Question about Illusion Mastery

[Jay R]

The Illusionist variant "Illusion Mastery" from Unearthed Arcana has the following rule:


An illusionist using this variant automatically adds two illusion spells to his spellbook every time he gains a level that grants access to a new spell level.

Does that mean two more spells beyond the two you normally get, or does it just mean that those two have to be illusion spells? It doesn't mention that as the cost of the variant, which is:


An illusionist using this variant automatically adds two illusion spells to his spellbook every time he gains a level that grants access to a new spell level.

[DrMotives]

Considering all these variants are supposed to be a trade-off, and that is in the benefits part of the description, I'm sure it's intended to mean that those are in addition to the 2 spells all wizards get on level up for being wizards.

[Jay R]

Anybody else have any opinion, analysis, or other comment to add?

[Uncle Pine]

The illusions are in addition to the spells you normally get at each level up. Remember that you also automatically master any illusion spell you learn (as per Spell Mastery).
The cost of the variant is detailed in the second paragraph: "An Illusionist using this variant does not gain additional spells per day for being a specialist wizard."

[Buufreak]

The illusions are in addition to the spells you normally get at each level up. Remember that you also automatically master any illusion spell you learn (as per Spell Mastery).
The cost of the variant is detailed in the second paragraph: "An Illusionist using this variant does not gain additional spells per day for being a specialist wizard."

Not quite. The benefit references a new spell level. So it isn't each level up, it's only when gaining a new spell level, ie most odd levels.

[Uncle Pine]

Not quite. The benefit references a new spell level. So it isn't each level up, it's only when gaining a new spell level, ie most odd levels.

Yes, but they're in addition to the ones you get at each level up. In other words, they don't replace them.

[Segev]

Regardless, 2 free spells in book are only going to be worthwhile on relatively rare builds or campaigns. In MOST, the "spell shop" is available to enough degree that gp is a better way of getting spells than a class feature. Especially when you're giving up one of the primary advantages of specialization to get it. Fewer spells/day is far more painful than fewer spells in spellbook.

[Psyren]

The ability already specifies what you lose in exchange for Illusionist Mastery - your specialist slot. Nothing in the variant says you lose your free spells from leveling so you still gain those in addition to the ones you get from IM.

[weckar]

Regardless, 2 free spells in book are only going to be worthwhile on relatively rare builds or campaigns. In MOST, the "spell shop" is available to enough degree that gp is a better way of getting spells than a class feature. Especially when you're giving up one of the primary advantages of specialization to get it. Fewer spells/day is far more painful than fewer spells in spellbook.

18 free Masteries over your career is kinda tasty though.

[sleepyphoenixx]

18 free Masteries over your career is kinda tasty though.

Only if you ever actually lose your spellbook. And don't have a spare. Or your most used spells tattooed on your body. In short it depends a lot on your DM.
It would be more useful if it counted as Spell Mastery for prereqs, saving you a feat on the way to Uncanny Forethought. Even then it's kinda iffy.

A spell slot per level per day is worth quite a bit. It's the main reason you specialize after all (aside from Abrupt Jaunt, which doesn't apply here because you're specializing in Illusion).
It's less costly at higher levels when you have more slots available, but higher level also means you have more options to safeguard your spellbook and take precautions so you don't need Spell Mastery.

[Uncle Pine]

18 free Masteries over your career is kinda tasty though.

Or you could play an eidetic wizard and prepare all your spells without a spellbook.

[weckar]

It would be more useful if it counted as Spell Mastery for prereqs, saving you a feat on the way to Uncanny Forethought. Even then it's kinda iffy. I don't see any reason why this would be iffy at all?

[sleepyphoenixx]

I don't see any reason why this would be iffy at all?

Because you're still trading 1 spell slot per level for a feat. YMMV, but i don't think a feat is worth that much.
I wouldn't trade one of my highest level spell slots for a feat, let alone one of every level.

[weckar]

Ah, I misunderstood. I thought the iffy referred to "if it counted"

[sleepyphoenixx]

Ah, I misunderstood. I thought the iffy referred to "if it counted"

Well, purely by RAW it doesn't. The description doesn't say it counts as having Spell Mastery (the feat), so it doesn't.
You get the benefit of not needing your book to prepare them, and they work if you do have anything that requires mastered spells (like Signature Spell or Uncanny Forethought), but as written it doesn't count as the necessary prereq for those feats.
It's not unreasonable for a DM to allow it (because it's not really worth it otherwise, as i said), but that's the DM throwing you a bone, not RAW.

[Segev]

Maybe if it let you spont-swap (similar to Spontaneous Divination) the spells you gained via Illusion Mastery, it would be worth it. Might even be too good, but probably not.

[weckar]

"he treats that spell as if be had mastered it with the Spell Mastery feat"

Yeah, it doesn't say you have the feat, but it's pretty dang close...

[Jay R]

For the record, the DM ruled that it doesn't count as Spell Mastery, so he has that as well, and Uncanny Forethought. So, yes, he can swap out Illusion spells

In fact, he leaves open five slots, which can be filled with any Illusion spell, as well as Feather Fall, Grease, Charm Person, Sleep, or Instant Search. (He can also use them for any spell, but it takes a full round to do so. This means an open slot at the right level after combat can always be used for Detect Magic or Identify.