Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Arminel 09-06-07, 01:27 PM	I haven't seen anyone in anything concerning Wizards mentioning this feat. Leave a spell slot open to spontaneously cast a spell from your spellbook seems like a win to me, unless there's something glaringly obvious about it that makes it bad. Alacritous Cogitation is from the Complete Mage on pg37. I know that Sudden Metamagic is generally a no-no, but as I generally cast a lot of spells like Slow, Grease, Kelgore's Grave Mist, and the like, it seems like a good choice. It also gives the best metamagic boost (three levels) for free with a prerequisite. And reserve feats. How good are these? As far as I can tell, they give you unlimited times per day "spells" as long as you have an appropriate spell slot open. Which of them are generally good choices if any?
RavingDork 09-07-07, 01:15 PM	I haven't seen anyone in anything concerning Wizards mentioning this feat. Leave a spell slot open to spontaneously cast a spell from your spellbook seems like a win to me, unless there's something glaringly obvious about it that makes it bad. Alacritous Cogitation is from the Complete Mage on pg37. Its oncer per day limitation makes it rather limited. If it were 3/day than it might be worth a seirous look at. I know that Sudden Metamagic is generally a no-no, but as I generally cast a lot of spells like Slow, Grease, Kelgore's Grave Mist, and the like, it seems like a good choice. It also gives the best metamagic boost (three levels) for free with a prerequisite. Sudden metamagic is generally considered too weak (due to the smae limitations as Alacritous Cogitation) or too powerful (if you know how to twink it). Sudden Widen in particualr isn't a bad choice and can be most useful for taking our hoards of mooks with little trouble. And reserve feats. How good are these? As far as I can tell, they give you unlimited times per day "spells" as long as you have an appropriate spell slot open. Which of them are generally good choices if any? The rate at which they improve is considered by most to be too slow (they end up being nearly useless at higher levels). Still they serve their purpose quite well (that is, allowing a spellcaster to continue on without rest, without spells, and still be a useful party member). I personally enjoy the secondary benefit (the +1 caster level) whenever I play a specialist or a spellcaster focused ona particular theme.
Puca 09-07-07, 02:06 PM	Im not worried about any once-per-day ability that a bad guy can have too. Actually, players have more to fear the sudden feats than NPCs do. The NPC knows how many other encounters he will have that day. Players dont. Regarding the reserve feats, Id add that while “unlimited use” has a certain allure, the fact is every time you use one, you are spending an action not using the (better) spell you hold in reserve. Seems less than ideal for a spell caster.
Avenger314 09-07-07, 06:37 PM	I think reserve feats are great if your DM is a 'harrier.' If you can rest wherever you want, whenver you want, they aren't that helpful. But if your DM likes to have several fights over time instead of 1 or 2 knock-down, drag-out fights, they're GREAT! They let you conserve your resources by using small powers to deal with small problems. They're great for random encounters and wandering monsters (Wow--I haven't said 'wandering monsters' in about 10 years :D). Were I to play a wizard (or cleric, with complete champion), there are several reserve feats that would catch my eye. Jim
Arminel 09-07-07, 08:05 PM	Thanks for the replies everyone! @RavingDork: That's a good point. It doesn't say anyone about taking it a second time, but I can't imagine taking it twice and getting it twice a day would be over powered in any regard. What I really like it for is those mid-combat times when you need that spell that God Forbid you forgot to prepare. We got (which at the time seemed like) the most random Winter Wolf during an encounter and I had prepared Energy Substitution (Cold) on my Scorching Rays >< This is why when I saw the feat I fell in love. @Puca: That's very true. Then again, I find that (especially at lower levels) sometimes you can't always be slinging spells every round so I've been trying to find other things that are plausible. Another idea I had was carrying a small supply of Alchemist's Fire (I can make them for cheap, I believe three for 20gp) and having a Wand of Launch Item (Spell Compendium, 0-level spell, would cost me 375gp) so I can be more useful and conserve spells. @Avenger: My DM actually doesn't have a particular style. In fact, he tends more often than not to switch it up (@_@) so things are hard to predict, hence why they seem like a decent choice. Perhaps I'd be better off taking a level of Warlock? </kidding>