Spellcasting Prodigy

From NWN2Wiki

Type of feat: Background

Prerequisite: 1st level background trait

Required for: None

Specifics: For the purpose of determining bonus spells and the saving throw DCs of spells you cast, treat your primary spellcasting ability score (Charisma for bards and sorcerers, Wisdom for divine spellcasters, Intelligence for wizards) as 2 points higher than its actual value. If you have more than one spellcasting class, the bonus applies to all of those classes.

Use: Automatic

[edit] Gameplay Notes

This is easily the most powerful non-epic feat a dedicated spellcaster can take, and is even better than most epic feats. It adds +1 to all save DC's, making it somewhat like a spell focus: all. This would already make a very powerful feat, but Spellcasting Prodigy also increases bonus spell slots as if the character's spellcasting ability modifier was higher. If taken by a wizard, this feat even increases the number of level 1 spells known by one.

These are the bonuses for taking this feat. Remember, you have 5 increases to a single ability score in the game. Most races have a maximum of 18 in one score, so at level 20 the base ability score is likely going to be 23. This feat boosts it to 25. Add on a permanent ability increasing item of even just +3, and the caster is boosted to 28 and gains bonus spells for level 9, as well as having a large increase to spell save DC's of +9.

Primary spellcasting ability score	Bonus spells (by level)																		Spell DC modifier
	No feat									With feat
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	No feat	With feat
12-13	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	2
14-15	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	3
16-17	1	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	3	4
18-19	1	1	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	2	1	1	1	1	-	-	-	-	4	5
20-21	2	1	1	1	1	-	-	-	-	2	2	1	1	1	1	-	-	-	5	6
22-23	2	2	1	1	1	1	-	-	-	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	-	-	6	7
24-25	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	-	-	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	-	7	8
26-27	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	-	3	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	8	9
28-29	3	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	3	3	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	9	10

Taking it means giving up another feat. However, because of how powerful this is, the decision isn't a hard one. Unless a character build absolutely requires the first-level feat be used some other way, all dedicated wizards and sorcerers should take this feat. Most clerics, druids, and spirit shaman should also take it, and spellcasting-focused favored souls and bards will also find it useful. Paladins and rangers will get basically no use from this feat and can ignore it. Warlocks can take this feat, but because they already have infinite spells per day, it basically acts like a spell focus:all feat for them, which is still rather powerful for warlocks focusing on improving their DCs.

Note:

This feat only simulates an increase in your ability scores - it does not actually increase them. A Spirit Shaman with 14 Wisdom taking this feat will receive bonuses to spells and DC but will still be unable to cast level 5 or higher spells, for example.