Metamagic - how to efficiently use it?

[Trixie]

Let's consider a scenario: We have elf sorcerer, preferably a star elf, so he can get that +2 CHA bonus. Now, there are two options:

1. Use regular metamagic feats combined with Metamagic Specialist option from PHB2. That way, we negate Sorc's penalty but lose a familiar [or a feat].

2. Use Sudden versions of those: we negate those annoying +x to spell level slot used, but they are useable once per day and still have Sorc's penalty [unless MS' is used on this build, too]. Hovewer, someone pointed me to a feat from PGtF - it lets [Dwarf/Elf/something else I do't remember now] take it as a first level feat, increasing uses of innate abilities from 1/day to 3/day. Does Magic in the Blood apply to metamagic, too? If so, that would be ideal for this build. That would be 2 feats lost, hovewer. If that didn't required elf that would be cue to go with regular human.

And, while we are at it, does it work with Duskblade's ability to sudden spells, too? If so, Duskblade might be a better idea.

[Fizban]

Option 3: Take Rapid Metamagic.

Also note that Metamagic Specialist is a very finite number of times per day.

[Kaelik]

2. Use Sudden versions of those: we negate those annoying +x to spell level slot used, but they are useable once per day and still have Sorc's penalty [unless MS' is used on this build, too].

Actually, Sudden Metamagics do not length the cast time. That's one reason they are Sudden.

And, while we are at it, does it work with Duskblade's ability to sudden spells, too? If so, Duskblade might be a better idea.

Do Duskblades get free Metamagics? No? Do Warmages? Yes. Do you mean Warmage?

[Fax Celestis]

Do Duskblades get free Metamagics? No? Do Warmages? Yes. Do you mean Warmage?

Duskblades get Quick Cast, however.

[Trixie]

Actually, Sudden Metamagics do not length the cast time. That's one reason they are Sudden.

Really? That's nice
But the real question is - does MitB [or anything else, really, if there's some feat/ability/anything] increase uses uf suuddens from 1/day to 3/day?

Do Duskblades get free Metamagics? No? Do Warmages? Yes. Do you mean Warmage?

No, I meant Duskblade's Quick Cast, also useable 1/day for several levels. Does MitB apply to that? If so, what happens whet this gets upgraded to 2/day? Does is apply still or number of uses falls by one?

Here's a small part of the feat, I'd be glad if even someone who doesn't have PGtF would check this if it applies to beforementioned feats/abilities:

Magic in the Blood

Benefit: You can use your spell-like abilities more often
than you otherwise could. Any ability that is otherwise usable once
per day is now usable three times per day.

Any ability?

[Trixie]

Option 3: Take Rapid Metamagic.

Also note that Metamagic Specialist is a very finite number of times per day.

It's very nice, but 9th level? If I were building a high level char I'd love to use this, but I need a build for something like 2-3rd

[KIDS]

Option 3: Take Rapid Metamagic.

Well frankly, Rapid Metamagic is something sorcerers should get for free, just like Bards should get Melodic Casting. They're screwed on so many thing already....

I wouldn't recommend giving up your familiar for a few metamagics per day, so at low levels the only ones you could efficiently benefit from are sudden ones. They can be retrained (see PHB2) at higher levels for when you take Rapid Metamagic.

[Irbis]

No, I meant Duskblade's Quick Cast, also useable 1/day for several levels. Does MitB apply to that? If so, what happens whet this gets upgraded to 2/day? Does is apply still or number of uses falls by one?

Here's a small part of the feat, I'd be glad if even someone who doesn't have PGtF would check this if it applies to beforementioned feats/abilities:

Magic in the Blood

Benefit: You can use your spell-like abilities more often
than you otherwise could. Any ability that is otherwise usable once
per day is now usable three times per day.

Any ability?

Well, yes, it seems to apply both to the Sudden feats and Quicken Spell - at least people on Wizard's CO forum recommended this feat for Duskblade builds, so it should apply. As for what happens when you went from 1/day to 2/day - if you read rules as written, then you lose one use, but any sane GM should let you use that 3/day until you can use it 3/day yourself, without feats. That is, if he allows your little feat at all

[Sornas]

Hovewer, someone pointed me to a feat from PGtF - it lets [Dwarf/Elf/something else I do't remember now] take it as a first level feat, increasing uses of innate abilities from 1/day to 3/day. Does Magic in the Blood apply to metamagic, too? If so, that would be ideal for this build. That would be 2 feats lost, hovewer. If that didn't required elf that would be cue to go with regular human.

And, while we are at it, does it work with Duskblade's ability to sudden spells, too? If so, Duskblade might be a better idea.

Sorry, Magic in the Blood specifies your racial SLAs, nothing else. ^^;

I think that depending on how often you want to use them, go with either sudden feats (For the lack of level mod), or Metamagic specialist (For the more uses/day, you can always try to snag an INT boosting item too. Don't forget, if it wouldn't hurt you to use a full round action to use Metamagic that turn, you can still go ahead and do it.)

[Person_Man]

There are many ways to abuse metamagic.

1) Easy Metamagic: Dragon Mag. Lowers LA of one metamagic feat by 1.
2)Practical Metamagic: Races of the Dragon: Lowers LA of one metamagic feat by 1. Has special restrictions.
3) Incantatrix: Lowers LA by 1.
4) Divine Metamagic: Allows you to burn Turn Undead uses instead of increasing the LA for one metamagic feat.
5) Nightsticks: Libris Mortis: Cheap magic item that gives extra Turn Undead uses.
6) Rods of Metamagic: Free metamagic three times per day.

However, in every gaming group I'm a part of it's highly frowned upon, because casters are already more powerful then non-casters, so there's no reason to make them even more obscenely powerful.

[Solo]

The PHBII Metamatgic specialist is actually a rather good choice. 3+ inti mod castings of penalty free metamagic.

[Keld Denar]

There are many ways to abuse metamagic.

1) Easy Metamagic: Dragon Mag. Lowers LA of one metamagic feat by 1.
2)Practical Metamagic: Races of the Dragon: Lowers LA of one metamagic feat by 1. Has special restrictions.
3) Incantatrix: Lowers LA by 1.
4) Divine Metamagic: Allows you to burn Turn Undead uses instead of increasing the LA for one metamagic feat.
5) Nightsticks: Libris Mortis: Cheap magic item that gives extra Turn Undead uses.
6) Rods of Metamagic: Free metamagic three times per day.

7) Metamagic School Focus
8) Gnome with Earth Spell, Heighten Spell, and Shadowcraft Mage levels combined with easy metamagic, practical metamagic, or metamagic school focus
(can we say all conjuration/evocations as 1 level higher than the spell cast, ie Meteor Swarm or Elemental Monolith as a Silent Image heightened to 8th level)