Post/Author/DateTime	Post
bruizer 05-16-07, 09:23 PM	Bloodstone blade (pg 51 PE) allows you to store a empowered vampric touch in a sword that triggers on stike without it consuming the spell (if i understand correctly). could i use the Divine Metamagic feat (pg 80 CD) to have a perment maximized vampiric touch since it doesnt addect the spell level and thus doesnt break the spell storing rules?
Grumgarr 05-17-07, 07:23 AM	I strongly recommend that Spell Storing items of whatever flavour store no more than the specified level limit, irrespective of how the spells got there. I.e. irrespective of the fact that your Divine Metamagic didn't require you to use a higher-level spell slot, a maximised spell is still effectively higher level (and, in fact, too high level for the item in question). Divine Metamagic is nowhere near balanced for use with spells stored in items: you use a finite resource (turning attempts) and spend a couple of feats to be able to cast powerful spells using your metamagic a couple of times a day, not store powered-up spells for use at will, forever. Mostly this is a problem with the earlier 'Spell Storing' ability not anticipating the later 'metamagic without the level cost' abilities (or the designer of the later ability failing to take into account the spell storing ability's wording). In any case, they weren't written/balanced to work together, and getting something powerful for nothing is generally broken. I personally never allow a stored metamagic spell without the storage capacity reflecting the (true) boosted level of the spell. The Bloodstone Blade is one of the least balanced items I've seen in a while. The 'not expended' thing is poorly worded IIRC and if used at will (I really can't believe that was the intent) is busted, plain and simple. I don't see many folk being able to use both divine metamagic and Vampiric Touch, but you could always build a character around the idea...though then you'd be out of luck if you couldn't acquire said cheese-blade. If your DM allows this, by all means, go wild. I can't see it myself though. :)
bruizer 05-18-07, 01:32 AM	so rules wise is it legit? also a cleric with the necromancer domain has vampiric touch as a domain spell so no need to go out of your way to get it. Would sacrificing the spell slot and turn attempts while the spell is in there help balance it out?
Grumgarr 05-19-07, 11:46 AM	so rules wise is it legit? Only if your DM says so. You do realise that its cheese of the highest order, right? ;) Would sacrificing the spell slot and turn attempts while the spell is in there help balance it out? I don't think so, but it's certainly a compromise. If it were a once-only use of the maximised spell, I'd say that would be playable balance-wise. You're still giving up your 'bits' to make it work. But for a permanent, always-on effect? No. Not even remotely balanced. IMHO. :D
heavygearkiller2005 05-22-07, 06:09 PM	one of my characters had a permant blood stone blade. my DM said because it was changed from one spell to recharging it self everyday. I had to feed it a bowl of blood once a week or it would start feeding off me. he said i awoke part of it. the only bad thing was my character was lawful good.