House Rule - The Metamagic Rule

There are some house rules that I am confident of. There are other house rules that I have had kicking around in my brain that I think will work, but I am uncertain as to whether they will cause huge problems if they are implemented. This rule is one of the ones I am uncertain about. But, because there is no way to actually evaluate a rule without actually putting it into play, I am going to implement the Metamagic Rule.

The main reason that I don't know how this rule will affect play is that in my experience almost no one actually uses metamagic. Quite simply, the opportunity cost of taking a metamagic feat and then placing spells in slots one, two, three, or more levels higher than they normally require to gain a benefit that gives the spell longer range, or longer duration, or some other effect, is simply too high. Players don't want to invest the resources. Eventually, someone might buy a metamagic rod and use that, but that only happens in reasonably high level campaigns, and the metamagic rod eliminates the increased spell level for spells affected by its powers.

Even more telling in my mind is that when I play as a character, I almost always play spell casters, and I have never been tempted to take a metamagic feat. As a result, an entire aspect of the game system is never used. So, in practice, I have not seen a lot of metamagic use by spell casters, and I have not used metamagic when playing a spell caster.

Hence, this rule:

The Metamagic Rule

A spell caster does not need metamagic feats that have no prerequisites in order to apply the metamagic effects as described in those feat descriptions. A prepared caster merely needs to prepare the modified spell in the higher spell slot, noting the effect that has been attached to the spell. A spontaneous caster may apply such effects on the fly, taking a full round to cast the spell and increasing the level of the spell slot used as appropriate. For reference, the spell slot increases required by a particular effect is as follows:

Metamagic	Level Increase	Benefit
Aid Spell	+1 level	Personal spells become touch, touch spells become close
Blistering Spell	+1 level	Fire spells only, deals +2 damage per spell level, blows enemies aside
Braid Spell	+2 levels	Combine two spells into a single casting
Chain Ray	+3 levels	Ray or cone spells can affect secondary targets
Coercive Spell	+1 level	Living creatures damaged by your spell suffer a penalty to Will saves
Compressed Spell	+2 levels	Reduce spell's area to increase damage
Deafening Spell	+1 level	Damaging spell also deafens those it damages
Deceptive Spell	+1 level	Spell appears to come from unusual source
Disrupting Spell	+2 levels	Spell disrupts the ability of those affected to use spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural abilities
Divine Lattice	+1 level	Spell deals additional damage to undead
Earthbound Spell	+2 levels	Place a spell on the ground, it targets a creature that moves into that space
Empower Spell	+2 levels	Increase spell's variable, numeric effects by 50%
Enlarge Spell	+1 level	Double spell's range
Entangling Spell	+2 levels	Creatures damaged by your energy spell are entangled for 1 round
Exaggerate Spell	+2 levels	Spell's variable numeric effects increased by +3 points per die
Explosive Spell	+2 levels	Creatures are blasted to edge of spell area
Extend Spell	+1 level	Double spell's duration
Fell Animate	+3 levels	Living creatures killed by your spell rise as zombies
Fell Drain	+2 levels	Living creatures damaged by your spell gain a negative level
Fell Energy Spell	+1 level	Your spells that grant bonuses are more effective at enhancing undead
Fell Frighten	+2 levels	Creatures susceptible to fear effects damaged by your spell are shaken
Fell Weaken	+1 levels	Living creatures damaged by your spell are weakened
Fiery Spell	+1 level	Fire spells deal +1 fire damage per die
Flash Frost Spell	+1 level	Cold spells only, +2 damage per level, makes ground slippery
Fortify Spell	+1 level	Cast spells at higher caster level to overcome spell resistance
Ghost-Touch Spell	+0 levels	Damaging spell only affects ghosts, other creatures are unaffected
Guided Spell	+3 levels	Ranged touch spell ignores cover and concealment and persists until it strikes target
Heighten Spell	Variable	Cast spells as if they were higher level
Hide Spell	+2 levels	Evocation spells are inaudible and invisible
Lingering Spell	+1 levels	Instantaneous damaging energy spell deals additional 1d6 energy damage on the following round
Maximize Spell	+3 levels	Maximize spell's variable, numeric effects
Piercing Cold	+1 level	Cold damaging spell can overcome cold resistance and cold immunity
Quicken Spell	+4 levels	Cast spell as a free action
Rapid Spell	+1 level	Spell casting times reduced
Reach Spell	+2 levels	Touch spells have a 30 foot range
Retributive Spell	+1 level	Release precast spell as immediate action against creature that harms you
Sacred Spell	+2 levels	Half of of the damage dealt by your spells is from divine power; can only be used on divine spells
Searing Spell	+1 level	Fire damaging spells can overcome fire resistance and fire immunity
Shunt Focus	+1 level	Personal spells become touch spells
Silent Spell	+1 level	Cast spell without verbal components
Song of the Dead	+1 level	Mind-affecting spell can affect undead, does not affect other creatures
Still Spell	+1 level	Cast spell without somatic components
Strafing Spell	+1 level	You can expand the range of creatures affected by a cone or line spell
Submerged Spell	+1 level	Spells functions underwater exactly as it would on land
Superior Divine Lattice	+2 levels	Spell inflicts 1d6 additional damage per spell level to undead
Transdimensional Spell	+1 level	Spell affects creatures in coexistent plane and extradimensional spaces
Umbral Spell	+1 level	Spell gains the darkness descriptor, can dispel light spells
Widen Spell	+3 levels	Double spell's area

