Altering the Metamagic System to Make Metamagic Feats More Appealing to Wizards - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Altering the Metamagic System to Make Metamagic Feats More Appealing to Wizards

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Paladin-s_Pride
Nov 26, 2003 19:20:01 One of the more noticeable changes to magic in the third edition of Dungeons and Dragons are the addition of metamagic feats, adding the possibility of casting enhanced spells to increase the versatility and power of a caster. Since this concept has been introduced, the system has been found to be flawed by many groups, my own included. Among the problems are:

(A) Many feats, such as maximized spell, are seldom useful to a wizard because preparing an unmodified spell of the higher level is almost always superior to casting a metamagic version of the spell. For example, most wizards would prefer to cast chain lightning rather than a maximized lightning bolt. Not only does it have the potential to deal an overall higher amount of damage, but the save DC is three higher in the same 6th level slot.

(B) Some metamagic feats are only useful as a reaction to circumstances. A wizard character is unlikely to prepare many stilled or silenced spells unless he is specifically aware that there will be monsters that could impair his ability to speak or move, for example.

These problems, however, are largely non-existent for a sorcerer character. The reasons being that though a metamagic enhanced version of a lower level spell may be inferior to a non-metamagic spell of higher level (as is the case in the chain lightning vs. maximized lightning bolt example), a sorcerers limited amount of spells means that using a metamagic version of a lower level spell could help save valuable selections of spells. This is especially true before 3.5 edition where sorcerers can swap out a spell for a new one every two levels. The second problem also has little effect on a sorcerer, because their spontaneous casting allows them to apply metamagic on the fly so they can use metamagic reactively, such as using stilled and silenced spells when they become paralyzed.

Therefore, despite the full-round time that it takes to apply metamagic, sorcerers seem to be able to make use of metamagic in a fashion that is superior to that of a wizard. Considering that wizards get metamagic bonus feats, this does not seem to be the intent of the game designers. Rather, wizards should find metamagic just as useful as sorcerers.

I therefore present the following metamagic system that allows wizards to apply metamagic somewhat spontaneously to make metamagic feats more desirable to wizards (as well as other prepared casters).

First, a few definitions of terms I will use. Under my system, there are four types of spell slots for when a caster prepares spells during the day.

Open Slot--A spell slot in which the caster has not yet placed a spell

Prepared Slot--A spell slot that has a prepared spell placed in it.

Emptied Slot--A spell slot that had a spell in it, but no longer does. This differs from a used slot however, in that the slot had not been used to cast a spell.

Used Slot--A spell slot that has been expended by casting the prepared spell that had previously occupied the slot.

The metamagic system variant functions thusly. A wizard may apply metamagic spontaneously to a spell using a full round action. However, most metamagic feats raise the level of spell slot the altered spell occupies. Therefore, it is necessary to make room for the now higher-level spell by dropping a prepared spell of that level. For example, Mialee is a 15th level caster who possesses the maximize spell feat (which raises the level of a spell by three). In addition, she has the 5th level spell cone of cold, as well as the 8th level spell discern location prepared. Mialee could choose under this variant to drop the discern location spell and cast a maximized cone of cold in it's place. The discern location spell would be gone, and that 8th level spell slot would become used. The fifth level spell slot would become emptied, since the cone of cold spell was taken from that 5th level slot and cast in an 8th level slot instead.

Emptied slots may not have a spell placed in them through a preparation-based spellcaster's normal process of preparing spells. In this regard they are much like a used spell slot. However, the slot is not used, merely empty, and there is a subtle difference in this. The magical energy needed to cast a 5th level spell is present, but there is no spell readied to use this energy, and as stated above the caster may not place another spell in the slot. However, a lower level spell could have metamagic applied to it to use this empty slot. For example, building on the example from above, if Mialee had a charm person spell prepared, and the quicken spell feat (adding 4 spell levels), she could cast the 1st level charm person spell as a free action using the quicken spell feat. This would make the spell 5th level, and since Mialee has an empty 5th level slot, she can use the energy from this slot rather than dropping a prepared 5th level spell. In this example, the 5th level slot would become used and the 1st level spell would become an emptied slot.

One final portion of this variant remains. A caster who prepares spells has the option of leaving a slot open and not placing a spell in that slot. The caster may at any time choose to prepare a spell in that open slot (provided conditions are suitable for preparing spells). If the caster uses that open slot by casting a metamagically enhanced spell from it, the lower level slot will become an open slot rather than an emptied slot. This sounds confusing; so, let me clarify by modifying the Mialee example.

