🧙♂️ Metamagic Science & Improved Metamagic Science
Metamagic Science allows Artificers to apply metamagic effects to magical items, revolutionizing how magic items can be enhanced and used. These feats bridge the gap between traditional spellcasting and magical device manipulation.
✨ Feat Overview
🔬 Metamagic Science (Level 6 Artificer):
- Apply metamagic effects to Spell Trigger items (wands and staves)
- Enhances magical device utility dramatically
- Requires additional charges based on metamagic complexity
- No Use Magic Device check required for basic metamagic
⚡ Improved Metamagic Science (Level 11 Artificer):
- Apply metamagic effects to Spell Completion items (scrolls and potions)
- Includes all benefits of basic Metamagic Science
- Requires Use Magic Device checks for enhanced effects
- Enables unprecedented magical item versatility
🎯 Supported Magic Items
| Item Type |
Required Feat |
Usage Method |
Special Requirements |
| Wands | Metamagic Science | Spell Trigger | Extra charges consumed |
| Staves | Metamagic Science | Spell Trigger | Extra charges consumed |
| Scrolls | Improved Metamagic Science | Spell Completion | Use Magic Device check |
| Potions | Improved Metamagic Science | Spell Completion | Use Magic Device check |
⚗️ Syntax & Usage
🪄 Wands & Staves (Metamagic Science):
Basic usage: use [metamagic] <item> [target]
Staff area: invoke [metamagic] <staff>
Examples:
use maximized wand-fireball goblin
invoke extended staff-heal
use empowered-silent wand-magic-missile orc
📜 Scrolls & Potions (Improved Metamagic Science):
Scroll usage: recite [metamagic] <scroll> [target]
Potion usage: quaff [metamagic] <potion/spell>
Examples:
recite maximized scroll-fireball goblin
quaff empowered 'cure light wounds'
quaff maximized-empowered heal
Note: Metamagic keywords can be abbreviated (e.g., "max" for "maximized", "emp" for "empowered"). Multiple metamagic effects are combined with hyphens (e.g., "maximized-empowered").
🎭 Available Metamagic Effects
| Metamagic |
Effect |
Level Increase |
Required Feat |
Restrictions |
| Maximized | Maximum variable effects | +3 | Maximize Spell | Variable numeric effects only |
| Empowered | +50% variable effects | +2 | Empower Spell | Variable numeric effects only |
| Extended | Double duration | +1 | Extend Spell | Timed effects only |
| Silent | No verbal components | +1 | Silent Spell | None |
| Still | No somatic components | +1 | Still Spell | None |
Important Restrictions:
• You must possess the individual metamagic feat (e.g., Empower Spell) to use that metamagic effect with Metamagic Science!
• Quicken Spell is NOT compatible with Metamagic Science, as magical items already activate as swift actions.
💰 Cost & Resource Management
⚡ Charge Consumption (Wands & Staves):
Base charge (1) + Additional charges based on metamagic level increase
EXAMPLES:
- Any wand + Maximized (+3): 4 total charges
- Any staff + Empowered (+2): 3 total charges
- Any wand + Extended (+1): 2 total charges
Charge Calculation Formula:
Total Charges = 1 (base) + Metamagic Level Increases
Multiple Metamagic: All increases stack
Example: Empowered (+2) + Silent (+1) = 4 total charges (1 + 2 + 1)
🎲 Use Magic Device DCs (Scrolls & Potions):
DC = 20 + (3 × Modified Spell Level)
Modified Level = Base Level + Metamagic Increases
EXAMPLES:
- Cure Light Wounds (1st) + Maximized (+3) = DC 32
- Fireball (3rd) + Empowered (+2) + Silent (+1) = DC 38
- Heal (6th) + Extended (+1) = DC 41
UMD Failure: Failed Use Magic Device checks prevent metamagic activation. The item is not consumed, but you cannot attempt the same metamagic combination again immediately.
🔄 Item Type Mechanics
🪄 Spell Trigger Items (Wands/Staves):
- Activation: Command word or gesture (use/invoke commands)
- Metamagic Application: Parsed before item activation
- Charge Consumption: Automatic based on enhanced spell level
- No UMD Required: Metamagic Science handles the complexity
- Multiple Metamagic: Can combine multiple effects
📜 Spell Completion Items (Scrolls/Potions):
- Activation: Reading/consuming the magical writing
- Metamagic Application: Applied during consumption
- UMD Check Required: DC scales with enhanced spell level
- Item Consumption: Item destroyed regardless of UMD success/failure
- Enhanced Difficulty: Higher-level metamagic = harder to activate
🎪 Advanced Combinations
🔗 Multiple Metamagic Stacking:
⚡ Combination Examples:
- Empowered + Maximized: +50% of maximum possible effect
- Extended + Silent + Still: Long duration, component-free casting
- Extended + Empowered: Longer duration with enhanced potency
- All Five Types: Theoretical maximum enhancement (+8 levels!)
