Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLIII

[Kuulvheysoon]

Welcome, contestants, judges, and guests to Iron Chef XLIII. Here in Optimization Colosseum, contestants will endeavor to create an optimized and flavorful character using a specified D&D3.5 prestige class as a "Secret Ingredient".

Contestants: You will need to present a write-up of your build at at least one of the following points: 5th level, 10th level, 15th, 20th, and a "sweet spot" that you feel is the high point of the build, as well as presenting a fully-fleshed out 20-level build in the table below. Feel free to present as many of these as you like, and please give a rundown of the build's abilities and playability at all of the levels you didn't show. The rules are as follows:

Menu: For most challenges, the "special ingredient" will be drawn from Core plus Completes. There will, from time to time, be special challenges that showcase secret ingredients from other books--for example, the XPH.

32 point-buy is the presumed creation method, but we have generally allowed other levels of point-buy.
If you do use a different point-buy, please make your case for its necessity in your entry. Keep in mind that for using exceptionally large or small point-buys may warrant deductions in elegance and/or power.

Kitchen: Competitors will be free to use any official 3.5 rulebook in constructing their builds. Dragon magazine is disallowed, and Unearthed Arcana is allowed; but see Elegance below. Web-exclusive 3.0 or 3.5 materials by WotC are expressly allowed, but take care to verify that an updated version did not appear in print elsewhere, as this may cause an Elegance deduction at the judges' discretion. Alternate rule systems from UA such as gestalt are not allowed, as they create a different playing field. Also, item familiars are forbidden because I hate 'em.

Cooking Time: Contestants will have until 11:59PM GMT on Saturday, March 16th, 2012 to create their builds and PM them to the Chairman, Kuulvheysoon. Builds will then be posted simultaneously, to avoid copying. Judges will have until 11:59PM GMT on Saturday, March 30th, 2013 11:59PM GMT on Saturday, April 6th, 2013 to judge the builds and submit their scores. If no judges have scored by that point, only the scores of the first judge to submit will be counted.

Judging: Judging will be based on the following criteria, with each build rated from 1 (very poor) to 5 (exemplary) in each area: Originality, Power, Elegance, Use of Secret Ingredient.

Power level is up to you. Cheese is acceptable, but should be kept to a sane level unless you're showcasing a new TO build you've discovered. In the words of one of my predecessors, a little cheddar can be nice, but avoid the mature Gruyere unless you're making a cheese fondue.

Elegance could bear a little elaboration. It basically measures how skillfully you put your build together, and whether you sacrificed flavor for power. We're cooking here - if your dish doesn't taste good, it doesn't matter how well-presented it is. Use of flaws is an automatic loss of one point per flaw in this category. Other things that will cause lost points here are excessive multiclassing, and classes that don't fit the concept - using Cloistered Cleric in a front-line melee fighter, for example, will lose you points. Please note the following change: a legal source's relative obscurity should not be considered as penalizing Elegance, excepting the aforementioned issues with Unearthed Arcana. Using too many sources may be an Elegance deduction at the judges' discretion, but a book's relative obscurity may not.

Presentation: Builds will be posted anonymously, in order to avoid the potential of bias towards a particular competitor. For this reason, please don't put your name in the build, as I'm likely to miss it when reviewing the entries!

Due to concerns about standardizing entry format, I'd like everyone to try to use the following table for their entry.

