Duration of the effects of Circle Magic

[Max Caysey]

Hi guys...

I was wondering how long the duration of of circle magic, when buffed with metamagic spells, are. Do they persist after 24 meaning until they are used or do they end at the 24 hour mark?

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

If you don't cast one of your prepared spells, it stays prepared until you get rid of it to prepare something different, or cast it. So if you use circle magic to buff a spell with metamagic, it should stay buffed until it's cast, regardless of how long that takes.

[Max Caysey]

So the statement that the duration is 24 hours, or until expended, is not he maximum duration? The what does the 24 hour indication indicate?

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Look at the example in the DMG on page 194, contained in the last paragraph above Shadowdancer:
"[Example character] chooses to use three circle bonus levels to maximize his Cone of Cold spell, three to increase his caster level from 10th to 13th for all level-based variables in his spells, and two to provide a +2 bonus on any level checks he needs to make. The maximized spell is used up whenever he casts his Cone of Cold, and the other two effects remain for the next 24 hours."

The metamagic he applies to spells stays on the spells until he casts them, with no maximum duration. The circle magic effects which grant the character a bonus last for 24 hours. Note that you must increase caster level for variables of spells separately from increasing caster level for level checks such as overcoming SR and Dispel checks (both dispelling and being dispelled).