Yeah, it's pretty useless, especially since 20th level is (generally) as high as it goes, so it's not like you'll be playing the character much longer, if at all. At best, it gives the GM an excuse to use that character as an NPC for a game set a couple generations in the future.
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I have to agree with Zhayne in the context of most campaigns, aside from the awesome flavor of being an immortal wizard of immense power, it isn't really all that useful.
That said, if I ever get a wizard to 20th, I'm still going to take it every time.
Seriously, if what you're looking for is a power up, I'll grant that this discovery is pretty useless... but if I managed to get a human wizard to lvl 20, I'd spend my lvl 20 bonus feat on that discovery without too much thought (unless that particular character really hade a better use for that feat)... being immortal, without having to resort to solutions like lichdom or the like; I mean, it that great or what? lvl 20 is the time you retire to study the Higher Mysteries or found a wizard school anyway, have you a really more useful feat or discovery to take at that level?
Immortality means you can sit in your perfectly protected demiplane citadel and wait for your problems to die or your opportunities to be perfect.
You can play the really, really long game like you were a proper demon or devil or something.
Immortality means you can sit in your perfectly protected demiplane citadel and wait for your problems to die or your opportunities to be perfect.
You can play the really, really long game like you were a proper demon or devil or something.
Or, you know, walk the worlds--doing good, learning stuff, meeting new people and seeing wondrous new sights. The Old-Mage Jatembe route, if you're into Golarion stuff.
Immortality is the first step on the path to true godhood - it buys you all eternity to find the rest of the path and walk it.
Immortality means you can sit in your perfectly protected demiplane citadel and wait for your problems to die or your opportunities to be perfect.
You can play the really, really long game like you were a proper demon or devil or something.
You could do that anyway with a timeless demiplane.
This discovery is mostly so you don't feel like you are literally wasting you time (ie- remaining lifespan that can be used in the petty normal planes) when you decide to drop in an destroy a kingdom or two for fun.
Seriously though- what more than you want in terms of power than 20 levels of wizard? Do you want a discovery that gives you the power of "rocks fall, everybody dies"?
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Pretty much as others have said its a goal not a power up (as I suspect most 20th level required items are). For me nearly every single wizard I've played from advanced dungeons and dragons through to pathfinder has had immortality as a goal. Demigodhood and Godhood are nice but they tend to come with responsibilities and restrictions (although the mythic option is a nice step between demigod and mortal/immortal).
Only reason my later pathfinder wizards have occasionally not had immortality as a goal is that they already have it via the imperious bloodline and only need to unlock it. In which case the power of 20th level is the goal. Mmmm that's a nice 20th level perk and for those worried about mechanics it has some very nice ones too . . .
Immortal Legend (Ex): At 20th level, you cease aging; no longer need to eat, drink, or sleep; and gain immunity to death effects and energy drain.
Very, very nice for the immortal wizard whether you want to retreat to a hidden demi-plane and cut yourself off from all the annoying people who probably want to kill you/steal your stuff or just spend a few centuries travelling and seeing the world.
I know I'd love it just the sheer freedom to wander around the world seeing new sights and experiences, very few beings able to kill you and those that can probably content to ignore you as you'll be gone in a week or two to see the lost ruins of Atzlant or the singing stones of Dorillium. Ship gets wrecked on a desert isle with your powers you can create food and supplies, teleport to a place elsewhere or just lounge there for a decade or two as you don't need to eat or drink (may get a little boring though). Add in 9th level spells and certain suppliments it means you're not even limited to one planet/time/dimenion/reality (Dimension and reality are seperate as there are some suppliments that have spells to even let you enter fictional worlds someone wrote about as opposed to say an alternate dimension like the inner plane of fire or an alternate prime material where Aroden didn't dissapear, spend a decade or two in your favorite book interacting with the characters. In fact Neverwinter nights I think if your int is high enough lets you write a little bit of fiction then enter it to take some treasure and bring it back to the "real world").
Yes my personal dream character (and what I'd love to have in real life) would be an Imperious bloodline Mythic rank 10, lvl 2 Ranger, lvl 18 Arcanist. All those lovely mythic abilities like not needing a spellbook, the imperious immortality and lack of needing to eat, drink or sleep and the power to cast 9th level spells with the versatility of a wizard to have thousands available (via books or the aforementioned mythic feat) and the security of a sorcerer in that you can just memorize a base set and they don't vanish when you cast them. Not that I'm ever likely to play a character who gets that high or be able to keep playing one long after they hit 20/10 but just to have that mmmmmmm.
Anyway got a bit side tracked but yes immortality is not about the power up its about the goal. Whether you get it via a wizard feat, magic elixer, bloodline or mythic powers.