Spoiler

Show

NAME OF ENTRY
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features

1st|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

2nd|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

3rd|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

4th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

5th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

6th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

7th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

8th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

9th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

10th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

11th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

12th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

13th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

14th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

15th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

16th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

17th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

18th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

19th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

20th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities[/table]

Code

Spoiler

Show

[b]NAME OF ENTRY[/b]
{table=head][b]Level[/b]|[b]Class[/b]|[b]Base Attack Bonus[/b]|[b]Fort Save[/b]|[b]Ref Save[/b]|[b]Will Save[/b]|[b]Skills[/b]|[b]Feats[/b]|[b]Class Features[/b]

1st|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

2nd|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

3rd|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

4th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

5th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

6th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

7th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

8th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

9th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

10th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

11th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

12th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

13th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

14th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

15th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

16th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

17th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

18th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

19th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

20th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities[/table]

For entries with spellcasting, use the following table for Spells per day and Spells Known. (Spells Known only if necessary, i.e. Sorcerer or Bard, but not Wizard or Warmage)

Spoiler

Show

Spells per day/Spells Known
{table=head]Level|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th|9th

1st|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

2nd|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

3rd|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

4th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

5th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

6th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

7th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

8th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

9th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

10th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

11th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

12th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

13th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

14th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

15th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

16th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

17th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

18th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

19th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

20th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-[/table]

Code

Spoiler

Show

[b]Spells per day/Spells Known[/b]
{table=head][b]Level[/b]|[b]0lvl[/b]|[b]1st[/b]|[b]2nd[/b]|[b]3rd[/b]|[b]4th[/b]|[b]5th[/b]|[b]6th[/b]|[b]7th[/b]|[b]8th[/b]|[b]9th[/b]

1st|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

2nd|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

3rd|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

4th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

5th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

6th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

7th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

8th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

9th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

10th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

11th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

12th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

13th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

14th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

15th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

16th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

17th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

18th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

19th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

20th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-[/table]

For other systems (Psionics, ToB, Incarnum, etc.) keep track of PP/maneuvers/essentia separately, preferably in a nice neat list.

Speculation: Please don't post or speculate on possible builds until the "reveal," in order to avoid spoiling the surprise if a particular competitor is producing a build along those lines.

Leadership is banned; we're producing a meal, not a seven-course banquet for a hundred diners. If your entry includes a prestige class or ACF that grants Leadership or a Leadership-like ability as a bonus feat, the feat should be ignored and is not eligible to be traded away for another feat or ACF through any means.

So! Who wants to sign up as a contestant, and who wants to sign up as a judge? Looking for as many contestants and judges as feel like playing!

This week's special ingredient is:
Complete Warrior's Bladesinger!
We will award 1st through 3rd places, as well as a shout-out for honorable mention. The honorable mention prize is given to the most daring or unexpected build. Judges, contestants and guests alike are invited to vote for honorable mention via PM.

Allez optimiser!

Contestants

Judges

The Builds

Past Competitions

Iron Chef I: Entropomancer
Iron Chef II: Psibond Agent
Iron Chef III: Cancer Mage
Iron Chef IV: Stonelord
Iron Chef V: War Chanter
Iron Chef VI: Master of Masks
Iron Chef VII: Green Star Adept
Iron Chef VIII: Pyrokineticist
Iron Chef IX: Animal Lord
Iron Chef X: Mythic Exemplar
Iron Chef XI: Blade Bravo
Iron Chef XII: War Mind
Iron Chef XIII: Vigilante
Iron Chef XIV: Seeker of the Song
Iron Chef XV: Drunken Master
Iron Chef XVI: Assassin
Iron Chef XVII: Ardent Dilettante
Iron Chef XVIII: Unseelie Dark Hunter
Iron Chef XIX: Dread Pirate
Iron Chef XX: Incandescent Champion
Iron Chef XXI: Ghostwalker
Iron Chef XXII: Dervish
Iron Chef XXIII: Divine Crusader
Iron Chef XXIV: Tactical Soldier
Iron Chef XXV: Scion of Tem-Et-Nu
Iron Chef XXVI: Shadowdancer
Iron Chef XXVII: Mindbender
Iron Chef XXVIII: Cryokineticist
Iron Chef XXIX: Consecrated Harrier
Iron Chef XXX: Initiate of Pistis Sophia
Iron Chef XXXI: Shadow Sentinel
Iron Chef XXXII: Temple Raider of Olidammara
Iron Chef XXXIII: Drow Judicator
Iron Chef XXXIV: Dragon Disciple
Iron Chef XXXV: Death Delver
Iron Chef XXXVI: Acolyte of the Skin
Iron Chef XXXVII: Justiciar
Iron Chef XXXVIII: Hand of the Winged Master
Iron Chef XXXIX: Renegade Mastermaker
Iron Chef XL: Nightsong Infiltrator
Iron Chef XLI: Geomancer
Iron Chef XLII: Shadowblade

