[3.5e] Why, Exactly, The Fixation On Chained GMW...?

[Fax Celestis]

...when one can merely cast legion's greater magic weapon (MoE) in a lower spell slot?

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

You would have to cast Legion's GMW sixty times for every one time you cast Chained GMW. Plus if you use a Lesser Metamagic Rod it doesn't take a higher level spell slot.

[Fax Celestis]

You would have to cast Legion's GMW sixty times for every one time you cast Chained GMW. Plus if you use a Lesser Metamagic Rod it doesn't take a higher level spell slot.

How do you figure the extra casts? LGMW affects all allies' held weapons within a 20' radius burst. Chained GMW only affects up to 20 total targets--20 weapons, and much less than that (say, 5 if arcane, 7 if divine) if you're using a metamagic rod.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

But one lasts one hour/level, the other is only one minute/level, therefore, it takes sixty casts of Legion's GMW to equal the duration of one Chained GMW.

[Douglas]

Duration, I'm guessing. I can't look it up right now, but I expect Legion's GMW has a duration of 1 minute/level, while GMW lasts an hour/level. Thus, you have to recast LGMW once per battle, costing potentially a lot more spell slots and usually requiring an in combat action. Chained GMW, on the other hand, you just cast once in the morning and that's it for the whole day. Sure, it can theoretically be dispelled, but any smart build using this strategy is going to have caster level out the wazoo for a short period 1/day, which both makes successful dispelling very unlikely and increases the bonus granted.

Also, MoE is a much more obscure source than core + Complete Arcane.

[MammonAzrael]

Duration would be the mechanical reason, but the far more likely reason is:

Also, MoE is a much more obscure source than core + Complete Arcane.

This. So much this.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Divine Metamagic: Chain Spell. Blow turn attempts to do it all day long for a 4th level slot.

[Keld Denar]

A Lesser MM Rod of Chaining is indeed a valuable item for a wizard. You use 1 charge to Chain GMW, and the other 2 charges to Chain Nerveskitter for the first 2 fights in a day. +5 party initiative is fan-freakin-tastic.

That, and the duration.

Plus, GMW doesn't actually come into play until at least level 8, regardless. Prior to that, anyone meleeing should be bringing at least a +1 weapon to the table as soon as they are able. The +1 weapon is required anyway, if the player wants to add any fun +equiv enhancements to the weapon. Thus, GMW doesn't even provide any benefit until CL8. Really, not until the caster can hit CL12 should it really be used much anyway. Its a lot of resource investment for just a +1 to hit and damage. But when the delta becomes +2, it does become more useful.