Author Topic: Spell Linking  (Read 4088 times)

Offline Asinjin

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Spell Linking
« on: February 12, 2013, 01:50:37 PM »
One feat that has been around on Habololy since the start of 3rd ed is Spell Linking.  Now, with the return of the Wizards 3, it needs some Scrutiny.

SPELL LINKING (Metamagic) #
You have learned how to link your spells so that one casting can cause multiple spells to go into effect in succession.
   Prerequisite:  Any other metamagic feat, the ability to cast 2nd level spells.
   Benefit:  You can spells in succession while spending only one round casting.  The first spell is cast at the end of the round.  Each succeeding spell is cast at the end of the round after the previous spell ended.  All targets must be determined by the caster during the initial casting. 
   Special:  Casting linked spells uses up a spell slot of a level equal to the total levels of the linked spells.  For this purpose, 0-level spells are considered to be 1st level.  The initial casting of linked spells takes a full round.  Spells that have a casting time of a full round or more to start may not be linked. 

One question is as follows:

Does a wizard have to prepare the higher level spell; or should he be able to cast it spontaneously, as long as he has the lower level spell included prepared?  Or, should he be allowed to choose either having the lower level spells prepared or preparing the higher level spell with the spells selected?

Thoughts?
The hand that rolls the Dice rules the world.

Offline Asinjin

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Re: Spell Linking
« Reply #1 on: February 12, 2013, 02:32:25 PM »
The spell link, once activated, becomes a spell with a duration equal to the number of rounds of spells put in it
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Offline Asinjin

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Re: Spell Linking
« Reply #2 on: February 12, 2013, 02:32:47 PM »
The spells can be countered, but it is more difficult, since the counterer can't see you cast to know what the spell is
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Offline Windblade

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Re: Spell Linking
« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2013, 03:23:13 PM »
I think each spell should just last the initial duration.  It should be as if you cast 2 spells

Offline Asinjin

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Re: Spell Linking
« Reply #4 on: February 12, 2013, 04:03:48 PM »
I think I did not state clearly enough what I was trying to state.  The spells act normally.

What I was trying to say is that the active spell link is a spell for the purposes of dispelling and other things.  The spell link has no effect on the duration of each spell.

Example: You have a four round spell link up, in round 3, after two have been used, you get dispelled.  The Spell link can be dispelled and the remaining two spell fail to go off.  OR  You get Reciprogal Gyred in round 3, and the Spell Link counts as an active spell for damage from the RG.
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Offline Hero

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Re: Spell Linking
« Reply #5 on: February 12, 2013, 09:46:41 PM »
Never really understood this feat...how many spells can you link with 1 round of casting?

Offline Asinjin

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Re: Spell Linking
« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2013, 10:30:56 PM »
You take a high level spell, say 9th, and use it to prepare a number of spells whose levels total 9.  Example: 3, 3, 2, 1.

When you prepare the 9th level spell, you pick the spells and the order.  After a full round action of casting, the first spell of the sequence is cast.  The subsequent spells are cast at the end of each following round until the sequence ends.

When you cast the 9th level spell, you must select targets (if needed) for each spell.  So there is a chance that the later spells don't get cast.
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Offline Hero

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Re: Spell Linking
« Reply #7 on: February 12, 2013, 10:59:42 PM »
Seems pretty potent to me.

This is essentially giving you a free spell each round. Similar to the the epic level feat "multispell" (http://www.realmshelps.net/cgi-bin/featbox.pl?feat=Multispell), which grants you the ability to cast a 2nd quickened spell each round, except that you have to plan with "spell linking."

Compare to the psionic feat "linked power" (http://www.realmshelps.net/cgi-bin/featbox.pl?feat=Linked_Power), which let's you expend your psionic focus to spend 1 action manifesting 2 powers, 1 which takes effect this round and 1 in the next.

I suggest using the psionic version as precedent. 1 full round action (a replacement for expending psionic focus) nets you 2 spells, 1 this round 1 the next.

Offline Hero

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Re: Spell Linking
« Reply #8 on: February 12, 2013, 11:09:26 PM »
There's also the "spell matrix" series in the Spell Compendium which kind of have a similar effect you can use to gauge potency.

The7th level version let's you store two <3rd level spells to be cast later as swift actions, with the option to link them as 1 single swift action. Costs a 1000 gc focus and deals 2d6 points of damage to the caster while the spells are being stored.

Offline Asinjin

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Re: Spell Linking
« Reply #9 on: February 12, 2013, 11:29:01 PM »
The fact that you have to plan it should be a large factor in limiting its power.

The closest spell I know of to it is Arcane Fusion, which allows you as a full round action to cast two lower level spells.  It is 5th level, and with it you can cast a 1st and 4th in the same round as a full round action.

For the same full round action, with Spell Linking, you get the same effect, however, you have to wait for it to come into play for two or more rounds.
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Offline Asinjin

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Re: Spell Linking
« Reply #10 on: February 20, 2013, 12:56:00 PM »
More thoughts on this?
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Offline Malchia

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Re: Spell Linking
« Reply #11 on: August 30, 2014, 03:32:00 PM »
How does this work with spells enhanced by metamagic feats?  Could you prepare a quickened spell and an additional spell to go off in later rounds so that you get an extra spell out of the deal?

Offline Asinjin

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Re: Spell Linking
« Reply #12 on: September 01, 2014, 10:12:15 PM »
How does this work with spells enhanced by metamagic feats?  Could you prepare a quickened spell and an additional spell to go off in later rounds so that you get an extra spell out of the deal?

You can use an enhanced spell, but its spell level counts at the higher enhanced level.

Only one spell goes off per round using the Spell Linking, so there would be no point in Quickening.
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Offline Hero

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Re: Spell Linking
« Reply #13 on: September 20, 2016, 09:54:51 PM »
How does Spell Linking work with touch spells?

Can an Item Caster make a "metamagic item" with the Spell-Linking feat?

How does it interact with metamagic reducers like "easy metamgic" or "arcane thesis"?

Offline Asinjin

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Re: Spell Linking
« Reply #14 on: September 22, 2016, 06:28:33 PM »
It can be used with touch spells, you are just more likely to waste the spell if you are not in range.

You could make an item the stores a sequence of spells that go off in order once per round once activated, requiring the Spell Linking feat.  You could not make a rod the allows you to apply the feat to spells cast.

They cannot be used with the feat.
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