[Kuulvheysoon]

FAQ:[/SIZE]
Is Dragon Compendium Allowed? Yes, but individual issues of Dragon Magazine are not.

What about 3.0 materials? 3.0 materials, whether online or in printed form, are allowed unless they've been officially updated to a 3.5 edition.

Are Dragonlance, Ravenloft, Planescape, Dark Sun, or Kingdoms of Kalamar allowable sources? The Dragonlance Campaign Setting is allowed, but the subsequent books for Dragonlance are considered 3rd party, and are therefore not eligible, despite the "WotC approved" status of those books. The same holds for Oriental Adventures (1st party) and the subsequent Rokugan books (3rd party). Materials from Ravenloft, Planescape, Dark Sun, and Kingdoms of Kalamar are considered 3rd party for purposes of this contest, and are therefore not allowed.

What about online sources in general? If the online source is a) published by WotC, and b) not replaced by an updated version at a later time, it is eligible. Use it, link it.

Where's the line drawn with "acceptable/unacceptable" for Unearthed Arcana? This will likely vary a bit from Chairman to Chairman. Item Familiars and Gestalt have always been verboten, since before IC migrated to GitP; don't expect that to change. Flaws have similarly always been noted as warranting a deduction; while I am Chairman, I'm extending that to Traits, though they warrant 1/2 the penalty in Elegance that a Flaw would because they're roughly 1/2 as useful. Alternate spell systems, alternate skill systems and alternate crafting rules all create an uneven playing field, and as such, will be disallowed for as long as I am Chairman. Bloodlines are ripe for abuse, and will be strongly discouraged as long as I am Chairman. Note that judges are allowed to look askance at any use of Unearthed Arcana not specifically mentioned above, at their discretion, and otherwise penalize Elegance according to their preference.

What, exactly, does the ban on Leadership mean? As folks have started to try to work around the edges of this one, I'm forced to spell it out more plainly. No Leadership, Draconic Cohort, or Feats that grant a similar ability are allowed EXCEPT Wild Cohort while Kuulvheysoon is chairman. Any PrC you choose with Leadership or a Leadership-analog has that ability entirely ignored for this contest, as it may neither be used nor traded away via any means whatsoever.

What's the minimum score in a category? Assuming an entry is legal, the minimum score in any category is 1. If a judge is convinced that an entry is illegal by the RAW, the judge may give a 0 or decline to score a given entry. Because this contest focuses on Player Characters, an entry that is not technically allowed for a PC, but is viable as an NPC, counts as a legal entry, but may receive a minimum score at the judges' discretion.

How does the Song of Celerity class feature work? For the purposes of this Challenge, it worksexactly as it is written. Therefore, it allows spontaneous spellcasters (such as Sorcerers or Bards) to quicken a spell once per day.

[123456789blaaa]

So what made you decide to choose this SI?

Also:

<snip>
while Amphetryon is chairman.
<snip>

You may want to fix this.

[rockdeworld]

Woohoo! The new contest is up! Funnily when I typed Bladesinger into my search bar, this was the first thing to come up. I vote it for the Zinc Saucer prize

This PrC looks interesting, so I'll try to make an entry.

[Venger]

oh god, this class.

I'm in to cook, although as far as what I'm going to cook, your guess is as good as mine right now.

[Amphetryon]

Sure, what the heck. I'll compete. All you folks hoping for Bronze, tremble.

