3.x - RAW - How Do Linked Spells Work Exactly?

[unseenmage]

Am rereading Energy Transformation Field and am having difficulty finding how exactly it gets its linked spell.

What are some other spells that have 'linked spells'?
Contingency comes to mind. Are there others?

How would a Living Spell of ETField work?

Can you have a contingent spell that stores another spell linked to it?



Contingency (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/contingency.htm)
Calls it a "companion spell", must be cast at same time as contingency.

Chain Contingency (http://dnd.arkalseif.info/spells/tome-and-blood-a-guidebook-to-wizards-and-sorcerers--51/chain-contingency--3392/index.html)
"As contingency"

Elminster's Evasion (http://dnd.arkalseif.info/spells/forgotten-realms-campaign-setting--19/elminsters-evasion--1201/index.html)
Greater teleports and casts two contingencies. Refers to them as companion spells.

Energy Transformation Field (https://dndtools.net/spells/spell-compendium--86/energy-transformation-field--4443/)
Says not a thing about how its linked spell gets linked. Kinda implies they're cast at same time though.

Enveloping Cocoon (https://dndtools.net/spells/spell-compendium--86/enveloping-cocoon--4453/)
Single spell from a list. Gets cast at the cocoon. Referred to as an attached spell.

Hallow (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/hallow.htm)
A single spell effect from a list. Calls it a 'fixed spell'.

Permanency (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/permanency.htm)
Single spell from a list.
Breaking with tradition you cast the linked spell first.

Shalantha's Delicate Disk (http://dnd.arkalseif.info/spells/lost-empires-of-faerun--30/shalanthas-delicate-disk--1557/index.html)
Single spell cast at the disk. Referred to as a stored spell.

Simbul's Spell Matrix (https://dnd.arkalseif.info/dndtools/spells/magic-of-faerun--20/simbuls-spell-matrix--1787/)
Gives you an extra round after casting to cast the linked spells into it.

Simbul's Spell Sequencer (https://dndtools.net/spells/magic-of-faerun--20/simbuls-spell-sequencer--1788/)
As Simbul's Spell Matrix.

Spell Matrix, Lesser (https://dndtools.net/spells/spell-compendium--86/spell-matrix-lesser--4207/)
Extra round to cast its linked spell into it. Neat that the linked spell can be cast in ignoring targeting restrictions.

Spell Matrix (https://dndtools.net/spells/spell-compendium--86/spell-matrix--4208/)
Extra rounds to cast linked spell in.

Spell Matrix, Greater (https://dndtools.net/spells/spell-compendium--86/spell-matrix-greater--4209/)
As above.

Unhallow (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/unhallow.htm)
A single spell effect from a list. Calls it a 'fixed spell'.

[Malphegor]

I think Lesser and regular Spell Matrix is similar this a little? You store a spell (or 2) in it, which you can then trigger later as a swift action. Same basic idea, except you expend an action rather than spell energy to trigger your stored spell.

(also I think spell matrix started off being called spell sequencer for anyone searching for it since the description of Simbul's Spell Sequencer in PGtF sounds really similar to the Spell Matrix spells).

For the living spell, presmuably it'd just absorb any spells it engulfs the space of as it goes around, discharging. I swear I've seen a similar creature somewhere though, some kind of spell storm that fires off random spells within its field. Your Living ETF would be that but with one spell.

[Unavenger]

You're strongly implied to choose the spell in question - "For example, you could have an energy transformation field tied to a summon monster V spell" implies that it's your choice of spell, chosen when you cast the ETF.

[unseenmage]

So... ETField just somehow has its companion spell linked to it? Like with no, or nearly no, limit?

Hm, part of why I was looking for other spells that utilize a linked spell mechanic was to check for some sort of precedent as to how the RAW for these sorts of things could/should work.

[Unavenger]

So... ETField just somehow has its companion spell linked to it? Like with no, or nearly no, limit?

Hm, part of why I was looking for other spells that utilize a linked spell mechanic was to check for some sort of precedent as to how the RAW for these sorts of things could/should work.

RAW, yes, it just has a spell of your choice. Yes, that means you can hypothetically choose animus blizzard, or even an epic spell of your own devising that you haven't actually gone to the bother of learning yet. RAI... who knows, but the fluff text seems to imply that you're meant to be able to cast the other spell in question, and possibly even actually have to do so as part of making the ETF.

[unseenmage]

RAW, yes, it just has a spell of your choice. Yes, that means you can hypothetically choose animus blizzard, or even an epic spell of your own devising that you haven't actually gone to the bother of learning yet. RAI... who knows, but the fluff text seems to imply that you're meant to be able to cast the other spell in question, and possibly even actually have to do so as part of making the ETF.
Do epic spells even have a spell level? Aren't they explicitly called out as being a hack and a workaround to the universal ban on 10th level magic?

EDIT
Stumbled on an old thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?230105-Energy-Transformation-Field-Infinite-spells) chock full of useful ETField discussion.

[Unavenger]

Do epic spells even have a spell level?

For our purposes? Yes:

"Epic Spell Levels

Epic spells have no fixed level. However, for purposes of Concentration checks, spell resistance, and other possible situations where spell level is important, epic spells are all treated as if they were 10th-level spells." (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/epic/spellsIntro.htm#epicSpellLevels)

[unseenmage]

Added a list of precedents to the OP. Included the likes of Permanency and Un/Hallow as they allow access to a linked spell effect over a long duration.

More examples of spells that store other spells or spell effects would be more than welcome.