"Acts like" and "treated as" are just a few of the reoccurring examples of lazy, ambiguous writing that was deemed acceptable by the Paizo editors...
Such nondescript descriptions have spawned many debates.
For ease of, well, everything... "functions as" = IS...
Your metamagic cantrip would dispel the opposing type of illumination, as long as it is non-magical in nature.
Now, whether or not it is worth you taking a borderline useless metamagic feat, just to have a long(er) lasting, low-level source of benign illumination control...
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Sorry, just seen that Eclipse Spell doesn't raise the level.
For a cantrip, that's actually pretty awesome.
It's powerful and a good find, but if you pay with your precious first feat, probably your GM will consider it balanced. Later an inquisitor gets darkness anyway, a few times a day if desired. Alternatively there will be a lesser rod, just not on the first few levels, due to the price (1,500).
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1) A metamagiched spell isn't a cantrip anymore, so you can cast it only once even if it is a 0 level spell.
2)
Eclipsed Spell (Metamagic)
You alter how your spells affect illumination.
Benefit(s): Only spells that create areas of light or darkness can be eclipsed spells. If the eclipsed spell creates an area that shines like a torch or raises the light level by one step, you can choose to have the spell lower the illumination level in the affected area by one step, functioning like darkness. If the eclipsed spell creates an area that shines like daylight or raises the light level by two steps, you can choose to have the spell lower the illumination level in the affected area by two steps and create an area of magical darkness, functioning like deeper darkness.
If the eclipsed spell lowers the illumination level in the affected area by one step, you can choose to have the spell cause the affected area to glow with normal light, functioning like light. If the eclipsed spell lowers the illumination level in the affected area by two steps, you can choose to have the spell cause the affected area to shed bright light, functioning like daylight.
An eclipsed spell does not use up a higher-level spell slot than the spell’s actual level.
The light cantrip shed light like a torch, so it will work as darkness.
A bit of a stupid thing that a metamagic can make a 0 level spell more powerful than a 2nd level spell, but it has its costs:
a) you exchange an unlimited use cantrip for a single use 0 level spell;
b) you need to take a feat or buy a metamagic rod.
RAW it works, but I suggest you consider this text from the sourcebook where it is published:
Shaow Feats
The following feats represent special tricks and abilities that characters who cling to the shadows can learn to boost their effectiveness. They grant abilities and benefits revolving around fighting and manipulating darkness and dim light.
I would require an appropriate background before a paler can get it.
It acts almost exactly like a 0-level darkness that lasts 10-min/level. Its a little cheap, but was used in fun ways in a build that I had. I do think that this was just an oversight though as most of the time you wouldn't use darkness for much if you had this.
Consider however: >You can cast it as much as you like, but you can only have one at a time due to it still being the light cantrip.
>A walking sphere of darkness isn't all that inconspicuous.
>That certain creatures have special senses and they aren't very uncommon (mostly darkvision, though there are others creatures with other sensory abilities).
>That higher level "light-level" altering spells always take priority.
Otherwise, just have fun with your broken low level toy if your gm is fine with it. It does become less useful as you level up due to higher level magic being used and creatures more and more commonly having special senses, but was a fun gimmick while it lasted.
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1) A metamagiched spell isn't a cantrip anymore, so you can cast it only once even if it is a 0 level spell.Man, what?
A metamagic changes the level of the spell. Even if it stays at the same level it is still a different spell.
People have tried several times to say that a metamagiched cantrips can be cast an unlimited number of times, that has been shod down repeatedly by the Devs. Using a metamagiched spell use up a spell slot of that level.
Staying at level 0 doesn't invalidate that as there isn't any rule that says that a metamagiched spell doesn't consume 0 level slot.
The definition of cantrips, from the CRB: "Cantrips: Bards learn a number of cantrips, or 0-level spells, as noted on Table 3–4 under “Spells Known.” These spells are cast like any other spell, but they do not consume any slots and may be used again."
Eclipse light si one of the spell a Bard or any other class learn? No.
So that rule doesn't allow you to use Eclipse light an unlimited number of times.
You can use an unlimited number of times only a standard cantrip, not one modified by metamagic.
A metamagic changes the level of the spell. Even if it stays at the same level it is still a different spell.
People have tried several times to say that a metamagiched cantrips can be cast an unlimited number of times, that has been shod down repeatedly by the Devs. Using a metamagiched spell use up a spell slot of that level.