[Venger]

Sure, what the heck. I'll compete. All you folks hoping for Bronze, tremble.

it'll be good to see you cook again. I have an inkling of what you'll bring to the table. best of luck with it

[Piggy Knowles]

Hmm... Oddly enough, I was just messing around with a half-elf build, but I don't think that Bladesinger would be a good fit. I'll have to think a bit before I decide if I'm entering or not.

Anyhow, even if I don't enter, I'll definitely at least judge.

[Kuulvheysoon]

So what made you decide to choose this SI?

Well, partly it was because of the half casting. But a much bigger motivation was the fact that it's a full BAB class that forces you to einhander if you want a good UoSI score (as most of it's class features require you to wield a longsword/rapier in one hand).

So no Two Handed Fighting, Two Weapon Fighting or even Sword and Board.

[Venger]

hey chairman, I've got a question:

bladesinger's "song of celerity ability allows us to:

Once per day, a bladesinger of 4th
level or higher may quicken a single spell of up to 2nd level, as
if she had used the Quicken Spell feat, but without any adjustment
to the spell’s effective level or casting time. She may
only use this ability when wielding a longsword or rapier in
one hand (and nothing in the other). At 8th level and higher,
she can quicken a single
spell of up to 4th level.

so we can quicken a spell. without adjusting its casting time?

initially, the fix for this seems simple (they are referring to spontaneous casters, who normally have metamagic feats applied as a full-round without rapid metamagic) but spontaneous casters can't cast quickened spells (without rapid metamagic)

does the SI allow a spontaneous caster without rapid metamagic to quicken spells?

[Sheogoroth]

Is there anywhere I can find the builds for Iron Chef optimizations of the past?
The threads never have them, merely the winners...

[Venger]

Is there anywhere I can find the builds for Iron Chef optimizations of the past?
The threads never have them, merely the winners...

if you click the posts in the OP, it'll take you to all our old contests. wade through the pages and you'll be able to see everyone's tasty dishes: winners and the rest of us too

[Kazyan]

Wow.

This ingredient is horrifyingly bad.

I'll see what I can do...

[Soranar]

Godawful requirements, subpar class features and a capstone ability that's utterly meaningless at the level you get it.

Oh god but I love a challenge.

[Kuulvheysoon]

hey chairman, I've got a question:

bladesinger's "song of celerity ability allows us to:

-snip-

Updated in the FAQ post.

Wow.

This ingredient is horrifyingly bad.

I'll see what I can do...

Godawful requirements, subpar class features and a capstone ability that's utterly meaningless at the level you get it.

Oh god but I love a challenge.

You're most certainly welcome. Fun fact - this is the less horrifying bad of my two final choices.

[Vaz]

used the Quicken Spell feat, but without any adjustment
to the spell’s effective level or casting time

WHAT THE F#?

Aww hell naw. I'm in.

[Venger]

Updated in the FAQ post.

thanks.

Fun fact - this is the less horrifying bad of my two final choices.

holy hell! what was the other one? can't hurt to say, we're all too busy bookdiving for bladesinger

[Kuulvheysoon]

WHAT THE F#?

Aww hell naw. I'm in.

Please note -

Once per day, a bladesinger of 4th level or higher may quicken a single spell of up to 2nd level, as if she had used the Quicken Spell feat, but without any adjustment to the spell’s effective level or casting time. She may only use this ability when wielding a longsword or rapier in one hand (and nothing in the other). At 8th level and higher, she can quicken a single spell of up to 4th level.

Benefit

Casting a quickened spell is an swift action. You can perform another action, even casting another spell, in the same round as you cast a quickened spell. You may cast only one quickened spell per round. A spell whose casting time is more than 1 full round action cannot be quickened. A quickened spell uses up a spell slot four levels higher than the spell’s actual level. Casting a quickened spell doesn’t provoke an attack of opportunity.

holy hell! what was the other one? can't hurt to say, we're all too busy bookdiving for bladesinger

Now, why would I tell you that? I need to save something for my final ICO, don't I?

