I'm gonna roll a Wizard (Evocation Admixture Opposed Schools Abjuration and Divination) with Scrollmaster archetype. At level 10 I get to use Scrolls with my own casting stats. So I have a couple of questions:
- do scrolls use my feats as well? Like Spell Focus?. If no, is there a way to achieve this?
- can I craft scrolls with Metamagic on them?
Let's say I have Magical Lineage:
Pick one spell when you choose this trait. When you apply metamagic feats to this spell that add at least 1 level to the spell, treat its actual level as 1 lower for determining the spell's final adjusted level.
Can I craft a scroll of Selective Fireball as a 3rd level scroll? If no, how can I cast a Selective Fireball from my own scrolls?
- to what spells does selective spell applies? Can I use it with Lightning bolt for example? If no, how do I protect my allies during battlefield?
- Yes, that's what the 10th level ability does. You can use your INT and relevant feats like Spell Focus to set the DCs. It's a lot like the staff rules, but for scrolls. Basically if a feat gives you a bonus to the caster level and/or DC, it applies, but no other feats.
- Yes, but you cannot reduce the metamagic cost in any way. Class features, feats, traits; none of that applies in regards to the metamagic modifier when crafting a spell completion item with a metamagic feat. A scroll of selective fireball would be a 4th level spell, regardless of if you have fireball as your chosen spell for Magical Lineage.
- As it says in its description, Selective Spell can only be applied to spells that have an area effect and are instantaneous; IE, most AoE evocation spells, like fireball and lightning bolt. Lightning bolt is a valid choice for Selective Spell, and since you have the Improved Scroll Casting ability, you use your own INT modifier to select who to not affect with the spell.
- Yes, that's what the 10th level ability does. You can use your INT and relevant feats like Spell Focus to set the DCs. It's a lot like the staff rules, but for scrolls. Basically if a feat gives you a bonus to the caster level and/or DC, it applies, but no other feats.
- Yes, but you cannot reduce the metamagic cost in any way. Class features, feats, traits; none of that applies in regards to the metamagic modifier when crafting a spell completion item with a metamagic feat. A scroll of selective fireball would be a 4th level spell, regardless of if you have fireball as your chosen spell for Magical Lineage.
- As it says in its description, Selective Spell can only be applied to spells that have an area effect and are instantaneous; IE, most AoE evocation spells, like fireball and lightning bolt. Lightning bolt is a valid choice for Selective Spell, and since you have the Improved Scroll Casting ability, you use your own INT modifier to select who to not affect with the spell.
Thanks for your reply! I wanted to know if I should use Scrolls or Spell Slots when casting Fireballs.
Now I know that for opening encounters if I go first I can use fireball from a scroll and then save the Selective ones in case the party is around and I need to avoid them!Awesome, because I took Spell Focus Evocation, Greater Spell focus and Spell Specialization!
Since I'm an Admixture Wizard, is there a way to get more damage per hit dice ala Crossblooded Sorcerer that gets +2?
So far the only extra damage I get is +2 CL from Spell Specialization and half my level from Admixture.
From level 9 and on my fireballs will be capped unless I use intensified spell, but I'd lose Selective.
- Yes, but you cannot reduce the metamagic cost in any way. Class features, feats, traits; none of that applies in regards to the metamagic modifier when crafting a spell completion item with a metamagic feat. A scroll of selective fireball would be a 4th level spell, regardless of if you have fireball as your chosen spell for Magical Lineage.
Source?
- Yes, but you cannot reduce the metamagic cost in any way. Class features, feats, traits; none of that applies in regards to the metamagic modifier when crafting a spell completion item with a metamagic feat. A scroll of selective fireball would be a 4th level spell, regardless of if you have fireball as your chosen spell for Magical Lineage.Source?
The FAQ.
Items as Spells: Does using a potion, scroll, staff, or wand count as "casting a spell" for purposes of feats and special abilities like Augment Summoning, Spell Focus, an evoker's ability to do extra damage with evocation spells, bloodline abilities, and so on?
No. Unless they specifically state otherwise, feats and abilities that modify spells you cast only affect actual spellcasting, not using magic items that emulate spellcasting or work like spellcasting.
You aren't casting the spell when you activate a magic item. The item is. Anything that modifies your spellcasting does not work when the item itself is casting the spell.
- Yes, but you cannot reduce the metamagic cost in any way. Class features, feats, traits; none of that applies in regards to the metamagic modifier when crafting a spell completion item with a metamagic feat. A scroll of selective fireball would be a 4th level spell, regardless of if you have fireball as your chosen spell for Magical Lineage.Source?The FAQ.
You aren't casting the spell when you activate a magic item. The item is. Anything that modifies your spellcasting does not work when the item itself is casting the spell.Items as Spells: Does using a potion, scroll, staff, or wand count as "casting a spell" for purposes of feats and special abilities like Augment Summoning, Spell Focus, an evoker's ability to do extra damage with evocation spells, bloodline abilities, and so on?
No. Unless they specifically state otherwise, feats and abilities that modify spells you cast only affect actual spellcasting, not using magic items that emulate spellcasting or work like spellcasting.
But in my case as Scrollmaster all of those things are actually applied!
I'm not modifying the spell as I cast it, I prepare it as a 3rd level slot because that's what my magical lineage allows me, that's why I was asking.| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Improved Scroll Casting (Su): At 10th level, the scrollmaster can cast a wizard spell from a scroll and use his own Intelligence score and relevant feats to set the DC for the spell, and can use his own caster level if it is higher than that of the scroll (similar to a caster using a staff). The scrollmaster must have already deciphered the writing on the scroll to use this ability. This ability replaces the 10th-level wizard bonus feat.
