Epic Spell Focus

[MLoki]

I have still not been able to take Epic Spell Focus Necromancy even though I have Spell Focus Necromany, Greater Spell Focus Necromancy and am 11 Sorc and 13 PM. I was going to go straight PM after 20th but without the Epic Spell Focus I find that I may need a little extra fire power from the Sorcerer side of things since I can't get my summons to increase anymore. Are there any unwritten restrictions on Epic Spell Focus that I don't know about. I ended up taking another level in Sorc at 24th level just in case it wasn't a PM epic feat but it was still not available. Any other suggestions on why this is not working?

MLoki

[Metis]

PM cannot take epic spell focus so you do need to take the feat while lvling your sorc. But, epic spell focus requires you to be able to cast lvl 9 spells.

Both of these are Bioware design.

[Epistaxis]

The Palemaster can select epic spell focus in necromancy, you just have to be able to cast 9 level spells.

[Metis]

The Palemaster can select epic spell focus in necromancy, you just have to be able to cast 9 level spells.

You are right, I stand corrected.

[Kiyal]

Since palemaster gains spellcasting at a half-caster(1 per 2 levels) progression rate, you need to take about 13ish palemaster levels to be able to cast 9th level spells if you take 10 wizard or sorc levels before going palemaster.

There is a caveat however, I believe that the palemaster class is currently bugged in that palemaster only properly levels your spelling casting if you are a wizard. If you are a Bard or Sorc, you might be out of luck as far as gaining more spell levels goes.

I cannot confirm this bug without checking the bioware site, which I might do at a later time. Just a warning.

[Kromix]

the thing is that PM levels only gives you the slots, not the spells... so you need to altenate between sorc pm to be able to use them slots... a wizard can learn the spells unlike sorc...

[MLoki]

I did take a Sorc level going into 24th level and it did not offer me the Epic Spell Focus. It also does not list 9th level spells as a prerequisite in the manual. I do use the higher level spell slots for Maximize and Quickened spells but will having 9th level spell slots qualify me for Epic Spell Focus even if I do no have 9th level spells? Could a DM or Developer please look into this so I know if I should continue this build or scrape it and start over. I guess this is why it's still a beta test. Thank you.

MLoki

[Flailer]

From the NWN Grimoire (a very nice resource if you don't have it):

Epic Spell Focus
Type of Feat: (Epic) General
Prerequisite: Cast 9th level spells, 21st level, Greater Spell Focus (chosen
school)

Sadly, this manual is more accurate than the NWN documentation. So, I'd say you need level 9 spells. A good way to test though is to save your build and take it offline and level up there and test a few options.

It wasn't an exhaustive test, but when I was testing summons stuff a couple weeks ago, I was unable to get Epic Spell Focus: Necromancy as a 10 Sorc/30 PM.

[Netrom.dk]

I also think there is some bioware issue with spell focus' so you need to pick a casting class at the level when you get the feat.

[Epistaxis]

It must be the sorcere that breaks it. My wiz10/palemaster21 had no problems selecting epic spell focus in necromancy on a palemaster level.

[Nemesis Revised]

Question 1:
what's the better PM summon in the end then?

10sorc/30pm - no epic spell focus on necro

OR

10wiz/30pm - has epic spell focus on necro (since someone mentioned above you get to have it as wiz)

----------------------------
Question 2:
which PM summon is better to have for a sorc/pm?

10sorc/30 pm - the 30th level pm will have be a powerful summon i surmise

OR

20sorc/20 pm - since there is master lich, it also affords a big plus since the character gets a epic spell focus necro

----------------------------

[Flailer]

If you can get epic spell focus: necro with wiz, then wiz will have a better PM summons over sorc.

As far as which is better 10/30 or a 20/20 build - that depends. The 30 PM summons is definately nastier (Zing unleashed his devious prowess on that one) and the PM's AC will be even higher, but it's arguable whether a 20 sorc/20 PM is more well rounded. Depends I guess too if you're trying to go for a melee build (6 sorc/4 fighter/30 PM) or a caster.

[MLoki]

So the big question I have; is being able to cast 9th level spells mean that you actually have to have 9th level spells or just the slots... trying to get 1 more level so that I can find out but have been failing utterly recently. I guess I will let you know when I get there if nobody knows this answer. Currently I quicken Firebrand into a 9th level spell slot so that the slots are not wasted.

MLoki

[MLoki]

Ok so the answer is even though I can cast a Quickened Firebrand out of a 9th level spell slot I can not take any feats that require being able to cast 9th level spells. So before anybody else makes the same mistake don't try for an epic Pale Master with Sorcerer. You will not be able to take Mummy Dust, Epic Spell Focus Necro, or Auto "metamagic" anything with your 9th level spell slots. I can currently cast up to 6th level spells metamagiced up to 9th level at Sorc 12/PM 15 but have no way of further increasing my Undead Summons until I get to 20th level PM... 5 long hard levels of slow xp grinding since undead summons have no weapons and do little damage against Amazons or Ice Giants.


MLoki

[Zing]

Just so you know...

While ESF Necro will boost all the undead summons it's not a requirement for the big boys...

Wait for it....

Read the guide for more details