OK, so the Arcane Bond is pretty straightforward for a Wizard. You get it at level one. And well, that's it. Sure, you can spontaneously any one spell from your spellbook once per day, and maybe you can use the Magic Item creation rules and make it a cooler item, but every time I look at it I feel that something is missing.
I guess it is because I look at the other option of having a familiar. The familiar gets cooler as you level up without you having to do anything other than just leveling up.
Has anyone come up with any options for the Arcane Bond to level up with you? And idea that I have is that perhaps every so many levels you can spontaneously cast an additional spell per day. I am thinking maybe every 3 levels, as 5 levels already gives you a discovery. and every 2 levels is generally tied to some sort of School ability. What do you guys think of this idea?
Another idea would be to make up some Arcane Bond feats that would help do a little something cool with the Arcane Bond, but these would cost feats so a sort of leveling up thing is better.
I also use a bonded object instead of a familiar and I was also a bit disappointed in the lack of further options.
That being said, a bonded object does get better with each level since it allows you to use higher and higher level spells. It has been invaluable to me at all levels.
Additionally, you can enchant it as if you had the appropriate item crafting feat. If you're gonna be really munchkinny about it, you can enchant your bonded object, switch it for another, and then enchant that while the original keeps the enchantment.
Anyway, I think a bonded object is powerful enough as it is and doesn't need to be improved but there should be feats to improve it further.
Feat ideas:
1) Higher CL on your arcane school's special abilities
2) Recast spent the spell you've cast with it
3) Refill the bonded object slot with a prepared spell up once or twice a day
4) Higher CL on the spell(s) you cast with the bonded object
5) Allows metamagic feats to be used on bonded object spell(s)
6) Reduced increase in SL when using metamagic feats on bonded object spell(s)
These are all valid point, and to an extent, I agree.
Maybe another idea is to allow the character to enchant the item without having to take the time to do it (just spend the money). This would allow the character to do it as they level up.
Oh yeah, regarding the "munchkin" idea of enchanting your item and then switching to a different one. That is specifically not allowed, as the enchantments are only usable by the character and fade if the character switches to a different Arcane Bond.
Using the no-time-requirement ability as I mentioned above I think it is a more viable option. Then maybe I should allow Arcane-Bond feats as mentioned above.
Maybe another feat idea might be a Secondary Arcane Bond, which is acts as an Arcane Bond, but does not have the spontaneous spell per day. This is how you could get a Harry Dresden Wizard that has both a staff and a wand.
I really like the idea of the feat build.
Lets get it started!
1. Secondary Arcane Bond
prerequisite: caster level 11?
2. Greater bonded item
also acts as a bonded witch's item? gaining that small list f spell to choose and cast 1 from?
3. ...hmmm, long day of work. Thats all i can think of for now, lol.
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you could always make it an intelligent item right?
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maybe spells that enhance it?
Some ideas might be to have it based on the type of item. For example, a wand might be better at Ray spells, a staff better at Personal-ranged spells, and a ring might help to deliver touch spells. A weapon might be able to deliver touch spells through it.