The Clockwork Wizard by Anthrowhale

[Paragon]

I recently found this build (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?496834-The-Clockwork-Wizard-Everything-in-no-time) and I gotta say man, kuddos.

A few questions though. Since you're a wizard, why do you need the Battle Domain ? The only spell there is the Time Stop which you can just ... buy

Second one, can you use Cooperative Spell metamagic without someone else using it next to you ?

Cheers mate, real cool TO build

[Anthrowhale]

I recently found this build (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?496834-The-Clockwork-Wizard-Everything-in-no-time) and I gotta say man, kuddos.
Oh, thanks :-)


A few questions though. Since you're a wizard, why do you need the Battle Domain ? The only spell there is the Time Stop which you can just ... buy

I believe an extra spell slot in a manner which required no items was needed. A specialist wizard can manage the same, but you'll lose access to a school of magic. With items, it's easy to get an Int of 28 which provides a bonus L9 spell.


Second one, can you use Cooperative Spell metamagic without someone else using it next to you ?

I don't see anything in the Cooperative Spell description which forbids just casting the spell as normal. It's worded as an option that you can use whenever you are next to another spellcaster.

[icefractal]

Edit: Swordsaged! By the original author no less.

[Paragon]

I don't see anything in the Cooperative Spell description which forbids just casting the spell as normal. It's worded as an option that you can use whenever you are next to another spellcaster.

Well it does say "While the two of you are adjacent, you and another spellcaster with the Cooperative Spell feat can simultaneously cast the same spell at the same time in the round."

Looks pretty clear to me that you can't use this alone. What about changing Energy sub for Lightening and taking Born of the Three Thunders instead ? You're already immune to stunning (FofM) and can do your routine lying down, God knows you have time to spare you can chill ^^

[Anthrowhale]

...
No worries, and thanks.


...can...
The key word here is indeed 'can', but 'can' is not used exclusively in English. For example, "I can go to the store." does not mean "I must go to the store." or even "I am going to the store." It's a statement about an additional capability provided by the feat which does not remove the standard capabilities of a spell.



What about changing Energy sub for Lightening and taking Born of the Three Thunders instead ?
The spell must have an energy descriptor to start with to apply energy substitution. The only method I'm aware of to do that for Absorption and Celerity is via snowcasting which requires an extra feat. Where would you get that from?

[Paragon]

The key word here is indeed 'can', but 'can' is not used exclusively in English. For example, "I can go to the store." does not mean "I must go to the store." or even "I am going to the store." It's a statement about an additional capability provided by the feat which does not remove the standard capabilities of a spell.

That's a kind of fallacy though. If you start reading RAW that way (if you don't say I can't do something then I can do it) Versatile Spellcaster allows to cast 9th level spells at first level...



The spell must have an energy descriptor to start with to apply energy substitution. The only method I'm aware of to do that for Absorption and Celerity is via snowcasting which requires an extra feat. Where would you get that from?

Ahhh I just understood that you don't Energy sub [cold] every spells, yeah BotTT isn't the best candidate without a Snowcasting (with Flaw ? Or Metamagic Storm to free another feat slot ? ).

[Anthrowhale]

...
I'm honestly not understanding.

It's well established that individual spellcasters can cast spells individually---that is the default. Hence this:

if you don't say I can't do something then I can do it
is not a valid characterization when something="cast spell individually".

Perhaps the right question is: What rule would you point to stating that you lose the ability to cast spells individually when adding cooperative metamagic? It's not stated in the feat.


Ahhh I just understood that you don't Energy sub [cold] every spells...
You might find the archivist version (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=21371040&postcount=85) interesting---it used Alternate Source Spell. With a bit more intelligence, you could pick up a feat at Loremaster 1 instead of Loremaster 3, potentially freeing up levels for a divine caster level so you could qualify. You'll also need an extra bonus spell, so getting your intelligence up to 28 (or otherwise) matters.