Other than not needing the feat to use the metamagic effect, spell caster must observe all of the other requirements and limitations associated with these metamagic effects. For example, spontaneous spell casters cannot use the Quicken Spell metamagic effect, bards may not use the Silent Spell metamagic effect, and so on.

Players may still take the specific metamagic feats. Instead of unlocking the metamagic ability, taking the feat reduces the spell level increase associated with that particular metamagic effect by one. This means that a caster with a Widen Spell metamagic feat could prepare or spontaneously cast spells with the Widen Spell metamagic effect by using a spell slot two levels higher than normal rather than the standard three levels higher. Note that this means that any caster who takes metamagic feats with a +1 level adjustment such as Enlarge Spell, Extend Spell, Silent Spell, or Still Spell can prepare all of his spells at their normal caster level and have them enhanced with the metamagic effects associated with those feats.

The Heighten Spell metamagic feat allows a caster to prepare or cast a spell as if it were a level higher than the spell slot used for it.Therefore, a caster with the Heighten Spell metamagic feat could prepare a fireball spell in a third level spell slot as if it were a fourth level spell slot for all effects dependent upon spell level such as saving throw DCs. In effect, when preparing a Heightened Spell, a caster with the Heighten Spell metamagic feat gets a "free" bonus level of heightening the spell level.

A spell can never have its effective level reduced below the actual level of the spell by this effect or any other effect (such as through the application of the Seer or Lore Caster feats). A caster can only apply the effects of the Seer and Lore Caster feats to spells that they are modifying with a metamagic feat they actually have.

Even though the effective level of a spell can never be reduced below the spell's actual level for the purpose of the spell slot that must be used to cast the spell, reducing the effective level further than +0 has a beneficial effect for sponatneous casters. Any metamagic effect that has its effective level reduced below zero does not require a spontaneous caster to increase the casting time of a spell modiied with that metamagic effect. For example, if a sorcerer takes the Silent Spell feat, this reduces the effective caster level of applying the Silent Spell metamagic effect to +0, meaning that the sorcerer can cast spells modified with Silent Spell without raising their level, but must take full round action to do so. If the sorcerer then takes the Seer feat, the cost of applying the Silent Spell metmagic effect is reduced to -1 and now the sorcerer may cast spells modified by the Silent Spell metamagic effect without raising their level, and may cast them at their normal casting time.

Casters who meet the prerequisites for metamagic feats that have prerequisites may also use those feats under this rule. A caster must meet the prerequisites and observe all of the other requirements and limitations associated with these metamagic effects. A list of feats that may be used follows.

