|
Flame blade would also not be a legal target.
Just curious on how it would not be a legal target.
It has a variable effect (1d8+1 per 2 caster levels). I understand how shillelagh is not (as it just treats a weapon as larger and has no variable effects listed), but flame blade seems to fit:
Here are the rules for maximize:
Maximize Spell (Metamagic)
Your spells have the maximum possible effect.
Benefit: All variable, numeric effects of a spell modified by this feat are maximized. Saving throws and opposed rolls are not affected, nor are spells without random variables. A maximized spell uses up a spell slot three levels higher than the spell's actual level.
As for Vital strike, you attack with a flame blade as if it is a scimitar, if a feat is able to be used on a scimitar, you should be able to use it on a flame blade (improved critical, weapon focus (scimitar), etc). Can you use vital strike on a scimitar? If so, you should be able to use it on a flame blade.
I can see where you are coming from, but I don't think Maximize should be applied. The spell is creating a weapon. It is then defined in the spell, including what damage this newly created weapon will do. The weapon then does the damage rather than the spell.
RAW, I guess it can be. Technically the damage is a numeric variable listed in the spell description, which is all Maximize Spell requires. It's just my opinion that it doesn't.
I don't know much about the rulings surrounding Vital Strike, but at first blush it seems like it would work fine.
I don't see any reason it shouldn't work; Summon Nature's Ally IV, Baleful Polymorph, and Fire Snake from a druid who can wild shape/be wild shaped when he casts them seem way more disruptive/effective than a weapon that does 8 instead of a d8 damage from one that can't. It raises the average damage by 3.5 (from 4.5 to 8).
That being said this is a horrible idea with almost no benefit in the vast majority of situations. Just wild shape.