ULTIMATE COMBINATION EXAMPLE:
Base Fireball (3rd level) + All Available Metamagic:
- Maximized (+3) + Empowered (+2) + Extended (+1)
- Silent (+1) + Still (+1)
= 11th level equivalent spell!
Wand Charges: 9 charges consumed (1 base + 8 metamagic)
Scroll/Potion UMD DC: 20 + (3 × 11) = DC 53
Practical Limits: While theoretically possible, high-level combinations require significant resources and extremely high Use Magic Device skills. Most practical combinations use 1-3 metamagic effects.
🎯 Strategic Applications
⚔️ Combat Optimization:
- Maximized damage: Ensure peak damage output in critical moments
- Empowered effects: +50% boost to variable spell effects
- Silent casting: Avoid counterspells and maintain stealth
- Still casting: Cast while grappled or restrained
🛡️ Utility Enhancement:
- Extended buffs: Double duration of beneficial effects
- Empowered healing: 50% more healing from cure spells
- Silent utility: Stealthy magical problem-solving
- Combination effects: Stack multiple enhancements for unique solutions
💡 Resource Management:
- Charge efficiency: Use metamagic when charges are plentiful
- UMD investment: High Use Magic Device enables reliable scroll/potion enhancement
- Situational usage: Save enhanced items for important encounters
- Backup plans: Keep unenhanced items for reliable basic effects
🔧 Technical Integration
⚙️ System Integration:
- Brewing Compatibility: Works with both physical and stored potions
- Stored Consumables: Full support for metamagic with stored items
- Physical Items: Traditional item-based metamagic application
- Multi-class Support: Works with any character having Artificer levels
🎭 Metamagic Validation:
- Feat Checking: System validates you have required metamagic feats
- Spell Compatibility: Checks if metamagic applies to the specific spell
- Resource Validation: Ensures sufficient charges/UMD before activation
- Error Handling: Clear feedback on why metamagic fails to apply
📚 Common Questions
Q: Can I use metamagic on items I didn't create?
A: Yes! Metamagic Science works on any compatible magical item, regardless of who created it.
Q: What happens if I fail a Use Magic Device check?
A: The metamagic effect fails to activate, but scrolls/potions are still consumed. Wands/staves don't lose charges on UMD failure.
Q: Can I combine Metamagic Science with other Artificer abilities?
A: Absolutely! It synergizes well with infusions, discoveries, and other magical device enhancements.
Q: Do I need to prepare metamagic effects in advance?
A: No! Metamagic Science allows spontaneous application when using items.
Q: Can other classes benefit from Metamagic Science?
A: These are Artificer-exclusive feats, but other characters can use items enhanced by Artificers with Metamagic Science.
⚡ Power Progression
| Artificer Level |
Available Feat |
New Capabilities |
Strategic Impact |
| Level 6 | Metamagic Science | Enhanced wands/staves | Significant combat versatility |
| Level 11 | Improved Metamagic Science | Enhanced scrolls/potions | Complete magical item mastery |
| Higher Levels | Both feats + high UMD | Reliable extreme combinations | Legendary magical manipulation |
Master of Magical Innovation!
Metamagic Science transforms Artificers from magical tinkerers into masters of arcane innovation. By bridging the gap between traditional metamagic and magical items, these feats enable unprecedented versatility and power.
Experiment, enhance, and excel! ⚡🧪
🎓 Example Scenarios
SCENARIO 1: Emergency Healing
Party member at 1 HP, only have a weak healing potion
Solution: quaff maximized-empowered 'cure light wounds'
Result: Weak potion becomes powerful emergency heal!
SCENARIO 2: Stealth Mission
Need to cast spells without verbal components
Solution: use silent wand-charm-person guard
Result: Silent casting maintains stealth operations!
SCENARIO 3: Boss Fight
Need maximum damage output for critical moment
Solution: use maximized wand-fireball boss
Result: Maximum possible damage fireball!
SCENARIO 4: Resource Conservation
Low on healing spells, party needs extended buffs
Solution: recite extended scroll-bless + quaff empowered 'cure moderate wounds'
Result: Efficient use of limited magical resources!