Additional Metamagic Abilities Covered by This Rule¹

Metamagic	Increase	Prerequisites	Benefit
Acid Lattice	+1 level	Any two metamagic feats	Spell inflicts +1d6 acid damage per spell level
Bane Lattice	+1 level	Any two metamagic feats	Spell inflicts 1.5x normal damage and lasts twice as long against chosen foe type
Blighted Spell	+4 levels	Any two metamagic feats, must be evil alignment	Spell inflicts +1d6 damage per die
Born of the Three Thunders	+0 levels	Energy Substitution (Electricity), Knowledge: Nature 4+ ranks	Electricity or sonic spell deals half of each time of damage, may stun and knock foes prone
Bounce Spell	+2 levels	Enlarge Spell	Bounce spell off target to extend its range
Chain Spell	+3 levels	Any metamagic feat	Redirect spells to affect secondary targets
Chaos Lattice	+1 level	Any two metamagic feats	Spell deals additional damage to lawful creatures
City Magic	+0 levels	Caster level 3rd+	Half of spell's damage comes from surrounding urban environment
Colorize Spell	+0 levels	Ability to cast an illusion spell	Caster can choose color of the spell
Concentrate Spell	+1 to +9 levels	Ability to cast at least one evocation spell	Spell ignores some amount of energy resistance
Cone Control	+1 level	Spellcraft 12+ ranks	Selectively choose targets in a cone's area
Consecrate Spell	+1 level	Good alignment	Half of spell's damage becomes divine damage
Cooperative Magic	Special	Spellcraft 4+ ranks	You can work with another caster to add metamagic feats to a spell
Cooperative Spell	+0 levels	Any metamagic feat	Two spellcasters can work together to increase the save DC of a spell
Corrupt Spell	+1 level	Evil alignment	Half of spell's damage becomes unholy damage
Counterspell Riposte	+2 levels	Arcane caster level 1st+	Half of spell's damage becomes divine damage
Delay Spell	+3 levels	Any metamagic feat	Spell effects are delayed 1 to 5 rounds
Dictum Lattice	+1 level	Any two metamagic feats	Spell deals additional damage to chaotic creatures
Echoing Spell	+3 levels	Spellcraft 12+ ranks, ability to prepare spells	Cast spell returns after 1 hour and can be cast again with lessened effect
Elemental Independence	+2 levels	Knowledge: Arcana 8+ ranks, Spellcraft 8+ ranks	Strips away the elemental aspects of a spell so it deals pure magical damage
Elemental Lattice	+2 levels	Any two metamagic feats	Spell deals additional elemental damage
Encompass Spell	+1 level	Enlarge Spell, Grow Spell	Spell has tripled area of effect
Enduring Spell	+2 levels	Enlarge Spell, Grow Spell	Spell duration is increased by one power
Energize Spell	+1 levels	Nonevil alignment, must not have the ability to rebuke undead	Spells deal 50% more damage to undead, 50% less to nonundead
Energy Admixture	+4 levels	Energy Substitution	Double energy spell damage by adding an additional energy type
Energy Affinity	+0 levels	Knowledge: Arcana 5+ ranks, able to cast one spell of each of these energy types: Acid, cold, electricity, and fire	Change spell's energy type
Energy Substitution	+0 levels	Any metamagic feat, Knowledge: Arcana 5+ ranks	Change spell's energy type
Enhance Spell	+4 levels	Maximize Spell	Spell damage cap is increase by 10 dice or 5 dice
Ennervate Spell	+2 levels	Nongood alignment, must not have the ability to turn undead	Spells deal 50% more damage to living creatures, 50% less to constructs and undead
Expand Spell	+4 levels	Enlarge Spell, Encompass Spell, Grow Spell	Spell's range increases to 1 mile
Flame Lattice	+1 level	Any two metamagic feats	Spell inflicts 1d6 fire damage per spell level
Focused Spell	+0 levels	Any five metamagic feats	You convert a spell into raw damaging magical energy
Ghost Spell	+1 level	Wisdom 15+, any metamagic feat	Spell exists on both the Prime Material Plane and Ethereal Plane
Grow Spell	+2 levels	Enlarge Spell	Spell affects one and one-half times as many targets as normal
Hidden Spell	+1 level	Silent Spell, Still Spell	Spell is harder to identify with Spellcraft and harder to dispel
Holy Lattice	+1 level	Any two metamagic feats	Spell deals additional damage to evil creatures
