Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Double M 01-05-05, 01:12 PM	Hey all, I'm still a newbie to 3.5 and even more so to the Eberron Artificer. I've read much on various threads about the power of making tricked-out metamagic uber wands by 7th level, and due to the fact that I don't have all of the necessary books and am quite slow-witted, I am having difficulty coming up with the step-by-step process of accomplishing such a task. Does anyone know of a link to a place where this process is clearly compiled without referring to several different books/other sources? Or is there some kind soul for whom this process is second nature who could give me the play-by-play? If you opt for the second solution, please remember that I'm slow and don't take for granted that I know something (which I probably do not)! Your help is greatly appreciated. Oh, as an example I have seen many folks singing the praises of the wand of Lesser Acid Orb with 2 metamagic feats applied. So if you give me the step-by-step process, could you also include information on how many charges and what level of slot needs to be used up for such a creation. Thanks!
Double M 01-05-05, 11:37 PM	Anyone?! :confused:
crazysamaritan 01-06-05, 01:27 AM	If you're having trouble, take a deep breath, calm down, and do something else. If it's too confusing, its not worth it.
Double M 01-06-05, 10:32 AM	Oh I'm sorry, I was under the impression that this site was for more-experienced players to help less-experienced ones. I'll have to re-read the part in the Code of Conduct that condones patronizing new players--my bad. :D
Gurv 01-06-05, 10:51 AM	If you're having trouble, take a deep breath, calm down, and do something else. If it's too confusing, its not worth it. *whaps crazysamaritan on the head* Sorry. He's like that. Creating a wand is simple, but there are so many variables and options that answering your question is a bit difficult. If you already know how to make a normal wand, things are a lot simpler. If you don't, then you'll need to be more clear about what you don't understand, because no one here is going to explain it to someone who doesn't have the books. Also, having an artificer create a wand is completely new ballgame. You have to understand how the normal rules work before you can understand how an artificer works around them.
Double M 01-06-05, 11:33 AM	Ok, say I want, as an artificer, to create a maximized, quickened wand of fireballs. Can this be done? Or do I simply create a wand of fireballs, by: emulating the magic missle spell with a successful UMD check; paying the costs in terms of time, gp, and XP to create the wand; and then maximize and quicken the spell when I trigger the wand OR Do I, create the item by: emulating a maximized, quickend fireball spell with a sucessful UMD check; and then burn a number of charges (8 [1 for use, 3 for maximized, 4 for quicken) every time I trigger the spell? I understand the basics of creating a wand, I guess my problem is figuring out how to apply metamagic once I reach 6th level and have metamagic spell trigger. Is that clear? Probably not, but I hope you get my meaning. Thanks
Pinky's brain 01-06-05, 11:43 AM	Putting metamagiced spells into wands is rarely worth it ... the effective spell level is raised by the metamagic, which influences what can be put into wands and what they cost. For instance, only quickened cantrips can be put into wands ... and they cost 21k gp. Hardly a good investment :) With metamagic spell trigger you would indeed use an ordinary wand of fireball, and then apply the metamagic feats on the fly burning the extra charges. With metamagic item (3rd level infusion) you could apply the metamagic feat to the wand and use it without burning extra charges though (for a couple of rounds).
Double M 01-06-05, 11:49 AM	Thanks Pinky, that clears it up for me!
Gurv 01-06-05, 11:51 AM	Ok. Normally (without an artificer) wands can be made with metamagic feats built in. To do this, just figure out what level spell slot the metamagicked spell will use, and use that as the spell level in the calculations. Remember that the minimum caster level of such a wand must be higher than normal, because you are essentially using a higher level spell. Since you cannot have a wand cast something above 4th level, you cannot maximize a fireball (which would be a 7th level spell slot), but you could maximize a magic missile (a 4th level spell slot). An artificer continues to work the same way. You just treat the magic you are trying to place in the wand as a higher level spell: the maximized magic missile wand would be just like trying to create a wand with a 4th level spell in it. Naturally, you must have the metamagic feat in question to make it work: you cannot (AFAIK) emulate the metamagic feat. Alternatively, artificers of 6th level and above can use their Metamagic Spell Trigger ability to add a metamagic feat that they know to a wand. In this case, there is no limit to what level the spell is (a fireball wand could be maximized), but the ability burns extra charges from the wand. Interestingly, one of the most powerful builds for an artificer is to use Empower Spell to increase the power of spells stored in created wands, and then use Metamagic Spell Trigger to further Empower the magic.
crazysamaritan 01-06-05, 02:42 PM	*whaps crazysamaritan on the head* Sorry. He's like that. A-WOO-WOO-WOO-WOO-WOO! :88E: And I'd've gotten away with it, too, if it wasn't for Gurv and his LG tendancies. I'll also note that by the rules, that's the only way to apply empower twice.
Gurv 01-06-05, 09:48 PM	A-WOO-WOO-WOO-WOO-WOO! :88E: And I'd've gotten away with it, too, if it wasn't for Gurv and his LG tendancies. I'll also note that by the rules, that's the only way to apply empower twice. LG?! Then its working. Its really working! Bwahahahaha! (The people who know me consider me to be one of the prime examples of a True Neutral. I've actually been used as an example of how to play one. For the record, I actually skimmed through all your posts to be sure you were like that, while looking for an example of when you might have asked a similar question, so that I could use the 'what about when you needed help' arguement. I didn't find one. So I let you off lightly. Make sure you continue to maintain the balance, lest I find cause to neutralize you! :waits: :teach: )
crazysamaritan 01-07-05, 10:19 AM	:D :dragon: :angelhide causing trouble where applicable.