Spell Focus? Is it worth it?

[Methos]

Folks,

I'm playing a wizard in one campaign, and I'm trying to decide if taking Spell Focus (and eventually Greater Spell Focus) is worth it as a feat. In looking at the various schools, there often appear to be very few spells (particularly at some levels) to which having a higher DC would make any difference, since the spell is a touch/ray/no save/enhances abilities, etc.

I'm not a specialist wizard, but I was thinking of taking spell focus in either Enchantment or Necromancy (or even both). These schools tend to have an all or nothing aspect to their saving throws. Evocation, by way of comparison, tends to have spells that save for half damage, so I'm not sure that having spell focus in that school would give you as much bang for the buck so to speak.

By the way, I love Necromancy!! Although, I do tend to pick spells from a variety of schools, hence the reason for not specializing.

Any insight would be welcome.

Thanks.

Methos

 

[bensei]

I'm playing a bard with lots of enchantment spells and my experience that spell focus (enchantment) is definitely one of the best feats to take. The +10% really make a difference, and as you already said, for all the Charms, Dominates, Sleeps and Suggestions there is mostly only one try, especially in non-combat situations, if people feal that someone just tried to enchant them. I'm going to take greater spell focus, soon.

 

[Furn_Darkside]

Evocation, by way of comparison, tends to have spells that save for half damage, so I'm not sure that having spell focus in that school would give you as much bang for the buck so to speak.

I think the feat in question is good in general, but you may want to rethink your stance on Evocation.

If your caster starts slinging around damage spells, then he/she/it is going to get the attention of the target. The odds are you want that target dead before they stop you from casting another spell.

FD

 

[mikebr99]

Everything helps...
Spell focus/Greater spell focus/Epic spell focus... More bang for your buck!!

BTW. Bensei... What ARE those characters in your Avatar doing??

 

[Zog]

Spell Focus Enchantment and Illusion are almost must haves, in my opinion. Depending on spell selection, transmutation is also key.

These three schools are filled with the Save negates type of spells. And since all you've got is spells, having someone make their save, effectively wasting your round, really stinks. Anything you can do to increase the save DC is vital.

Since wizards get bonus feats - you have room for spell focus and some item creation or metamagic feats.

Unless you are playing a ranged spell attack expert or some other interesting planned specialization, the spell focus feats are all good.

 

[bensei]

BTW. Bensei... What ARE those characters in your Avatar doing??

Playing Ultimate Frisbee.
But now as you say it...
One should not shrink images without having a deeper look at the result.
On the other hand, the name of our Ultimate Frisbee Team is Fabulous Ultimate Club Kaiserslautern. So the abbreviation fits...

 

[Crothian]

It's very useful if you find yourself using one school more then all others. I've got a cleric and I've been looking at getting spell focus, but I use too many spells from all across the board.

 

[Jalkain]

Taking spell focus in Transmutation gives you a more subtle benefit as well. The saving throw of spells from this school are fairly evenly split between Fortitude (like Disintegrate and Polymorph Other) and Willpower (like Slow and Bestow Curse).

This means that you can tailor spells to specific opponents and still keep your bonus from spell focus. Whereas Illusion and Enchantment are almost entirely Will save spells, so if you attack a spellcaster you often have a poor chance even with the bonus.

It breaks down as follows:

Enchantment and Illusion: Will
Evocation: Ref
Necromancy: Fort, a couple of Will
Transmutation: Will/Fort

Conjuration and Abjuration spells don't often give saving throws. Anyone ever taken Spell Focus (Divination)?

 

[Al]

Usually, yes.

Even though you have a broad range of spells, particular schools attack particular types of victim. As Jalkain has made clear, necromancy targets Fort saves; evocation targets Reflex saves and enchantment/illusion targets Will saves (though enchantment is probably the more effective in combat).

As such, even if you are a 'broad' caster, you end up using similar spells for similar victims. Casters generally throw necromantic effects at weak Fort saves and enchantments at weak Will saves, no matter how 'broad' they like their spell selection to be.

Incidentally, from a statistical point-of-view, Spell Focus is far more than a mere 10%. This is because of the nature of saving throws. If, for example, Darklich the Grim, necromancer, has a (non Focus) DC of 25 for Finger of Death and his targeted wizard/victim has a Fort save of +8, Spell Focus will halve the chances of his victim saving (he would need a 17 vs. the nonfocus spell and a 19 vs. the focus spell). And Greater Spell Focus would halve this again.

All in all, Spell Focus is well worth it.

 

[bensei]

...from a statistical point-of-view, Spell Focus is far more than a mere 10%.

???
It is exactly 10%. Also in your example.
17 needed <=> P(save) = 20% <=> P(fail) = 80%
19 needed <=> P(save) = 10% <=> P(fail) = 90%
21 needed <=> P(save) = 5% <=> P(fail) = 95% (if 20 always success)