Suppose that Mialee instead of preparing discern location in her 8th level slot chooses to leave the slot open. She has cone of cold as a 5th level spell and during the course of an adventure chooses to cast the cone of cold spell maximized, using the open 8th level slot. Just as before the 8th level slot becomes a used slot. However, the 5th level slot that no longer has cone of cold in it is an open slot rather than an emptied slot. This means that Mialee could choose to prepare a 5th level spell in this slot just as if the slot had always been open. In the former example, the slot was emptied and could not have had a spell placed into it.

Note that preparing metamagically enhanced spells in the way the system currently requires is not excluded by this system. The character may choose to prepare a spell with metamagic applied to it in advance. If the character does so, the spell is cast exactly as normal, and the casting time of the spell is only a standard action, not a full round action.

Despite the fact of being slightly more complicated than the standard metamagic system, and adding some additional bookwork, the response by my players to this system has been enthusiastic. For us, the difficulties are more than made up for by the fact that a wizard, cleric, or druid can use metamagic in a more spontaneous fashion that allows them to make real use of metamagic, rather than making use of it only sporadically. I feel this system makes metamagic viable for all spellcasters, rather than just sorcerers.
#2
thugpoetry
Dec 02, 2003 21:34:42 I'm afraid that I have to disagree with this post. The major benefit to playing a sorcerer, the benefit that makes up for being a level behind in spell levels, the benefit that makes up for the lack of bonus feats, skill points, AND hit points...is spontaneous metamagic. Compare Wizards and Sorcerers point-by-point, and then take away spontaneous metamagic as an advantage for the Sorc's. I believe that you would find a huge imbalance in favor of the Wizard.

You state, "Many feats, such as maximized spell, are seldom useful to a wizard because preparing an unmodified spell of the higher level is almost always superior to casting a metamagic version of the spell. For example, most wizards would prefer to cast chain lightning rather than a maximized lightning bolt. Not only does it have the potential to deal an overall higher amount of damage, but the save DC is three higher in the same 6th level slot."

The wizard has plenty of spells to choose from. The sorcerer, unfortunately, has a set amount. At high levels, money should be no object, so the wizard who wants a spell can generally buy the spell. A sorcerer can't learn spells that way. So it makes sense that the sorcerer would have a way to use lower level spells in ways that don't make as much sense for a wizard. Checks and balances.
#3
Ertai_Planeswalker
Dec 25, 2003 18:45:54 In order to solve your problem in a less problematic and bookkeeping way i present to you:

Improvized Metamagics [Metamagic]
Prerequisites: Ability to prepare spells (Like a wizard or cleric) and one other metamagic feat with a level adjustment of at least +1.
Benefit: You may cast a spell you prepared without a metamagic feat attached to it with one metamagic feat attached to it by dropping an additional spell slot of a spell level equal to the spell cast plus the level adjustment of the metamagic feat attached to the spell. For example, a wizard has prepared a fireball spell normally, but wants too maximize it on the fly. He expends a 3rd level slot for the normal fireball, plus a 6th level slot (Which a maximized fireball would normally cost) to fuel the instant maximize effect. Using this feat increases the casting time to 1 full round, or increases the casting time by 1 full round if the spell already has a casting time of 1 full round or more. This feat cannot be used in conjunction with the quicken feat.
Normal: If you haven't prepared your spell with a metamagic feat attached to it: Bad luck.

Advanced Improvised Metamagics [Metamagic]
Prerequisites: Ability to prepare spells (Like a wizard or cleric), Improvized Metamagics and one other metamagic feat with a level adjustment of at least +1.
Benefit: You may cast a spell you prepared without any metamagic feats attached to it with one or more metamagic feats attached to it by dropping additional spell slots of spell levels equal to the spell cast plus the level adjustments of the metamagic feats attached to the spell. For example, a wizard has prepared a fireball spell normally, but wants too silence, empower, and maximize it on the fly. He expends a 3rd level slot for the normal fireball, plus a 4th level slot (Which a silenced fireball normally costs) plus a 5th level slot (Which a normal empowered fireball would cost) plus a 6th level slot (Which a maximized fireball would normally cost) to fuel the instant silence, empower and maximize effects. You cannot add so much metamagic to the spell that, when cast normally, it would occupy a higher level spell slot than the highest spell level you can cast. Using this feat increases the casting time to 1 full round, or increases the casting time by 1 full round if the spell already has a casting time of 1 full round or more. This feat cannot be used in conjunction with the quicken feat.
Normal: If you haven't prepared your spell with one or more metamagic feats attached to it: Bad luck.
#4
zombiegleemax
Jan 12, 2004 19:10:04 I prefer the variant I saw in Dragon, which effectively lets you 1/day use a metamagic feat for free, but only on spells that you would be able to apply it to. I.e. a wizard capable of casting 5th level spells, can use a metamagic feat adding +2, on spells of level 3 or below.

