Metamagic rod

[mypony89]

Can someone please explain these to me? I looked at them but they only have 3 charges. So does that mean I can only my metamagic spells 3 times then I need a new rod? What is there purpose?

[OnlyOffensive]

3 times per day.... though lesser rods are limited to level 3 spells max.

[dfedwards2001]

Lesser rods only affect spells of levels 1-3. Normal rods 1-6.

[mypony89]

Thanks for the replies. So in order to use the metamagic great I also need the rod? That doesn't make sense to me but at least the rods aren't hard to find.

[corisai]

Originally posted by mypony89:

Thanks for the replies. So in order to use the metamagic great I also need the rod? That doesn't make sense to me but at least the rods aren't hard to find.

That rods allow you to use metamagic freely - without having feat and without paying metamagic cost (increased level of the spell).

[chair5768]

No, the rods let you use metamagic without the feats. They also let you upgrade spells on the fly without bumping up their level.
Example:
You prepare a magic missile at level 1.
Turn on Empower rod.
Magic missile casts as an empowered magic missile

Using feat example:
You prepare empowered magic missile as a level 3 spell.

For sorcerers, using empowered magic missile with the rod uses up a daily level 1 spell and has an ordinary cast time. Using empowered magic missile without the rod uses up a daily level 3 spell and has an extended cast time.

You can only use one rod at time. If you want to have multiple metamagics applied to a spell then you have to use feats. You can use metamagic rods on prepared metamagic enhanced spells, so you can prepare a empowered magic missile as a level 3 spell, activate your maximize metamagic rod, and cast an empowered/maximized magic missile as a level 3 spell.

For DC checks, etc. spells still act as their original level unless you're using 'Heighten Magic' which specifically increases the actual level of the spell.

[mypony89]

Oh....I suppose that before another question. Why can't I use, or how do I set up, spells for my feats? I have maximize and quicken.

[chair5768]

In your spellbook at the bottom right there's a button that says, 'Metamagic'.

[mypony89]

Never saw that. Thank you very much! Time to start playing around with it now.

[chair5768]

Oh and I'm not sure if this has been patched but when I was playing, sorcerer metamagic was slightly bugged. You needed to create the spell in your spellbook but it wouldn't appear in your spell list (on the toolbar) until you saved / loaded.

[corisai]

Originally posted by mypony89:

Never saw that. Thank you very much! Time to start playing around with it now.

Better to not (at least with these feats).

Maximized isn't worth it at all (too expensive without any trait to reduce it cost), so do quicken (but it at least have some use to keep quicken save like Mirror Image / Invisibility / Dispacement / Dimensional Door - in case of SUDDEN melee for your caster).

[chair5768]

Originally posted by corisai:

Maximized isn't worth it at all (too expensive without any trait to reduce it cost),

It can be worth it when combined with metamagic rods and for specific encounters. Empowered/maximized works well. Maximized Enervation can be useful for tough fights, since it allows more casts of enervation and the negative levels stack and there's no save, just requires a successful ranged touch.

[corisai]

Originally posted by chair5768:

It can be worth it when combined with metamagic rods and for specific encounters. Empowered/maximized works well. Maximized Enervation can be useful for tough fights, since it allows more casts of enervation and the negative levels stack and there's no save, just requires a successful ranged touch.

Metamagic rod worth it, yes.

Metamagic own spells with maximized/quickened - mostly don't worth it, too expensive. For example instead of maximized fireball - better use chain lighting. And so on.

Empower & heighten & maaaaaybe - extended / reach are at least worth it. Sometimes :)

Enervation is single gem, even whole build are created over it :) But they aren't viable in game (lack of traits&feats to be efficient).

[Sotanaht]

Originally posted by corisai:

Originally posted by chair5768:

It can be worth it when combined with metamagic rods and for specific encounters. Empowered/maximized works well. Maximized Enervation can be useful for tough fights, since it allows more casts of enervation and the negative levels stack and there's no save, just requires a successful ranged touch.

Metamagic rod worth it, yes.

Metamagic own spells with maximized/quickened - mostly don't worth it, too expensive. For example instead of maximized fireball - better use chain lighting. And so on.

Empower & heighten & maaaaaybe - extended / reach are at least worth it. Sometimes :)

Enervation is single gem, even whole build are created over it :) But they aren't viable in game (lack of traits&feats to be efficient).

Love Extended since I buff like crazy. An extended Haste lasts for over 2 minutes at mid-level, which is enough to get through several combats or run around most of a big map. However, while I do think extended is worth the +1 level, it's not really worth the feat when you can pick up extended rods (even lesser rods are good enough) and there's even some gear that automatically applies extended without charges (one for haste/slow only, one for all <=3rd level spells)

[mypony89]

I'm glad you all know what you're talking about. I'm coming from NwN which I believe is 3.5 and metamagic seems SO much easier to understand. Choose a spell to make meta, put it in spell slot. Done. I'm going to try to find a YouTuber who explains metamagic set up. I don't even know how to form a question on the lay out this game took.