Lawst
2018-11-16, 05:49 PM
In our experience, most Metamagic feats appear to be an ineffective choice for most spellcasters as a spell of the equivalent level to the spell being modified often a much better option. With that thought in mind, we have taken and played with a modification to the application of metamagic, and would like the community's input on this version.
The Changes:
First, We removed the increased the Spell Slot side of the Metamagic. Instead, we have imposed a Maximum Spell Level equal to your maximum spell level cast - the old spell slot increase.
Second, metamagic is now applied spontaneously for all spellcasters, both prepared and spontaneous, with the added casting times that spontaneous casters originally dealt with alone.
Third, as a mitigating factor, we have tied Metamagic into Spellcraft, creating a Spellcraft DC needed to pass when using a spell with a Metamagic feat. If the Skill check is failed, then the spell fails as though you failed a concentration check. The Spellcraft DC is equal to DC 20 + Double Spell Level + Metamagic Modifier. The base-line Metamagic Modifier is currently equal to double the old spell slot increase value. This develops an inherent risk of losing the spell involved when causing them to do things they were not designed to do, with the intent to balance against the fact that spells are no longer modified to much higher and rarer spell slots.
The spoilers below contain the Feats and Rules as I have presented them to my players to start with. Our game is a heavily modified version of the D20 system, based originally on Pathfinder, but we believe that this system can be applied on any 3.x system.
Again, your input would be greatly appreciated.
As spellcaster increase their magical abilities, they can learn to cast spells in ways slightly different from the norm. However, doing so does make the spell additionally more difficult. Spells modified by metamagic require an additional Spellcraft check, or they may fail. The Spellcraft skill check DC for an afftected spell is equal to 20 + double the spell level + the metamagic modifier. In addition, many of the metamagic spells have a maximum spell level that they can affect. Metamagic feats do not affect spell-like abilities.
When a spellcaster casts their spells, they may choose whether to apply their metamagic feats to improve them. As a result, such a character must also take more time to cast a metamagic spell (one enhanced by a metamagic feat) than they do to cast a regular spell. If the spell's normal casting time is a standard action, casting a metamagic version is a full-round action. (This isn't the same as a 1-round casting time.) The only exception is for spells modified by the Quicken Spell metamagic feat, which can be cast as normal using the feat. For a spell with a longer casting time, it takes an extra full-round action to cast the spell.
The modifications made by these feats only apply to spells cast directly by the feat user. A spellcaster can't use a metamagic feat to alter a spell being cast from an enchanced item.
Metamagic feats cannot be used with all spells. See the specific feat descriptions for the spells that a particular feat can't modify.
Multiple Metamagic Feats on a Spell: A spellcaster can apply multiple metamagic feats to a single spell. The Spellcraft DC additions for each additional metamagic feat is cumulative. You can't apply the same metamagic feat more than once to a single spell.
Extend Spell (Metamagic)
You can make your spells last twice as long.
Benefit: An extended spell lasts twice as long as normal. A spell with a duration of concentration, instantaneous, or permanent is not affected by this feat. The maximum spell level is equal to your maximum spell level you can cast – 1, and the metamagic modifier to the Spellcraft check equals +2.
Maximize Spell (Metamagic)
Your spells have the maximum possible effect.
Benefit: All variable, numeric effects of a spell modified by this feat are maximized. Saving throws and opposed rolls are not affected, nor are spells without random variables.
The maximum spell level is equal to your maximum spell level you can cast – 3, and the metamagic modifier to the Spellcraft check equals +6. An empowered, maximized spell gains the separate benefits of each feat: the maximum result plus half the normally rolled result.
Quicken Spell (Metamagic)
You can cast spells in a fraction of the normal time.
Benefit: Casting a quickened spell is a swift action. You can perform another action, even casting another spell, in the same round as you cast a quickened spell. A spell whose casting time is more than 1 round or 1 fullround action cannot be quickened.
The maximum spell level is equal to your maximum spell level you can cast – 4, and the metamagic modifier to the Spellcraft check equals +8. Casting a quickened spell doesn’t provoke an attack of opportunity.
Special: You can apply the effects of this feat to a spell cast spontaneously, so long as it has a casting time that is not more than 1 full-round action, without increasing the spell’s casting time.
With these changes, we did also grant the following ability to sorcerers.
