Post/Author/DateTime	Post
FromTheShadows 10-07-06, 12:54 AM	I just noticed what might be a little gem hidden in Dragon Magic. The Blue Dragon Lineage feat, like all of the other Dragon Lineage feats, allows you to sacrifice a spell to gain some sort of special effect. Blue Dragon Lineage may be above the others in this regard because it can deal damage equal to 1d6 + Charisma modifier for each spell level sacrificed. This means sacrificing a level 9 spell would give a total of 9d6 + 9 x Cha in damage. I wonder how well this could be exploited given a bit of Charisma optimizing and some of the Heighten Spell tricks out there. Right now I’m thinking of the standard Incantatrix/Earth Spell/Practical Metamagic combination, though I’d like to hear suggestions about what else I could add (or if this idea is even worth pursuing at all) before I spend my time trying to hammer something out.
Seerow 10-07-06, 01:10 AM	So, exploiting Earth Spell, you'll be getting 10th level spells... Say you get 34 Charisma. 10d6+120 damage. Average 155 damage. Not bad, but not necessarily the best use of spell slots either. Unless the ability is significantly better in terms of range, saves, etc, than other spells you have available.
FromTheShadows 10-07-06, 01:25 AM	The two glaring problems with the feat are range and accuracy: you can only hit targets within 30 feet and you have to make a ranged touch attack for each orb. Still, I don't see anything mentioning that the feat isn't extraordinary like other feats, meaning that it might be able to function within an AMF. The example that I gave so far should give a four level bump for the cost of a one level increase, IIRC. So with a Charisma of 34 you'd be looking at 12d6+144 damage, 186 on average. Halruaan Elder could boost the thing up another level for 13d6+156 damage, 201.5 average. I know that there must be other metamagic decreasing abilities out there, but they seem to be slipping my mind at the moment.
Iry 10-07-06, 01:38 AM	Base 18, +5 Level Up, +4 Inherent, +6 Enhancement, +4 Competency, +3 Unnamed Age = 40, or +15 Modifier with 10th level spells. 150+10d6. What is the nature of the ability? Can it be combined with Arcane Strike? Used as a Breath Weapon? Modified by Breath Weapon Feats? Etc.
runestar 10-07-06, 02:14 AM	Are you sure its not 1d6 + (cha mod*spell lv)?:P
PonTelon 10-07-06, 02:24 AM	Another thing is using the spell in Dragon Magic that is used as 1/2 caster level spell for dracconic feats. I beleive it's 2nd level spell. AFB, so don't remember the name of the spell.
PhoenixInferno 10-07-06, 04:08 AM	Eh...Storm Touch (Magic of Eberron) is still better, I think.
FromTheShadows 10-07-06, 12:10 PM	What is the nature of the ability? Can it be combined with Arcane Strike? Used as a Breath Weapon? Modified by Breath Weapon Feats? Etc. Arcane Strike only works with melee weapons, unarmed strikes, and natural weapons; this is a ranged touch attack. Nothing is mentioned about it being a breath weapon, either. Are you sure its not 1d6 + (cha mod*spell lv)? As a standard action, you can convert an arcane spell slot into a number of orbs of lightning equal to the spell's level... ... On a successful hit, each orb deals a number of points of electricity damage equal to 1d6 + your Cha modifier. Seems pretty clear to me. Another thing is using the spell in Dragon Magic that is used as 1/2 caster level spell for dracconic feats. I beleive it's 2nd level spell. AFB, so don't remember the name of the spell. Damn, Magic of the Dragonheart seems to be perfect for this. Even better, the caster level is totally uncapped for the effective spell level. Now, I wonder how it would interact with Heighten Spell... Eh...Storm Touch (Magic of Eberron) is still better, I think. With the metamagic finagling that the proposed build has so far, Blue Dragon Lineage beats out Storm Touch on both range and immediate damage; if both use a fifth level slot, Storm Touch does 9d6 damage and BDL does 9d6+9xCha. Then again, this isn't including various metamagic reductions on Storm Touch (which means this example is more than a bit lopsided) or the fact that Storm Touch probably pulls ahead due to its ability to be used multiple times before expiring. Still, I'd like to pursue this idea further, especially with Magic of the Dragonheart offering such a tempting base to start from.
PonTelon 10-07-06, 12:57 PM	You cannot apply metamagics to Storm Touch, nor do the metamagics that are applied to the spells matter. It's not a spell you are using. It's either a Su or Ex ability.
PhoenixInferno 10-07-06, 04:49 PM	You cannot apply metamagics to Storm Touch, nor do the metamagics that are applied to the spells matter. It's not a spell you are using. It's either a Su or Ex ability.Err...Storm Touch is a spell from Magic of Eberron. It is definitely a valid candidate for metamagic.
FromTheShadows 10-07-06, 05:58 PM	You cannot apply metamagics to Storm Touch, nor do the metamagics that are applied to the spells matter. It's not a spell you are using. It's either a Su or Ex ability. I assume that because Storm Touch is a spell, as PhoenixInferno has stated, you're referring to Blue Dragon Lineage. I never once mentioned using metamagics on the feat itself, just the spells that are sacrificed to activate the feat. As Heighten Spell allows a spell to count as a higher level than it actually is, a sacrificed Heightened spell should allow one to obtain even more orbs of lightning through the use of BDL. After further review, I've realized that Magic of the Dragonheart isn't as great as I thought it was for the use of BDL. As I read it, MotD only activates those Draconic feats that run when you cast a spell separately, and don't require a specific expenditure like BDL does.