Explain what Spell Focus(conjuration) does? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Explain what Spell Focus(conjuration) does? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
fastspawn
08-13-07, 04:16 AM If i was to play a low-level druid(2), and wish to get augment summoning, it would require me to have SF(conj). I really don't want to waste that feat slot.

Can someone brighten my day and tell me what the hell this feat does?
runestar
08-13-07, 04:56 AM The feat is more useful for wizards, since there are still a few useful conjuration spells which require saves, such as grease and glitterdust.

Not sure about druids though.
Egres
08-13-07, 06:12 AM Fire Seeds, Storm of Vengeance, and no much more. (speaking of core spells here)
Tempest Stormwind
08-13-07, 12:02 PM It's so druids don't get any more of a free lunch than they already have. They actually have to spend a worthless prerequisite feat to get a useful killer feat. Alien concept to them, I know, but still...
Bukowski
08-13-07, 12:14 PM In case you're not sure of the free lunch that Tempest mentions and still think SF (Conj) as a prereq is unfair, you can go to the Druid's handbook here (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=733400) and see what you're missing.

If you really want augment summoning, one way to mitigate the loss of a feat to SF (Conj) is to be a half-orc and take their druid racial substitution levels. Half-orcs make decent druids since you only need Wis and Con, plus their wild shaped forms have darkvision. I like them for flavor as well if you want a druid that focuses on the more savage side of nature.
tarkin
08-13-07, 12:23 PM One of the main things Spell Focus (Conjuration) does is:

Make taking Augment Summoning a fair thing

Augment Summoning is basically a feat that costs two feats to get. Deal with it.

Look, the reason you want the feat is that it is Freakin AWESOME feat. You want a Freakin AWESOME feat? Fine.

PAY FOR IT.

If you are not willing to pay the cost, then don't get the expensive item.
ZeroSpace9000
08-13-07, 06:08 PM Truer words were never spoken.
tiercel
08-13-07, 10:36 PM 1. What Tarkin said.

Let's see... summon nature's ally is quite arguably better than summon monster, and as a druid you get to cast *spontaneously* off that list. Making those spontaneous summons even heftier, without having to pay a metamagic "+X spell level" cost? Yes please. Totally worth it even if the Augment Summoning prereq were "Skill Focus: Profession (Dirt Farming)."

2. Buy, buy, buy!

That's right, citizens, do you have a Spell Focus feat for a school of magic you don't have many spells for? Have-we-gotta-deal-for-you! Get yer very own Spell Compendium, complete with all kindsa Conjurations for your Druid who Just Isn't Powerful Enough Yet! Act now and we'll throw in a dazzling array of no-SR spells to make your DM wear the enamel right off his teeth!

And if that's not enough, have we got the extra supplements! "Complete" books with every noun we can think of, setting-specific books, and *hushed voice* a very... special... collection for our discerning customer (backing into dark alleyway and furtively opening cloak)... yes, a whole range of d20 supplements, for when cherry-picking Wizards supplements just isn't enough.... go ahead and try one, you can stop anytime you want...

<cough>

Theatrics aside... that *is* one of the ways to get around the "I don't have enough spells of type X" problem (though, as already mentioned, it's hardly a problem here) -- buy a book that has more spells in it. Spell Compendium is probably your first choice in this regard, as the book with the most extra spells per unit dollar (and per unit mass).

...assuming your DM doesn't have any problem with having a whole lot more spells in your campaign. (And assuming you don't have any problem with your DM having a lot more spells for his BBEGs.....)
runestar
08-13-07, 10:52 PM And spell focus is a prereq of the master specialist prc anyways.:D
navar100
08-13-07, 11:54 PM Clerics can make use of it. Complete Divine/Spell Compendium provide Divine Vengeance and Cometfall for Conjuration with saves, but even Core the Cure Wounds spells (Heal & Mass Heal too) are Conjuration for use against undead should one be so inclined.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
fastspawn 08-13-07, 04:16 AM	If i was to play a low-level druid(2), and wish to get augment summoning, it would require me to have SF(conj). I really don't want to waste that feat slot. Can someone brighten my day and tell me what the hell this feat does?
runestar 08-13-07, 04:56 AM	The feat is more useful for wizards, since there are still a few useful conjuration spells which require saves, such as grease and glitterdust. Not sure about druids though.
Egres 08-13-07, 06:12 AM	Fire Seeds, Storm of Vengeance, and no much more. (speaking of core spells here)
Tempest Stormwind 08-13-07, 12:02 PM	It's so druids don't get any more of a free lunch than they already have. They actually have to spend a worthless prerequisite feat to get a useful killer feat. Alien concept to them, I know, but still...
Bukowski 08-13-07, 12:14 PM	In case you're not sure of the free lunch that Tempest mentions and still think SF (Conj) as a prereq is unfair, you can go to the Druid's handbook here (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=733400) and see what you're missing. If you really want augment summoning, one way to mitigate the loss of a feat to SF (Conj) is to be a half-orc and take their druid racial substitution levels. Half-orcs make decent druids since you only need Wis and Con, plus their wild shaped forms have darkvision. I like them for flavor as well if you want a druid that focuses on the more savage side of nature.
tarkin 08-13-07, 12:23 PM	One of the main things Spell Focus (Conjuration) does is: Make taking Augment Summoning a fair thing Augment Summoning is basically a feat that costs two feats to get. Deal with it. Look, the reason you want the feat is that it is Freakin AWESOME feat. You want a Freakin AWESOME feat? Fine. PAY FOR IT. If you are not willing to pay the cost, then don't get the expensive item.
ZeroSpace9000 08-13-07, 06:08 PM	Truer words were never spoken.
tiercel 08-13-07, 10:36 PM	1. What Tarkin said. Let's see... summon nature's ally is quite arguably better than summon monster, and as a druid you get to cast spontaneously off that list. Making those spontaneous summons even heftier, without having to pay a metamagic "+X spell level" cost? Yes please. Totally worth it even if the Augment Summoning prereq were "Skill Focus: Profession (Dirt Farming)." 2. Buy, buy, buy! That's right, citizens, do you have a Spell Focus feat for a school of magic you don't have many spells for? Have-we-gotta-deal-for-you! Get yer very own Spell Compendium, complete with all kindsa Conjurations for your Druid who Just Isn't Powerful Enough Yet! Act now and we'll throw in a dazzling array of no-SR spells to make your DM wear the enamel right off his teeth! And if that's not enough, have we got the extra supplements! "Complete" books with every noun we can think of, setting-specific books, and hushed voice a very... special... collection for our discerning customer (backing into dark alleyway and furtively opening cloak)... yes, a whole range of d20 supplements, for when cherry-picking Wizards supplements just isn't enough.... go ahead and try one, you can stop anytime you want... <cough> Theatrics aside... that is one of the ways to get around the "I don't have enough spells of type X" problem (though, as already mentioned, it's hardly a problem here) -- buy a book that has more spells in it. Spell Compendium is probably your first choice in this regard, as the book with the most extra spells per unit dollar (and per unit mass). ...assuming your DM doesn't have any problem with having a whole lot more spells in your campaign. (And assuming you don't have any problem with your DM having a lot more spells for his BBEGs.....)
runestar 08-13-07, 10:52 PM	And spell focus is a prereq of the master specialist prc anyways.:D
navar100 08-13-07, 11:54 PM	Clerics can make use of it. Complete Divine/Spell Compendium provide Divine Vengeance and Cometfall for Conjuration with saves, but even Core the Cure Wounds spells (Heal & Mass Heal too) are Conjuration for use against undead should one be so inclined.