Metamagic specialist PrC

[officeronin]

I like fooling around with metamagic, and am looking for a PrC that specializes in it.  Incantrix is an obvious choice, but I'm (rightfully) concerned that the DM will not allow it because it's overpowered.

Solution #1 -- find another PrC that is metamagic focused.  (This is a wizard.)  Sadly, the only one I can think of is priestly and gives metamagic in lieu of spellcasting.

Solution #2 -- write down the Incantrix to a more reasonable level.

My thoughts on this edit are based on the following assumptions:

1.  PrCs are meant to be a rise in power.  Even if one is becoming more specialized, one will then act in a manner that makes that specialization relevant.

2.  Classes that are "dipping-classes" have a great ability too soon and should be evened out.  I would not do this for non-casters, since they need the help, but certainly for casters.

3.  Drawing on #2, above, I see lots of builds that take Incantrix to level 3 and stop.  A lot of focus should be on the level 3 ability to apply metamagics via a skill roll.

Some options for hampering that level 3 ability.  These are not mutually exclusive.

1.  Extend casting times to 1 round per level of metamagic being applied.
2.  Reduce caster level by 1 per level of metamagic being applied. (easier to dispel and lesser effect)
3.  In addition to the spellcraft roll, require a Knowledge check at the same DC (arcana or, if applying to the party cleric's casting, religion [nature for druid]).

On the ability to add metamagic on the fly (the level 5 ability), I think that the restriction that the total spell level cannot be higher than you can cast is enough a restriction -- the "sudden" metamagic feats are better in that respect.  I think the ability is a little silly as written, though.  It's the same uses per day if you use it to extend as it is to quicken or persist.  I'd replace it with (incantrix level + Int bonus) extra spell levels per day to power metamagic on the fly.

On the capstone ability to lower all metamagic costs by 1 (to a limit of 1), that's an epic feat.  This (to me) is what I really want a metamagic-focused PrC to do, but it is powerful.  How about if it simply opened that Epic feat as available to the character (just like fighter 4 opens weapon specialization)?

With those changes, would incantrix be in-line (power level) with other wizardly PrCs?

[Frost Wolf]

Metaphysical Spellshaper: Book of Erotic Fantasy-Pg 81. Three levels long. Easy to get into. One of the few Un-naughty things in the book.

[Bloody Initiate]

Note on the Metaphysical Spellshaper:

Bind Naberius (ToM pg 41)

You don't need levels in Binder, you can take the Bind Vestige feat which will allow you to bind one lvl 1 vestige and then use one of their granted abilities. Persist all your buff spells in the morning, heal them up in a minute or two. Your Binding check will suck so you'll usually fall under his influence, but his influence isn't that bad (You have to speak your mind and shout/mock down opposition for 1+your Cha mod rounds every time you get the chance)

[Agita]

Note on the Metaphysical Spellshaper:

Bind Naberius (ToM pg 41)

You don't need levels in Binder, you can take the Bind Vestige feat which will allow you to bind one lvl 1 vestige and then use one of their granted abilities. Persist all your buff spells in the morning, heal them up in a minute or two. Your Binding check will suck so you'll usually fall under his influence, but his influence isn't that bad (You have to speak your mind and shout/mock down opposition for 1+your Cha mod rounds every time you get the chance)

Incorrect. Bind Vestige and Improved Bind Vestige give you only one specific ability of the bound vestige each. Neither is Faster Ability Healing.

[bkdubs123]

Note on the Metaphysical Spellshaper:

Bind Naberius (ToM pg 41)

You don't need levels in Binder, you can take the Bind Vestige feat which will allow you to bind one lvl 1 vestige and then use one of their granted abilities. Persist all your buff spells in the morning, heal them up in a minute or two. Your Binding check will suck so you'll usually fall under his influence, but his influence isn't that bad (You have to speak your mind and shout/mock down opposition for 1+your Cha mod rounds every time you get the chance)

Incorrect. Bind Vestige and Improved Bind Vestige give you only one specific ability of the bound vestige each. Neither is Faster Ability Healing.

Thank you.

[Agita]

Note on the Metaphysical Spellshaper:

Bind Naberius (ToM pg 41)

You don't need levels in Binder, you can take the Bind Vestige feat which will allow you to bind one lvl 1 vestige and then use one of their granted abilities. Persist all your buff spells in the morning, heal them up in a minute or two. Your Binding check will suck so you'll usually fall under his influence, but his influence isn't that bad (You have to speak your mind and shout/mock down opposition for 1+your Cha mod rounds every time you get the chance)

Incorrect. Bind Vestige and Improved Bind Vestige give you only one specific ability of the bound vestige each. Neither is Faster Ability Healing.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Speaking of Vestiges, Anima Mage gets the ability to apply metamagic on the fly as well, fewer times per day. It is, of course, also overpowered, especially if you get early entry, but them's the breaks.

[Bloody Initiate]

My mistake, thankfully it's only a little less valid. -1 Caster Level is a very small price to pay for a fantastic means of circumventing the ability damage. I made the same recommendation to someone wanting to make a Hellfire Warlock.

Sadly Metaphysical Spellshaper, while it doesn't appear imbalanced by itself, when coupled with Naberius's faster ability healing would get thrown out as "broken third-party content". The class IS very powerful (As is ANYTHING that lets you get around the high cost of metamagic) but with minimal editing it would fit right in with Wizards stuff.

This consistent fight to get around the price of metamagic and the fact that everything that does is always considered broken makes me wonder how well it works to begin with, but lots of metamagic never seemed well-suited to non-epic characters anyway.

[plaguewraith]

There's always the feat from the XPH that lets you recover ability damage faster