Cityscape metamagic... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cityscape metamagic... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
JoAT
12-13-06, 02:03 AM I've been looking over the metamagic feats from Cityscape, and... they make no sense. Some of them anyways.

Take Deceptive Spell for instance. It allows you to ensure that no-one can tell that you're casting a spell - as long as they aren't looking at you. Since increases the level of the spell by one... It seems very pointless. However, it also allows you to designate the point the effect comes from - with no set range (examples given include the floor and a door). So, it seems that this gives your spells unlimited range? Or even allows you to lightning bolt people around corners (it specifically states no mechanical or numeric bonus to attack rolls, but not to anything else). For a single spell level, that seems to be a bit much, and not in keeping with the spirit of the feat.

Then, look at Invisible Spell. This is actually quite nice, making the effects of your spell invisible. However, I've been wondering, since it doesn't place any limits on the kind of spell cast, and only states that the secondary effects are visible. Which is making me think, Polymorph into a troll, and still remain completely human in appearance (after all, the change is the spell's effect). For no adjustment to the spell level, not bad at all.

So, what do you think? Are these odd, or am I crazy?
runestar
12-13-06, 02:21 AM Looking at the way they work, I am guessing they were conceived to function in an urban setting, which is governed by its own laws and regulations, so secrecy would be highly valued.

Just imagine - an evil mage with the ability to cast death spells and remain undetected would be very powerful indeed.

As such, the ability to disguise your own spells would be very useful, I suppose. Even moreso than just still+silent+eschew material components.
Morwen
12-13-06, 02:29 AM Deceptive Spell lets you place the point where it seems the effect is originating from, not the point it actually comes from (for instance, the Scorching Ray looks like it comes from the doorway across the street, but in reality it comes from you).
Chie
12-13-06, 03:13 AM Looking at the way they work, I am guessing they were conceived to function in an urban setting, which is governed by its own laws and regulations, so secrecy would be highly valued.

Just imagine - an evil mage with the ability to cast death spells and remain undetected would be very powerful indeed.

As such, the ability to disguise your own spells would be very useful, I suppose. Even moreso than just still+silent+eschew material components.

Except that it doesn't actually really disguise your spells.You still have to wave your hands and chant,that's why it says that it only prevents people from knowing that it's you if they aren't watching you.Basically it's only real effect is that you can hide the source of the effect,but only if nobody actually sees you cast the spell,or hears you chanting the words.Yet you still get no surprise bonuses or any other bonus.
Archtyrant Terevoth
12-13-06, 04:48 AM If you play a straight dungeon crawl, Disguise spell is useless. If you play any kind of plot driven urban game, these feats are insanely powerful. Imagine framing your arch enemy by having your fireball originate from him and frying a bunch of people. You can try to assassinate the king in a big crowd and make it look like someone else fired the disintegrate ray. The possibilities are endless.

Invisible spell is nasty in any setting. You take your favorite area attack spell and turn it into a trap. Invisible web, invisible stinking cloud, etc. Some even believe you can apply it to summons for something insanely powerful. Also things like making your scrying sensor undetectable would be pretty nice.

On a side note, I wonder what invisible darkness would look like. Or the ultimate paradox spell, invisible invisibility. You look like you're visible, but you're actually invisible... only people can still see you.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
JoAT 12-13-06, 02:03 AM	I've been looking over the metamagic feats from Cityscape, and... they make no sense. Some of them anyways. Take Deceptive Spell for instance. It allows you to ensure that no-one can tell that you're casting a spell - as long as they aren't looking at you. Since increases the level of the spell by one... It seems very pointless. However, it also allows you to designate the point the effect comes from - with no set range (examples given include the floor and a door). So, it seems that this gives your spells unlimited range? Or even allows you to lightning bolt people around corners (it specifically states no mechanical or numeric bonus to attack rolls, but not to anything else). For a single spell level, that seems to be a bit much, and not in keeping with the spirit of the feat. Then, look at Invisible Spell. This is actually quite nice, making the effects of your spell invisible. However, I've been wondering, since it doesn't place any limits on the kind of spell cast, and only states that the secondary effects are visible. Which is making me think, Polymorph into a troll, and still remain completely human in appearance (after all, the change is the spell's effect). For no adjustment to the spell level, not bad at all. So, what do you think? Are these odd, or am I crazy?
runestar 12-13-06, 02:21 AM	Looking at the way they work, I am guessing they were conceived to function in an urban setting, which is governed by its own laws and regulations, so secrecy would be highly valued. Just imagine - an evil mage with the ability to cast death spells and remain undetected would be very powerful indeed. As such, the ability to disguise your own spells would be very useful, I suppose. Even moreso than just still+silent+eschew material components.
Morwen 12-13-06, 02:29 AM	Deceptive Spell lets you place the point where it seems the effect is originating from, not the point it actually comes from (for instance, the Scorching Ray looks like it comes from the doorway across the street, but in reality it comes from you).
Chie 12-13-06, 03:13 AM	Looking at the way they work, I am guessing they were conceived to function in an urban setting, which is governed by its own laws and regulations, so secrecy would be highly valued. Just imagine - an evil mage with the ability to cast death spells and remain undetected would be very powerful indeed. As such, the ability to disguise your own spells would be very useful, I suppose. Even moreso than just still+silent+eschew material components. Except that it doesn't actually really disguise your spells.You still have to wave your hands and chant,that's why it says that it only prevents people from knowing that it's you if they aren't watching you.Basically it's only real effect is that you can hide the source of the effect,but only if nobody actually sees you cast the spell,or hears you chanting the words.Yet you still get no surprise bonuses or any other bonus.
Archtyrant Terevoth 12-13-06, 04:48 AM	If you play a straight dungeon crawl, Disguise spell is useless. If you play any kind of plot driven urban game, these feats are insanely powerful. Imagine framing your arch enemy by having your fireball originate from him and frying a bunch of people. You can try to assassinate the king in a big crowd and make it look like someone else fired the disintegrate ray. The possibilities are endless. Invisible spell is nasty in any setting. You take your favorite area attack spell and turn it into a trap. Invisible web, invisible stinking cloud, etc. Some even believe you can apply it to summons for something insanely powerful. Also things like making your scrying sensor undetectable would be pretty nice. On a side note, I wonder what invisible darkness would look like. Or the ultimate paradox spell, invisible invisibility. You look like you're visible, but you're actually invisible... only people can still see you.