I can't remember which Dragon it was in. I need someone to make me an index.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Paladin-s_Pride Nov 26, 2003 19:20:01	One of the more noticeable changes to magic in the third edition of Dungeons and Dragons are the addition of metamagic feats, adding the possibility of casting enhanced spells to increase the versatility and power of a caster. Since this concept has been introduced, the system has been found to be flawed by many groups, my own included. Among the problems are: (A) Many feats, such as maximized spell, are seldom useful to a wizard because preparing an unmodified spell of the higher level is almost always superior to casting a metamagic version of the spell. For example, most wizards would prefer to cast chain lightning rather than a maximized lightning bolt. Not only does it have the potential to deal an overall higher amount of damage, but the save DC is three higher in the same 6th level slot. (B) Some metamagic feats are only useful as a reaction to circumstances. A wizard character is unlikely to prepare many stilled or silenced spells unless he is specifically aware that there will be monsters that could impair his ability to speak or move, for example. These problems, however, are largely non-existent for a sorcerer character. The reasons being that though a metamagic enhanced version of a lower level spell may be inferior to a non-metamagic spell of higher level (as is the case in the chain lightning vs. maximized lightning bolt example), a sorcerers limited amount of spells means that using a metamagic version of a lower level spell could help save valuable selections of spells. This is especially true before 3.5 edition where sorcerers can swap out a spell for a new one every two levels. The second problem also has little effect on a sorcerer, because their spontaneous casting allows them to apply metamagic on the fly so they can use metamagic reactively, such as using stilled and silenced spells when they become paralyzed. Therefore, despite the full-round time that it takes to apply metamagic, sorcerers seem to be able to make use of metamagic in a fashion that is superior to that of a wizard. Considering that wizards get metamagic bonus feats, this does not seem to be the intent of the game designers. Rather, wizards should find metamagic just as useful as sorcerers. I therefore present the following metamagic system that allows wizards to apply metamagic somewhat spontaneously to make metamagic feats more desirable to wizards (as well as other prepared casters). First, a few definitions of terms I will use. Under my system, there are four types of spell slots for when a caster prepares spells during the day. Open Slot--A spell slot in which the caster has not yet placed a spell Prepared Slot--A spell slot that has a prepared spell placed in it. Emptied Slot--A spell slot that had a spell in it, but no longer does. This differs from a used slot however, in that the slot had not been used to cast a spell. Used Slot--A spell slot that has been expended by casting the prepared spell that had previously occupied the slot. The metamagic system variant functions thusly. A wizard may apply metamagic spontaneously to a spell using a full round action. However, most metamagic feats raise the level of spell slot the altered spell occupies. Therefore, it is necessary to make room for the now higher-level spell by dropping a prepared spell of that level. For example, Mialee is a 15th level caster who possesses the maximize spell feat (which raises the level of a spell by three). In addition, she has the 5th level spell cone of cold, as well as the 8th level spell discern location prepared. Mialee could choose under this variant to drop the discern location spell and cast a maximized cone of cold in it's place. The discern location spell would be gone, and that 8th level spell slot would become used. The fifth level spell slot would become emptied, since the cone of cold spell was taken from that 5th level slot and cast in an 8th level slot instead. Emptied slots may not have a spell placed in them through a preparation-based spellcaster's normal process of preparing spells. In this regard they are much like a used spell slot. However, the slot is not used, merely empty, and there is a subtle difference in this. The magical energy needed to cast a 5th level spell is present, but there is no spell readied to use this energy, and as stated above the caster may not place another spell in the slot. However, a lower level spell could have metamagic applied to it to use this empty slot. For example, building on the example from above, if Mialee had a charm person spell prepared, and the quicken spell feat (adding 4 spell levels), she could cast the 1st level charm person spell as a free action using the quicken spell feat. This would make the spell 5th level, and since Mialee has an empty 5th level slot, she can use the energy from this slot rather than dropping a prepared 5th level spell. In this example, the 5th level slot would become used and the 1st level spell would become an emptied slot. One final portion of this variant remains. A caster who prepares spells has the option of leaving a slot open and not placing a spell in that slot. The caster may at any time choose to prepare a spell in that open slot (provided conditions are suitable for preparing spells). If the caster uses that open slot by casting a metamagically enhanced spell from it, the lower level slot will become an open slot rather than an emptied slot. This sounds confusing; so, let me clarify by modifying the Mialee example. Suppose that Mialee instead of preparing discern location in her 8th level slot chooses to