Would you mind linking to where the Devs say that?
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Sadly, it was never addressed directly as a general rule, only the specific shenanigans have been shot down, but for starter, this FAQ:
Something jumped up from the rules regarding zero level spells.
Metamagic: At what spell level does the spell count for concentration DCs, magus spell recall, or a pearl of power?
The spell counts as the level of the spell slot necessary to cast it.
For example, an empowered burning hands uses a 3rd-level spell slot, counts as a 3rd-level spell for making concentration checks, counts as a 3rd-level spell for a magus's spell recall or a pearl of power.
In general, use the (normal, lower) spell level or the (higher) spell slot level, whichever is more of a disadvantage for the caster. The advantages of the metamagic feat are spelled out in the Benefits section of the feat, and the increased spell slot level is a disadvantage.
Heighten Spell is really the only metamagic feat that makes using a higher-level spell slot an advantage instead of a disadvantage.
The metamagiched spells use a spell slot of the appropriate level.
And the CRB, page 113: "Spells modified by a metamagic feat use a spell slot higher than normal.", modified in later books ain "Such spells generally take up a higher-level spell slot than the normal spell. For complete rules on how to apply metamagic feats to spells, see pages 112–113 of the Core Rulebook."
As "use up" hasn't been changed even when the possibility of having metamagiched spells maintaining the original level, there is no wiggle room. Using a metamagiched 0 level spell use up a slot.Until you guys find a piece of rules that says that a modified spell is still a cantrip, you are extending the rules beyond the breaking point.
As you guys are extending a rule to get it to say something it doesn't say, the onus of proving that is on you, I have shown several pieces of the rules that point in the other direction.
A spontaneous caster also doesn't have spell slots for 0 level spells, they would just apply the metamagic for no extra level cost wouldn't they?
I think the best thing about an eclipsed light spell is that if someone tries to cast light to kill it, it will fail, since it only counters darkness spells, which eclipsed light is not.
Your metamagic cantrip would dispel the opposing type of illumination, as long as it is non-magical in nature.
How do you dispel a non-magical thing?
Sadly, it was never addressed directly as a general rule, only the specific shenanigans have been shot down, but for starter, this FAQ:
Something jumped up from the rules regarding zero level spells.Metamagic: At what spell level does the spell count for concentration DCs, magus spell recall, or a pearl of power?
The spell counts as the level of the spell slot necessary to cast it.
For example, an empowered burning hands uses a 3rd-level spell slot, counts as a 3rd-level spell for making concentration checks, counts as a 3rd-level spell for a magus's spell recall or a pearl of power.
In general, use the (normal, lower) spell level or the (higher) spell slot level, whichever is more of a disadvantage for the caster. The advantages of the metamagic feat are spelled out in the Benefits section of the feat, and the increased spell slot level is a disadvantage.
Heighten Spell is really the only metamagic feat that makes using a higher-level spell slot an advantage instead of a disadvantage.
The metamagiched spells use a spell slot of the appropriate level.And the CRB, page 113: "Spells modified by a metamagic feat use a spell slot higher than normal.", modified in later books ain "Such spells generally take up a higher-level spell slot than the normal spell. For complete rules on how to apply metamagic feats to spells, see pages 112–113 of the Core Rulebook."
As "use up" hasn't been changed even when the possibility of having metamagiched spells maintaining the original level, there is no wiggle room. Using a metamagiched 0 level spell use up a slot.Until you guys find a piece of rules that says that a modified spell is still a cantrip, you are extending the rules beyond the breaking point.
As you guys are extending a rule to get it to say something it doesn't say, the onus of proving that is on you, I have shown several pieces of the rules that point in the other direction.
As you point out things Lehmuska said, and not what the FAQ said, you are pointing out an opinion, not rules.
Cantrips: Wizards can prepare a number of cantrips, or 0-level spells, each day, as noted on Table: Wizard under “Spells per Day.” These spells are cast like any other spell, but they are not expended when cast and may be used again. A wizard can prepare a cantrip from a prohibited school, but it uses up two of his available slots (see below).
According to the definition for a wizard, cantrips consume slots. That they don't get expended means you can cast the repeatedly.
Since an Eclipsed Spell does not change the level, an eclipsed light remains a cantrip for a wizard. So why would it differently for any other class that has cantrips or orisons?
I do agree that it sucks for spontaneous casters due to extending casting time.
/cevah