IntroMy main problems with metamagic feats in 3.5 are thus:
-Most feats aren't worth the slot level increase.
-I'm spending a FEAT, a valuable, character-defining resource.
-If I instead spend money,
I can get a better version of a metamagic feat.
[spoiler]
Longer Prose VersionMetamagic feats try to apply a linear scalar to an exponential system. They rarely work as-is, being, in general, too annoying to use.
First, I spend a feat. Second, I get enough class levels to get the needed slots to use said feat. Third,I prepare the spell using a higher-level slot or spontaneously apply said metamagic.
Or, I can just buy a
metamagic rod and not feel like a sucker.
Metamagic should provide spiffy and potent tricks to use with magic. The costs are so prohibitive that most metamagic is neither spiffy nor potent.[/spoiler]
NoteI
know casters are The Real Ultimate Power. I know my system gives them more power, but I also boost other feats to make the desirable to take instead of placeholders.
Purpose-Make metamagic desirable and
fun to use.
ProposalWith minor exceptions, all metamagic feats can be spontaneously used 3/day without increasing the casting time or the spell slot's level. Metapsionic feats don't require spending your psionic focus nor spending extra PP for these free uses.
People can still use these metamagic and metapsionic feats more often by using them normally; that is, with a higher slot level, spending more PP, expending their psionic focus, and so on.
Metamagic and metapsionic feats don't increase a spell's cast time unless the feat explicitly says so. (Go, go, Sorcerer Quicken!)
Exceptions to this rule:
-Fell Drain: Works as per
Libris Mortis. If the spell does damage, this auto-kills anything with 1 HD. I may instead add a prereq of 2HD to prevent it from being taken at L1.
-Heighten Spell: Works as per core, unless I remove it. (Heigthen Spell is the source of many early entry tricks.) I dislike the notion of changing it to the spontaneous system.
-Quicken Spell: Works as per core. Extra actions are potent. I don't want people casting 2 spells per round at level 1. Let non-casters have their time.