leave the slot open. She has cone of cold as a 5th level spell and during the course of an adventure chooses to cast the cone of cold spell maximized, using the open 8th level slot. Just as before the 8th level slot becomes a used slot. However, the 5th level slot that no longer has cone of cold in it is an open slot rather than an emptied slot. This means that Mialee could choose to prepare a 5th level spell in this slot just as if the slot had always been open. In the former example, the slot was emptied and could not have had a spell placed into it. Note that preparing metamagically enhanced spells in the way the system currently requires is not excluded by this system. The character may choose to prepare a spell with metamagic applied to it in advance. If the character does so, the spell is cast exactly as normal, and the casting time of the spell is only a standard action, not a full round action. Despite the fact of being slightly more complicated than the standard metamagic system, and adding some additional bookwork, the response by my players to this system has been enthusiastic. For us, the difficulties are more than made up for by the fact that a wizard, cleric, or druid can use metamagic in a more spontaneous fashion that allows them to make real use of metamagic, rather than making use of it only sporadically. I feel this system makes metamagic viable for all spellcasters, rather than just sorcerers.
#2 thugpoetry Dec 02, 2003 21:34:42	I'm afraid that I have to disagree with this post. The major benefit to playing a sorcerer, the benefit that makes up for being a level behind in spell levels, the benefit that makes up for the lack of bonus feats, skill points, AND hit points...is spontaneous metamagic. Compare Wizards and Sorcerers point-by-point, and then take away spontaneous metamagic as an advantage for the Sorc's. I believe that you would find a huge imbalance in favor of the Wizard. You state, "Many feats, such as maximized spell, are seldom useful to a wizard because preparing an unmodified spell of the higher level is almost always superior to casting a metamagic version of the spell. For example, most wizards would prefer to cast chain lightning rather than a maximized lightning bolt. Not only does it have the potential to deal an overall higher amount of damage, but the save DC is three higher in the same 6th level slot." The wizard has plenty of spells to choose from. The sorcerer, unfortunately, has a set amount. At high levels, money should be no object, so the wizard who wants a spell can generally buy the spell. A sorcerer can't learn spells that way. So it makes sense that the sorcerer would have a way to use lower level spells in ways that don't make as much sense for a wizard. Checks and balances.
#3 Ertai_Planeswalker Dec 25, 2003 18:45:54	In order to solve your problem in a less problematic and bookkeeping way i present to you: Improvized Metamagics [Metamagic] Prerequisites: Ability to prepare spells (Like a wizard or cleric) and one other metamagic feat with a level adjustment of at least +1. Benefit: You may cast a spell you prepared without a metamagic feat attached to it with one metamagic feat attached to it by dropping an additional spell slot of a spell level equal to the spell cast plus the level adjustment of the metamagic feat attached to the spell. For example, a wizard has prepared a fireball spell normally, but wants too maximize it on the fly. He expends a 3rd level slot for the normal fireball, plus a 6th level slot (Which a maximized fireball would normally cost) to fuel the instant maximize effect. Using this feat increases the casting time to 1 full round, or increases the casting time by 1 full round if the spell already has a casting time of 1 full round or more. This feat cannot be used in conjunction with the quicken feat. Normal: If you haven't prepared your spell with a metamagic feat attached to it: Bad luck. Advanced Improvised Metamagics [Metamagic] Prerequisites: Ability to prepare spells (Like a wizard or cleric), Improvized Metamagics and one other metamagic feat with a level adjustment of at least +1. Benefit: You may cast a spell you prepared without any metamagic feats attached to it with one or more metamagic feats attached to it by dropping additional spell slots of spell levels equal to the spell cast plus the level adjustments of the metamagic feats attached to the spell. For example, a wizard has prepared a fireball spell normally, but wants too silence, empower, and maximize it on the fly. He expends a 3rd level slot for the normal fireball, plus a 4th level slot (Which a silenced fireball normally costs) plus a 5th level slot (Which a normal empowered fireball would cost) plus a 6th level slot (Which a maximized fireball would normally cost) to fuel the instant silence, empower and maximize effects. You cannot add so much metamagic to the spell that, when cast normally, it would occupy a higher level spell slot than the highest spell level you can cast. Using this feat increases the casting time to 1 full round, or increases the casting time by 1 full round if the spell already has a casting time of 1 full round or more. This feat cannot be used in conjunction with the quicken feat. Normal: If you haven't prepared your spell with one or more metamagic feats attached to it: Bad luck.
#4 zombiegleemax Jan 12, 2004 19:10:04	I prefer the variant I saw in Dragon, which effectively lets you 1/day use a metamagic feat for free, but only on spells that you would be able to apply it to. I.e. a wizard capable of casting 5th level spells, can use a metamagic feat adding +2, on spells of level 3 or below. I can't remember which Dragon it was in. I need someone to make me an index.