Ice Lattice	+1 level	Any two metamagic feats	Spell deals 1d6 cold damage per spell level
Imbued Summoning	+1 level	Augment Summoning, Spell Focus (Conjuration)	Summon a creature with a 3rd level or lower spell on it
Imbue Weapon	+1 level	BAB +3 or higher, Weapon Focus (Any), spellcaster level 1st+	Cast touch spell into melee weapon and use it to deliver the spell
Improved Imbue Weapon	+1 level	Imbued Weapon	Cast touch spell into ranged weapon and use it to deliver the spell
Infuse Reality	+1 to +3 levels	Ability to cast one arcane illusion spell	Illusion spell is 20% real for each level increased
Infuse Truth	+2 levels	Ability to cast one arcane illusion spell	Spell loses its mind-affecting descriptor
Invisible Spell	+0 levels	Any metamagic feat	Spell has no visual manifestation
Light Lattice	+1 level	Any two mind-affecting spells	Spell illuminates area as daylight
Lightning Lattice	+1 level	Any two metamagic feats	Spell 1d6 electricity damage per spell level
Lord of the Uttercold	+0 levels	Energy Substitution (Cold), Knowledge: the Planes 9+ ranks, ability to cast a spell with the cold descriptor	Half the damage of your cold spells is negative energy damage
Mask Signature	+1 level	Any three metamagic feats	Remove one descriptor of a spell allowing it to affect creatures normally immune
Nonlethal Substitution	+1 level	Any metamagic feat, Knowledge: Arcana 5+ ranks	Energy spells deal nonlethal damage
Persistent Spell	+6 levels	Extend Spell	Fixed or personal range spells last 24 hours
Purify Spell	+1 level	Good alignment	No damage to good creatures, extra damage to evil outsiders
Ready Spell	+2 levels	Con 13+, Spellcaster level 5th+, Concentration 8+ ranks	Can cast a spell and "hold it" for a period of time before releasing it as a free action
Reaping Spell	+3 levels	Any evil alignment	Creatures killed by your spell cannot be raised, reincarnated, or resurrected; true resurrection only works half the time
Remote Casting	+2 levels	Any one metamagic feat, Spellcraft 6+ ranks, Survival 6+ ranks	Can cast spells to locations to which you do not have line of sight
Repeat Spell	+3 levels	Any metamagic feat	Spell is automatically cast again next round
Restrain Spell	+1 level	Spellcraft 8+ ranks	Spell inflicts nonlethal damage
Sanctum Spell	+0 levels	Any metamagic feat	Raises effective spell level if cast in sanctum, reduces effective spell level if cast elsewhere
Sculpt Spell	+1 level	Any metamagic feat	Alter spell's area
Selective Spell	+1 level	Any one metamagic feat	You can deignate one creature to be unaffected by your area spell
Sickened Spell	+1 level	Pox Magic	Spell sickens those affected by it
Smiting Spell	+1 level	BAB +1, caster level 1st+	Transfer touch spell to a weapon you hold, can hand it off to another person
Spell Chain	+2 levels	Quicken Spell	Can cast two spells at once
Split Ray	+2 levels	Any metamagic feat	Ray spells affect one extra target
Thunder Lattice	+1 level	Any two metamagic feats	Spell inflicts 1d6 additional sonic damage per spell level
Unholy Lattice	+1 level	Any two metamagic feats	Spell deals additional damage to good creatures
Twin Spell	+4 levels	Any metamagic feat	Simultaneously cast a single spell twice
Wounding Spell	+2 levels	Empower Spell, Knowledge: History 4+ ranks	Your damaging spells inflict bleeding wounds that cause continuing damage

¹Note that to use these metamagic abilities a spell caster must meet all of the prerequisites associated with the ability.

Metamagic Feats Specifically Excluded From This Rule

Arcane Affinity

Arcane Shaper

Black Lore of Moil

Blood Burn

Blood Power

Blood Casting

Empowered Blood

Erase Memory

Essence Mastery

Fatal Curse

Fearful Gaze

High Magic

Identify Item

Imbued Healing

Increased Arcane Affinity

Lore Caster

Masters of the Past

Mirrorsight

Rapid Scribing

School Focus

Seer

Sudden Empower

Sudden Energy Affinity

Sudden Extend

Sudden Maximize

Sudden Quicken

Sudden Silent

Sudden Still

Sudden Widen

Violate Spell

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