a day when you can throw a metamagic modification on a spell as you cast it, without having to specially memorize and prepare for it ahead of time.

[hoss20]

Nullpunkt wrote:

Well, it does say Even though this ability does not modify the spell's actual level so I'm not sure what needs interpretation here.

The sentence before the one you cited states, Any time you use this ability to apply a metamagic feat that increases the spell level by more than 1, you must use an additional daily usage for each level above 1 that the feat adds to the spell. The clarification needed on this was the fact that Metamagic Feats don't increase the spell level, but the terminology used seems to suggest that it does. Because this affects the number of times a day I could use this power, I just needed to make sure, like MurphysParadox stated, that "increasing level" and "uses up a spell slot level" are used interchangeably.

Thanks, MurphysParadox. I was thinking that things worked this way and just needed to make sure.

[Nullpunkt]

Ah, sorry then. I read it the way that the sentence I cited was meant to clarify the one preceding it. Glad you got your answer, in any case.

[hoss20]

I just think that a lack of clarity, in general, from the text was my issue. I think they need to plug in a descriptor like "modified" or "adjusted" level or something. Maybe, call it a Metamagic Increase since that is what the "increase" is coming from. I don't know. With the sentence that you cited, it would appear that I could use this power as many times as I was able since metamagic feats don't increase the level of the spell.

For me, I just wanted to make sure, because when this power comes into play with my DM, I want to be sure that it's clear to the both of us. Anyway, no need to apologize. We each just took a diffferent way of reading things. I appreciate you posting back.