[Kazyan]

I'm serious, this is catastro-terrible. Not even I have standards this low.

[Piggy Knowles]

You know, I just had a build idea. It's.... interesting, to say the least. Rough sketches of the build seem to indicate that it would work. Let's see if this horse can fly...

[Vaz]

Please note -

What I'm not understanding is that it changes the Casting time to a Swift Action. Problem is the rest of the text states that it does not change the casting time. I can understand the intention, but it doesn't seem to make sense. If you take it as only to mean "quickens spells for free, even those of spontaneous casters", cool. But as it stands, it's a complete non-ability.

[Venger]

Now, why would I tell you that? I need to save something for my final ICO, don't I?

can't blame a chef for trying

What I'm not understanding is that it changes the Casting time to a Swift Action. Problem is the rest of the text states that it does not change the casting time. I can understand the intention, but it doesn't seem to make sense. If you take it as only to mean "quickens spells for free, even those of spontaneous casters", cool. But as it stands, it's a complete non-ability.

what he said in the FAQ in the second post is that specific trumps general comes in and it works as written. it says it allows spontaneous casters to use quicken normally, so that's what it does.

[rockdeworld]

What I'm not understanding is that it changes the Casting time to a Swift Action. Problem is the rest of the text states that it does not change the casting time. I can understand the intention, but it doesn't seem to make sense. If you take it as only to mean "quickens spells for free, even those of spontaneous casters", cool. But as it stands, it's a complete non-ability.

Now that I've read through it, I realize that you're right. Presumably it's meant to mean "without any adjustment to the spell’s effective level or extending it's casting time if cast by a spontaneous caster."

My entry is nearly complete, and I rather like it

Just got to format and submit, so don't expect it before Tuesday

[Amphetryon]

Now that I've read through it, I realize that you're right. Presumably it's meant to mean "without any adjustment to the spell’s effective level or extending it's casting time if cast by a spontaneous caster."

My entry is nearly complete, and I rather like it

Just got to format and submit, so don't expect it before Tuesday

Mine just needs to be put into the table and given its proper backstory.

[Gotterdammerung]

A cool class. Not sure if I will compete or not. Caster SI's take so much extra work =)

I will let my brain stew a bit and see if anything noteworthy schlarfs out.

P.S. Can I assume that, like other rounds that have a SI with racial requirements, race won't be a negative factor for originality?

[8wGremlin]

third times a charm?

[Vaz]

what he said in the FAQ in the second post is that specific trumps general comes in and it works as written. it says it allows spontaneous casters to use quicken normally, so that's what it does.

It doesn't; it says something, then in the very next line, it contradicts itself.

It states "it quickens the spell... without changing the casting time"

Quicken changes casting time to free action. I get entirely what it is trying to do, but by RAW, the feature has no effect. It's like saying "it extends the spell... without changing the duration". What it is trying to say is that it applies the metamagic without applying the increased casting time usual to a spontaneous caster, but it doesn't it states that it changes the casting but doesn't change the casting time.

[Venger]

It doesn't; it says something, then in the very next line, it contradicts itself.

It states "it quickens the spell... without changing the casting time"

Quicken changes casting time to free action. I get entirely what it is trying to do, but by RAW, the feature has no effect. It's like saying "it extends the spell... without changing the duration". What it is trying to say is that it applies the metamagic without applying the increased casting time usual to a spontaneous caster, but it doesn't it states that it changes the casting but doesn't change the casting time.

yes, that is what the book says, but the chairman's ruled that if you are a spontaneous caster, then you don't extend the spell to a full round as normal, but instead cast it as a swift action as per normal (quickened spells are no longer free actions, but swift actions)

[Vaz]

Oh.

I feel slow now. But that did make me giggle when I read it in the book.

[sabelo2000]

Wow, that's a lot of restrictions. Elf-only class, and specifically limited to Longsword or Rapier for its class features. This will be one heck of a challenge for my sophomore effort, to try and come up with something uniue...