Intuitive Metamagic Sorcerers intuitively understand how a spell works, as well as how metamagic may affect them. As a result, sorcerers may add their Charisma modifier to an Spellcraft skill check they make for casting a spell with a metamagic feat.
The Changes:
First, We removed the increased the Spell Slot side of the Metamagic. Instead, we have imposed a Maximum Spell Level equal to your maximum spell level cast - the old spell slot increase.
Second, metamagic is now applied spontaneously for all spellcasters, both prepared and spontaneous, with the added casting times that spontaneous casters originally dealt with alone.
Third, as a mitigating factor, we have tied Metamagic into Spellcraft, creating a Spellcraft DC needed to pass when using a spell with a Metamagic feat. If the Skill check is failed, then the spell fails as though you failed a concentration check. The Spellcraft DC is equal to DC 20 + Double Spell Level + Metamagic Modifier. The base-line Metamagic Modifier is currently equal to double the old spell slot increase value. This develops an inherent risk of losing the spell involved when causing them to do things they were not designed to do, with the intent to balance against the fact that spells are no longer modified to much higher and rarer spell slots.
The spoilers below contain the Feats and Rules as I have presented them to my players to start with. Our game is a heavily modified version of the D20 system, based originally on Pathfinder, but we believe that this system can be applied on any 3.x system.
Again, your input would be greatly appreciated.
As spellcaster increase their magical abilities, they can learn to cast spells in ways slightly different from the norm. However, doing so does make the spell additionally more difficult. Spells modified by metamagic require an additional Spellcraft check, or they may fail. The Spellcraft skill check DC for an afftected spell is equal to 20 + double the spell level + the metamagic modifier. In addition, many of the metamagic spells have a maximum spell level that they can affect. Metamagic feats do not affect spell-like abilities.
When a spellcaster casts their spells, they may choose whether to apply their metamagic feats to improve them. As a result, such a character must also take more time to cast a metamagic spell (one enhanced by a metamagic feat) than they do to cast a regular spell. If the spell's normal casting time is a standard action, casting a metamagic version is a full-round action. (This isn't the same as a 1-round casting time.) The only exception is for spells modified by the Quicken Spell metamagic feat, which can be cast as normal using the feat. For a spell with a longer casting time, it takes an extra full-round action to cast the spell.
The modifications made by these feats only apply to spells cast directly by the feat user. A spellcaster can't use a metamagic feat to alter a spell being cast from an enchanced item.
Metamagic feats cannot be used with all spells. See the specific feat descriptions for the spells that a particular feat can't modify.
Multiple Metamagic Feats on a Spell: A spellcaster can apply multiple metamagic feats to a single spell. The Spellcraft DC additions for each additional metamagic feat is cumulative. You can't apply the same metamagic feat more than once to a single spell.
Extend Spell (Metamagic)
You can make your spells last twice as long.
Benefit: An extended spell lasts twice as long as normal. A spell with a duration of concentration, instantaneous, or permanent is not affected by this feat. The maximum spell level is equal to your maximum spell level you can cast – 1, and the metamagic modifier to the Spellcraft check equals +2.
Maximize Spell (Metamagic)
Your spells have the maximum possible effect.
Benefit: All variable, numeric effects of a spell modified by this feat are maximized. Saving throws and opposed rolls are not affected, nor are spells without random variables.
The maximum spell level is equal to your maximum spell level you can cast – 3, and the metamagic modifier to the Spellcraft check equals +6. An empowered, maximized spell gains the separate benefits of each feat: the maximum result plus half the normally rolled result.
Quicken Spell (Metamagic)
You can cast spells in a fraction of the normal time.
Benefit: Casting a quickened spell is a swift action. You can perform another action, even casting another spell, in the same round as you cast a quickened spell. A spell whose casting time is more than 1 round or 1 fullround action cannot be quickened.
The maximum spell level is equal to your maximum spell level you can cast – 4, and the metamagic modifier to the Spellcraft check equals +8. Casting a quickened spell doesn’t provoke an attack of opportunity.
Special: You can apply the effects of this feat to a spell cast spontaneously, so long as it has a casting time that is not more than 1 full-round action, without increasing the spell’s casting time.
With these changes, we did also grant the following ability to sorcerers.
Intuitive Metamagic Sorcerers intuitively understand how a spell works, as well as how metamagic may affect them. As a result, sorcerers may add their Charisma modifier to an Spellcraft skill check they make for casting a spell with a metamagic feat.