Metamagic for a Transmuter Ultimate Magus

[Dalebert]

I need suggestions. There are some really cool metamagics out there but some of the best ones seem focused on altering evocation effects, one of the schools I gave up along with ench and illusion.

I'm primarily interested in metamagics which will be most useful with my focused specialization on transmutation. I'm going to ask that you try to not get too carried away with criticizing my choice of focused specialist transmuter as not being optimal. I'm aware. I chose it partly for the flavor that's appealing and based on being more buff/support and utility focused and remaining diverse for a focused specialist who has lots of spells per day. His spontaneous casting class is beguiler so if the metamagic can be used with that, that's even better.

Thanx in advance!

[Rebel7284]

Easy Metamagic (persistent spell) and persistent spell. Burn level 5 slots to persist things.

[Dalebert]

I think you mean Practical Metamagic. That's all I can find. That would require me to take Extend (not bad. I have it.), then something to get the Dragonblood subtype(there's a feat I think?), then Persistent Spell, and then Practical Metamagic. That's four feats.

I admit Persistent Spell seems really nice. I'm just not sure it's worth the hoops they make you jump through for it. I think I will likely take it when I can cast 6th level wizard spells. Then I'll be able to use my ultimate magus ability to sacrifice a level 6 transmutation slot (I'll have 3) in order to make a beguiler spell persistent. The ones that come to mind are greater invis and greater mirror image.

If I weren't a UM though, I doubt I would mess with it. Plus six levels is just too much normally. I know clerics can use Divine Metamagic to pull it off but that calls for three feats and 7 of their turnings just to have one persistent spell at a time. I thought about it for my cleric and decided it wasn't worth it.

As a UM, I can get away with it with just two feats, and Extend is a good baseline feat to have anyway, particularly for the low cost. I can't see blowing two more feats just to get it two levels earlier.

[Metahuman1]

Quicken: For when you need that buff spell up right now.

Extend: Buffs last longer, this is good.

Chain: Share your buffs with the whole party.

Reach: Sometimes helps with chain.

I see to recall complete Arcane had one or two metamagics that let you make your buffs harder to dispel, those might be worth a look.

As would the one were you can cast two spells at a time.

[Dalebert]

Chain: Share your buffs with the whole party.

It hadn't occurred to me to use it for buffs. That would make it much more appealing. The problem is most of the good buffs are touch and would require Reach as well (as you suggested) but that makes it +5 spell levels. That pretty much limits it to my beguiler spells. I will never be able to cast higher than 4th level beguiler spells and so can't sacrifice one to apply mm to any wizard spell like stoneskin. A fifth level spell would totally be worth it to chain stoneskin.

It's kind of like persistent. Potentially very good but too many hoops.

Being a UM does bring more expensive mm into the realm of viability, but it sorta caps out at around 4 for me since I finagled some things to be able to advance more as a wizard.

That said, Chain Spell is still a good suggestion all by itself. There are a lot of useful applications.

[Rebel7284]

Easy Metamagic is the Dragon Magazine version of Practical Metamagic.

You could possibly take Legacy Champion to extend Ultimate Magus past level 10 if you want to apply metamagic to higher level spells AND get higher beguiler spell slots. :)

[Dalebert]

You could possibly take Legacy Champion to extend Ultimate Magus past level 10 if you want to apply metamagic to higher level spells AND get higher beguiler spell slots. :)

I don't follow. They don't specify what an 11th level UM gets. Is that even possible? Are you sure this can be applied to a prestige class?

[Rebel7284]

I don't follow. They don't specify what an 11th level UM gets. Is that even possible? Are you sure this can be applied to a prestige class?

Legacy champion does not specify a base class, so it can certainly progress a prestige class. What happens if it tries to prestige past the maximum level has been contested.

The typical assumption is that any ability that says "at each level, you get XYZ" would be progressed.

There are people, however, that are also bothered by the fact that 11th level of most PrCs is not explicitly spelled out anywhere and believe this does not work.

Note that you need to figure out a progression for epic versions of most prestige classes once you get to 20 anyway, so this is not unprecedented. :)

[Dalebert]

I guess some of it is spelled out, even if it isn't charted.


Spellcasting: At each level except 1st, 4th, and 7th, you
gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and
spells known, if applicable) as if you had also gained a level
in both a prepared arcane casting class and a spontaneous
arcane casting class to which you belonged before adding
the prestige class level.

So other than 1st, 4th, and 7th, each class should progress in casting ability. I suspect there is similar wording for many of the other abilities. Otherwise you could default to saying that ability doesn't progress.

[Rebel7284]

I guess some of it is spelled out, even if it isn't charted.



So other than 1st, 4th, and 7th, each class should progress in casting ability. I suspect there is similar wording for many of the other abilities. Otherwise you could default to saying that ability doesn't progress.

I can certainly see that particular ability being translated to "At first level and every 3rd level thereafter" due to the fact that the lost levels are so evenly spaced. But yes, as written, that is how it would work. :)

[macdaddy]

Quicken: For when you need that buff spell up right now.

Extend: Buffs last longer, this is good.

Chain: Share your buffs with the whole party.

Reach: Sometimes helps with chain.


Adding to this, Twin Spell and Split Ray (for debuffs).

Step 2 is to REDUCE the metamagic cost.
==========
1. Meta Magic School Focus(Transmuter) would allow you to reduce the cost of a Meta Magic effect by 1 for 3 times per day. (this can reduce the cost to 0).

2. Practical Meta Magic - select a metamagic feat and its cost of being applied is reduced by 1 (minimum of 1 I believe).

Reach(2) + Chain(3) is normally +5. However, with just MMSF, you can reduce this to +3 for one spell. If you throw in a Practical metamagic its a +2. So now, you can hit multiple members of the party with a Greater Magic Weapon or Polymorph for a 2nd or 3rd level beguiler spell slot. etc al. :smallcool:

It also works good with Quicken Spell.


P.S.
It may not SEEM like a good choice, but once you start casting 5th+ level spells, I think the tide starts to shift in favor of transmutation spells for power.