Sorcerer Solar Bloodline Arcana and Empower Spell

[Moorningstaar]

Empowered Spell:
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.

Solar Bloodline Arcana:
Bloodline Arcana: Whenever you cast a spell with the fire descriptor, if it deals damage, it deals +1 point of damage per die rolled.

This came up in a game I'm running some time ago. The Sorcerer claimed that empower spell would increase the extra damage from his bloodline arcana. I argued that it wasn't a variable of the spell, and so not subject to the enhancement. He accepted my ruling and we moved on. (As a gestalt sorcerer/oracle/mystic theurge he really doesn't have much to complain about lol)

However, today I was going through some rules questions on empower, and I think I've made a mistake. Since the bonus damage from weapon focus (ray) does get enhanced should I have allowed this increase?

I also took another look at the arcana's wording. It states 'if it deals damage' suggesting that this effect is not added until after the spell is completed. I assume this is to keep it from helping to overcome resistances, but would that suggest that its not actually bonus damage to the spell? If that's the case how does empower effect the orc or draconic bloodline arcana that lack this line? Thanks for your time.

[Artificial 20]

There's an FAQ that covers this:

FAQ wrote:

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.

So you should add the +1.

The part about "Whenever you cast a spell with the fire descriptor, if it deals damage, it deals +1 point of damage per die rolled" is likely to make it clear it only adds damage to spells that deal damage in the first place. For example, if you had a fire descriptor spell that just inflicted a status effect, you wouldn't also get bonus damage with it.

[willuwontu]

Empower Spell wrote:

All variable, numeric effects of an empowered spell are increased by half including bonuses to those dice rolls.

If the spell rolls for damage, all the damage including the bonuses to it is increased by half. This includes bonuses from bloodlines, traits, and so forth.

Example: Bob a 6th level crossblooded sorcerer (Orc, Solar) casts empowered burning hands. He deals 5d4 + 10 ⇒ (4, 1, 1, 4, 1) + 10 = 21 damage normally. Since this is an empowered burning hands, he deals an additional 50% more damage, for a total of 21 + 21*0.5 = 31 damage.

[Moorningstaar]

Thanks

[Xexyz]

Solar Bloodline? Where does this come from?

[Dragonborn3]

Pathfinder Setting: Quadira.

[Xexyz]

Dragonborn3 wrote:

Pathfinder Setting: Quadira.

Thanks!

[Xaimum Mafire]

Xexyz wrote:

Solar Bloodline? Where does this come from?

Qadira: Jewel of the East, not Qadira: Gateway to the East