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I think I really like this feat, but the wording is a bit unclear and everywhere I've looked on the forums nobody seems to agree on how it works.
You can increase the power of your spells, causing them to deal more damage.
Benefit: All variable, numeric effects of an empowered spell are increased by half, including bonuses to those dice rolls.
Saving throws and opposed rolls are not affected, nor are spells without random variables. An empowered spell uses up a spell slot two levels higher than the spell’s actual level.
Empower Spell: If I use Empower Spell on a spell that has a die roll with a numerical bonus (such as cure moderate wounds), does the feat affect the numerical bonus?
Yes. For example, if you empower cure moderate wounds, the +50% from the feat applies to the 2d8 and to the level-based bonus.
There four values I can see that could be boosted, I'll label them A-D for clarity.
- (A) All dice, regardless of if they are level dependent; supported by the feat and FAQ.
- (B) Level dependent numerical effects; supported in the FAQ.
- (C) Any static damage bonus to a die roll; possibly supported by the inclusion of "including bonuses to those dice rolls" in the benefits section of the feat.
- (D) Spells that grant additional rays or missiles based on caster level; these are variable numeric effects in spells with random variables.
A few things worth mentioning: (B), which is clearly supported by the FAQ, is not a random variable, but a level dependent variable. This seems to support (D) which is in the same position, with the exception that it is not a damage variable (which is not explicitly stated as a requirement in the feat). While the descriptive text mentions damaging spells, Cure Moderate Wounds is used as an example in the FAQ (I know it damages undead). Does this mean that this feat be used with non-damaging spells? Finally, the results of the dice should be multiplied by 1.5 not the dice. Half just dice don't roll well.
I personally believe that Empower Spell applies to all four values. I realize however, that there is room for debate. I'd like to hear others thoughts and try to come to a more solid interpretation.
It needs to be a randomized number or the math that goes with the randomized number. So a b c. There is notging random about d. Ie a lvl 7 wizard gets 2 rays he doesn't get 1-3 rays.
The reason for the faq is there was debate about static bonuses at one time.ie was magic misdile 1-4x1.5 +1? The faq tells us its 2-5x1.5.
That's the damage. An empowered Magic Missile will deal (1d4+1)x1.5 damage.
There is still a debate regarding variables like the one in Mirror Image.
Base: 1d4+1/3CL up to 8
Empowered...
(1d4+1/3CL up to 8)*1.5
-or-
(1d4+1/3CL)*1.5 up to 8
You're really quite close, but not quite. It's really pretty simple, to be empowered it must be:
1) A dice roll, or added to a dice roll.
2) An effect, not a check or attack roll.
This includes A & C (for effects) always. Not for dispel checks, etc.
It includes B, when added to a dice roll. It doesn't apply to the temporary hit-points from divine power (1/level) for instance.
Key thing: Level is not a variable of the spell, it is a parameter of it. There is no variation in it when you cast the spell. Just as the range and duration are fixed at casting*, something purely level based (with no variable) is not affected by empower. That said, mirror image's cap is an open question.
*: Well, for 99% of spells anyways - a few have random durations.