empowering spells

[dragon wench]

Okay, this feels like a really basic question, but I have done a search on the subject in addition to checking feats in the walkthrough section. How the hell do I empower spells? It doesn't say that it is automatic, but I can't see anything that provides a select option...

[Xandax]

If you have metamagic feats for your character, then when you choose to cast a spell, there will be another menu item in the radial wheel menu thingy that is called metamagic, where you usually would choose the <classname> spells.

If you go into that menu point you will get another menu similar to if you choose the classname item, where you can select your spells.
Then, since Empowered spells are cast as 2 level higher, you need to select level 2 spells to cast cantrips. Thus you go into the level 2 menu, and select a cantrip, wich will when cast be empowered.

The rutine for placing them in your quick-slots is similar.
Select spells, select metamagic, select the level that the spell *will* have when using your metamagic casting, thus 2 for level 0, 3 for level 1 etc (with Empowered)


Hope this helps, otherwise I'll try to write it more comprehensible.

EDIT: Just checked the radial menu navigation:
Cast Spell
Metamagic
Empowered Spell
then select appropiate level as mentioned above.
This should do it.

[dragon wench]

Thanks! I'll give it a shot when I start up the game again

[dragon wench]

*sigh* I am feeling truly dense here, but regardless of how I access my magic, whenever I click on the metamagic option, once I select spell level all I see is the icon for the particular spell level. When I select that, the spells of whatever level it is do not show up...

Also, while on the topic of spells, I still need to put half of mine into the quick slots because some remain greyed out if I try to access them from the radial dial. I have the latest patch too... Has anybody else encountered this problem?

[Xandax]

Originally posted by dragon wench
*sigh* I am feeling truly dense here, but regardless of how I access my magic, whenever I click on the metamagic option, once I select spell level all I see is the icon for the particular spell level. When I select that, the spells of whatever level it is do not show up...
<snip>

What level is your character, and what class?

When using empowered spells you need to choose a spell level of 2 for casting cantrips, 3 for casting level 1 and thus up to spell level 9 for casting level 7 spells.


As for the other problem I've never experienced this myself.

[Ron_Lugge]

One reason you need to have spells in the quickslots may be that you are mis-targetting them. If you rightclick on a monster, you can't use summoning / self-buffing spells. Right click on empty space and you can't cast anything but area attack and summoning, IIRC.

[dragon wench]

Originally posted by Ron_Lugge
One reason you need to have spells in the quickslots may be that you are mis-targetting them. If you rightclick on a monster, you can't use summoning / self-buffing spells. Right click on empty space and you can't cast anything but area attack and summoning, IIRC.

Well that clarifies matters... duh... That is exactly what the problem was...

@Xandax,
my character is level
9 wizard... I am sure that I am just missing something basic here (rather like the above thing re: greyed out spells ), but after numerous attempts at messing around I still am not sure how to empower the spells, though I have been trying your suggestions.

[Xandax]

Originally posted by dragon wench
Well that clarifies matters... duh... That is exactly what the problem was...

@Xandax,
my character is level
9 wizard... I am sure that I am just missing something basic here (rather like the above thing re: greyed out spells ), but after numerous attempts at messing around I still am not sure how to empower the spells, though I have been trying your suggestions.

*dough* that is because I was testing it out on a sorcerer. Stupid me

A wizard needs to memorise empowered spells just as he memorises all other spells.

Enter you spellbook, and go into the level you wish to cast; Again this would be level 2 for cantrips, level 3 for level 1 spells and so forth.
In your spellbook, if you scroll downwards, you should have a bar entitled "Empowered Spells", there you can select to memories spells with that metamagic feat.
Minimize the "Known" bar to get a better view (the little arrow to the left will minimize such bars)

Hope this helps.
Stupid me ....

[dragon wench]

@Xandax, ROFL! That is the sort of thing I would do, though I wasn't exactly specific about my class, so you were just guessing

Thanks a lot, that seems to do the trick. I'll have to wait until I am in a decent battle to test it out. Just to experiment I fired off some empowered magic missiles at an innocently passing deer, and the poor thing was killed instantly. Not the best test subject given that they don't have much HP anyway Though I felt bad afterwards and reloaded since I didn't want the deer's demise on my conscience I must be a closet druid or ranger...

I must admit, I have been having a lot of fun with my wizard. lol! I had thought, owing to my BG/BG2 experiences that a pure mage was pretty wimpy... but OMG!!! not in NWN... Much to my shock she really rocks, all of a sudden clearing out rooms full of nasties is ridiculously easy just by lobbing in a mass area spell. And in case that is not enough, I have just acquired the ability to summon a dire bear, which is very efficient at taking sizeable chunks out of enemies.... Can't wait to get the dire tigar.... Mwahaha...

[Xandax]

Magic is powerfull in NwN.

I played a sorcerer through the OC, and was level 16 when getting to the end. Had Daelan as henchmen.

It took 4 spells to take out the end boss and the neasecary protection.

I can only advice using the Ice Storm spell. It really rocks. It was my dragonkiller spell so to speak, well Dragons, Balors and other hard cookies

Wich is what I say in the sorcerer guide I've written, wich I'm still waiting to get put up here on GB

But personally I didn't use metamagic much. Silenced spells are mostly a roleplaying tool seeing as I didn't get silenced once.
Quicken spells are nice, but way to expensive, the same with maximized. Empowered spells might be okay, but didn't use them either. And still spells, well, I didn't make a sorcerer so he should tank, and even if so, then Stoneskin is much better protection. (And greater stoneskin)

[Ron_Lugge]

I've always liked icestorm and quickened icestorm in combo... nasty trick, that. Especially from a sorcerer who has lots of them to burn.

[D.Windsor]

Empowered spells can give an old spell a fresh kick when you need it. Classic NWN, Fireball, magic missile, Negative Energy Ray, and Ice Storm are good spells to empower for a damage boost. SoU wise, Firebrand and the much-abused Isaac line are also good spells to empower.

I'm still wondering if the the Greater Isaac text is a typo or if it IS capable of doing 60d6 to a single target.. in the mean time, I'll just have to employ a belt with Immunity: Evocation.

[ladyblack]

When I levelled up to...whatever level it was with my wizard, the game automatically empowered my magic missile for me. Which was pretty useful as it turned out, but I never understood whether I could only empower one spell or if it would do others as we went along, or what?

OH, BTW, I'm so glad seomeone else feels guilty about killing the innocent wildlife, Dragon Wench. I'm playing Lawful evil but I still didn't want to try blasting the odd stag or two.