Would a level 20 wizard benefit more from a alternate capstone like gaining an arch familiar or like a +8 to int compared to taking a level in lore master so he can take some secrets of magical discipline feats? I can’t decide so maybe you all can share some opinions?
Maniacwyrm wrote: Would a level 20 wizard benefit more from a alternate capstone like gaining an arch familiar or like a +8 to int compared to taking a level in lore master so he can take some secrets of magical discipline feats? I can’t decide so maybe you all can share some opinions? Generally speaking, most characters don't actually reach level 20, and those who do generally don't play for very long after reaching this point, which means the capstones don't actually come into play that often.
If you do actually play for a while at 20, it's all going to depend on what you want for your character: You are already a 20th level caster, so capstones and prestige class bonuses are really just gravy...
It’s true that level 20 almost never matters.
+8 Int is a big deal. Out of the box, that’s just better.
The arch familiar can allow you to break economy pretty easy though. Spell-like abilities don’t use material components. So your familiar can cast an expensive spell, like Wish, once per day. In the long term, that free wish per day could be “better”, if your GM isn't weird about how Wish works
Other expensive spells you may want for free:
Permanency
Simulacrum
Binding
Wizard Capstones
• Arch-Familiar (Su) far too late & familiar still squishy so lame.
• Perfect Body, Flawless Mind (Ex) very nice.
• The Boss (Ex) problematic.
• Walking Library (Ex) too late and lame.
• Well-Prepared (Su) awesome.
• With This Sword/BondObj (Ex) Bond Obj upgrade is nice.
• Won’t Stay Dead (Ex) nice living lichood.
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Homebrew
• Perfect Double (Ex) split your essence and create a double, sadly now it's confusing as to who is who. No telepathy but Empathic Link(Su) and Share Spells(Sp) with double (see familiar abilities). Pharasma disapproves.
• Advanced Research (Ex) one opposed school is no longer opposed otherwise choose a Spl Lvl 3 or less non-damaging spell that could be permanent as permanent and it renews each day after your daily spell preparation. Retrain one feat or 4 skills. Gain two feats; Spell Focus, Grtr Spl Fcs, Spell Penetration, Grtr Spl Pntrt. Gain one feat; Eschew components or Silent Spell MetaMag feat with no spell increase or casting time increase. With no opposed schools you gain Universalist abilities and qualify as such. Racial spells are not a barrier to access or casting.
• Transmogrification (Ex) choose a CR3 or less of size Small to Large species or creature of your (humanoid) type, fey type, this includes native outsiders and anthropomorphic creatures. Your type changes to that type gaining +2 to one of your current physical ability scores (otherwise your ability scores do not change). You gain racial, senses, movements, (Ex) and (Sp) abilities of that type. You cannot become a construct, undead, a shapechanger, incorporeal, a noble creature, an elder creature, or a creature with regeneration. You gain Alter Self at will at your character level as a std actn to change back into your old look.
by Azothath
This is going to depend on how the GM interprets “You can cast any spell.” If you it grants you the ability to cast any spell in the game from any list, it is better than almost anything in the game. If you are limited to casting from your own spell list it is still good, but probably not better than some of the capstones.
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Mysterious Stranger wrote: This is going to depend on how the GM interprets “You can cast any spell.” If you it grants you the ability to cast any spell in the game from any list, it is better than almost anything in the game. If you are limited to casting from your own spell list it is still good, but probably not better than some of the capstones. Yeah, this is a significant point: How your GM rules 'any spell' is intended (along with how well you personally know all the spells in existence) will greatly impact the actual power of the Secret of Magical Discipline feat.
That being said, you can start taking this feat by ninth level, which means you'll get to use it for over half your adventuring career before any capstone option could come into play, so it's a really strong contender in my mind regardless of the GM's ruling (assuming you don't need the feat slots for anything else, of course).
for Secret of Magical Discipline feat
I think it's a common assumption that it is a spell from a standard spell list that the caster has an appropriate spell slot for, like a wizard 10 casting Mass Cure Lgt Wnds:C5 as a 5th level spell using a 5th spell slot.
I think divine casters would still have alignment restrictions, they could but then suffer the consequences. At least a Cleric could get access to a decent attack or trick spell but 3 MetaMagic feats would be difficult with most Cleric builds.
The only question is access to racial spells... which seems a No as there was no exception for that requirement. Which leaves Paragon Surge at 4th level
For one spell changeable per day at your highest spellslot with no +1 SplLvl it's a great feat at mid levels where a caster has the spell slots to support off task spells.
Lore Master PrC is a PrC so the build has to deal with that. Skill Focus(Know Skl) is a feat tax.
The PFS Campgn Clairifications notes that for Arch-Familiar it has to supply expensive material components.
Sure people can go crazy and try silly stuff but that's why you have a GM.
Samsaran Mythic Past Lives seems to net more and cost less.
I don't know many GMs that use the Arcane/Divine divide for scrolls which makes any spell a matter of gold.
All pretty good points I will check about how secrets of magical discipline will be run before I make my decision then thanks!
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