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Benefits of Maximize Spell?

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2018 5:06 am
by Lasos
Hello all,

I was wondering why Maximize spell is recommended in the COOKIE-CUTTER BUILD GUIDE? I've tested it on a wizard, and I am just not sure I see the use for it? Usually when I can maximize a spell, there's always another more usefull/powerfull spell I'd want to take over a maximized one -three- spellslots below. Especially if you already have Extend Spell, which effectively gives you more flexibility between the spell tiers, then I'm not sure I see the value anymore.

Perhaps there's some sort of combination of spells/items I've overlooked. Or perhaps it is to increase the flexibility of the build so should a specific dungeon require that you bring a lot of some specific type of spell, you will have the flexibility to do so?

Re: Benefits of Maximize Spell?

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2018 6:20 am
by TimeAdept
Maximized zoo buffs (bulls, cat's, eagle,s etc etc)

Maximized IGMS

Maximized Firebrand/Ball Lightning

That's your big max-bait spells, everything else is sort of funsie toys.

Re: Benefits of Maximize Spell?

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2018 6:34 am
by Lasos
TimeAdept wrote:
Fri Jun 15, 2018 6:20 am
Maximized zoo buffs (bulls, cat's, eagle,s etc etc)

Maximized IGMS

Maximized Firebrand/Ball Lightning

That's your big max-bait spells, everything else is sort of funsie toys.
Yeah I figured as much. I’m just not sure the maximized spells are not colliding with other more powerful/useful spells? Like will a maximized IGMS be worth a level 9 spell, considered the nerf to it?

I guess I’m asking for experience of people who’ve used it, if they found it useful/worth it?

Re: Benefits of Maximize Spell?

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2018 6:35 am
by Tourmaline
That covers most of it.. but to add, maximized IGMS or another damage spell that doesn't "extend" gives you more casts of it. Even with spells that do extend, you want the flexibility of another row to cast good spells from. There are a lot of lower level spells like IGMS, Evards Tentacles and Tensers Transformation that are actually more useful and reliable than level 7-9 spells.

And also. Casting level 7-9 spells as a wizard or sorcerer uses spell components. Spell components cost crafting time or money and without maximize or empower you'll have a hard time keeping up if you're casting every higher level spell you had prepared.

But casting a maximized 6th level spell in a 9th level slot costs zero components, so it's much more economical and lets you use spell slots that otherwise might not get used because you don't want to pay 3000 gp each native 9th level spell cast.

Re: Benefits of Maximize Spell?

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2018 6:43 am
by Commissar
Plenty of reasons, as others have said.
- Maximised Zoo Buffs are excellent.
- Spell component economy is handy.
- Maximised IGMS is saveless.
- Maximised IGMS is saveless.

120 points of saveless damage to a single target is pretty sweet. There's a reason the haste/timestop/IGMS combo is a potent finisher.

Re: Benefits of Maximize Spell?

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2018 7:12 am
by Void
Lasos wrote:
Fri Jun 15, 2018 6:34 am
TimeAdept wrote:
Fri Jun 15, 2018 6:20 am
Maximized zoo buffs (bulls, cat's, eagle,s etc etc)

Maximized IGMS

Maximized Firebrand/Ball Lightning

That's your big max-bait spells, everything else is sort of funsie toys.
Yeah I figured as much. I’m just not sure the maximized spells are not colliding with other more powerful/useful spells? Like will a maximized IGMS be worth a level 9 spell, considered the nerf to it?

I guess I’m asking for experience of people who’ve used it, if they found it useful/worth it?
Anything above 6th circle eats components when cast.

Spells below 7th circle do not eat components, even when metamagic is applied to them.

So maximized IGMS doesn't eat components.

Re: Benefits of Maximize Spell?

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2018 8:54 am
by Lasos
This was the exact kind of information I was looking for. Thanks a lot people!

Re: Benefits of Maximize Spell?

Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2018 5:27 am
by Peppermint
But to clarify, it's not really about the components. Components are cheap. Just tedious*.

IGMS is simply really, really good. There are a lot of high level mobs that you can't hammer reliably with save-based spells. IGMS is saveless. It is your friend.

Maximized Ice Storm's pretty good, too.

(* And I daresay one of the more ill thought out mechanics on Arelith, especially when weighed against piety--but I digress.)

Re: Benefits of Maximize Spell?

Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2018 10:41 am
by Dr_Hazard89
Round up some goblins and maximized firebrand them. That's worth a feat, I reckon!

Re: Benefits of Maximize Spell?

Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2018 3:02 am
by Wytchee
There should be a function akin to praying that automatically fills spell pouches. Haha.

Crafting spell components is far too tedious especially for a character that works in a trade and needs those daily crafting points for other things. >.<