The scrollmasters ability only lets you do 2 things:
1. Use your Intelligence score and relevant feats to boost the save DC2. Use your caster level
It does nothing else. It doesn't let you add bonus damage (such as from bloodline arcana, being an evoker, or the half-orc favored class option). It doesn't let you add metamagic to an already existing scroll, or reduce the level adjustment of metamagic feats.
You can craft a scroll with a metamagic feat included. But anything that reduces the level adjustment when you cast a spell does not apply, even with scrollmaster, as you are not the one casting the spell.
You may be able to prepare a selective fireball as a 3rd level spell, but when crafting a scroll it is a minimum of a 4th level spell, because any metamagic reducers you have don't apply.
Improved Scroll Casting (Su): At 10th level, the scrollmaster can cast a wizard spell from a scroll and use his own Intelligence score and relevant feats to set the DC for the spell, and can use his own caster level if it is higher than that of the scroll (similar to a caster using a staff). The scrollmaster must have already deciphered the writing on the scroll to use this ability. This ability replaces the 10th-level wizard bonus feat.The scrollmasters ability only lets you do 2 things:
1. Use your Intelligence score and relevant feats to boost the save DC
2. Use your caster levelIt does nothing else. It doesn't let you add bonus damage (such as from bloodline arcana, being an evoker, or the half-orc favored class option). It doesn't let you add metamagic to an already existing scroll, or reduce the level adjustment of metamagic feats.
You can craft a scroll with a metamagic feat included. But anything that reduces the level adjustment when you cast a spell does not apply, even with scrollmaster, as you are not the one casting the spell.
You may be able to prepare a selective fireball as a 3rd level spell, but when crafting a scroll it is a minimum of a 4th level spell, because any metamagic reducers you have don't apply.
Oh, I thought you'd get to add feats like Spell focus. I guess I won't be using it for fireball then. Besides that, it's still the cheaper option, even buying a wand is more expensive.
That just doesn't make sense. Welcome to Paizo's FAQratta Theme Park I guess.
Oh, I thought you'd get to add feats like Spell focus. I guess I won't be using it for fireball then. Besides that, it's still the cheaper option, even buying a wand is more expensive.
You can use feats like Spell Focus, as long as you have Scrollmaster. Spell Focus boosts the save DC, and Scrollmaster says you can use feats that boost the save DC when casting from a scroll.
The scrollmasters ability only lets you do 2 things:
1. Use your Intelligence score and relevant feats to boost the save DC
2. Use your caster level
Improved Scroll Casting (Su): At 10th level, the scrollmaster can cast a wizard spell from a scroll and use his own Intelligence score and relevant feats to set the DC for the spell, and can use his own caster level if it is higher than that of the scroll (similar to a caster using a staff). The scrollmaster must have already deciphered the writing on the scroll to use this ability. This ability replaces the 10th-level wizard bonus feat.
That just doesn't make sense. Welcome to Paizo's FAQratta Theme Park I guess.
This has literally been a thing since around PF's beginning. It was a rules post by either SKR or JJ, but since I can't find any of SKR's stuff, I'm gonna say it was JJ.
They did it because they didn't want to have the same amount of stupid metamagic dickery that 3.5 did, where you could stack asstons of metamagic on one spell for free, or craft high level items with metamagics on them for base spell level price.
Oh, I thought you'd get to add feats like Spell focus. I guess I won't be using it for fireball then. Besides that, it's still the cheaper option, even buying a wand is more expensive.You can use feats like Spell Focus, as long as you have Scrollmaster. Spell Focus boosts the save DC, and Scrollmaster says you can use feats that boost the save DC when casting from a scroll.
The scrollmasters ability only lets you do 2 things:
1. Use your Intelligence score and relevant feats to boost the save DC
2. Use your caster levelImproved Scroll Casting (Su): At 10th level, the scrollmaster can cast a wizard spell from a scroll and use his own Intelligence score and relevant feats to set the DC for the spell, and can use his own caster level if it is higher than that of the scroll (similar to a caster using a staff). The scrollmaster must have already deciphered the writing on the scroll to use this ability. This ability replaces the 10th-level wizard bonus feat.
I'm reading so much I'm becoming stupid.
Then I'm saved! It's going to be a nice fireball! Thanks for pointing that out!Now I'm just trying to figure out Metamagic Feat selection and what rods I should buy and not.
Overall the Selective Feat is kinda making me itchy because I feel it's something I will need but kinda screws up with Spell Slots needed to cast it.
I can either buy Lesser Empower for 9k, but it will be useful only for level 3 spells, or I can buy Normal Selective for 11k and it will work from 4 to 6, which is much better in the long run.
Also, just buy Lesser Selective and use it on normal fireballs > this is because I'm building level 7 toon, and spending 50% of WBL on 1 items it's usually a nono.
That just doesn't make sense. Welcome to Paizo's FAQratta Theme Park I guess.To some, it makes perfect sense.
I think it's "unfair" if you can't use the item yourself.
Maybe it's a Selective Fireball, but you can only use it if you have the feat.That way you can craft as many items as you want, but it will only work if you have the feat. In the hands of someone else it can work either as a normal fireball or don't work at all.
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That just doesn't make sense. Welcome to Paizo's FAQratta Theme Park I guess.
It has always been that way, it is not a Paizo thing.
And it make perfect sense. Magic items are standardized stuff, if you start having "this item was made by a wizard that can reduce spell levels when adding metamagics, but is used by a sorcerer that can't" you will need tons of bookkeeping for each item and it will still be a mess to adjudicate.After all "selective fireball as a 3 level spell" is on the spell list of that sorcerer without the appropriate trait? You can give the benefits of your trait to another person? If the ability to reduce the metamagic cost can be used a specific number of times in a day, you can "store" it in a scroll without reducing your daily uses?