Casting Attack Bonus (3.5e Variant Rule)
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Casting Attack Bonus (CAB)
An alternative system allowing a dedicated, and advanced, caster to use his magic more freely.
System
CAB (Casting Attack Bonus) is the casting equivalent of BAB. While it provides no bonuses to any checks or rolls, it does provide the casting equivalent of iterative attacks. Each such iterative casting action can be used to cast a spell with a casting time of free, swift or immediate. Iterative casing actions due to high CAB stack with any extra actions gained from the multispell epic feat. This requires a full-round action.
The number of iterative casting actions gained is equal to the number of iterative attacks gained via BAB for a fighter of equal level. No caster may gain a number of iterative casting actions greater than his primary casting ability modifier. Only full progression casters gain this option.
Example 1: A 13 level wizard with an 18 INT would have a CAB of 3, allowing up to 3 iterative casting actions with a full-round action. The wizard could cast up to 3 spells with a casting time of immediate, swift or free. He could take no other action, save a 5-foot step.
Example 2: The same wizard, but with only a 15 INT, would be limited to a maximum of 2 iterative casting actions because his INT ability modifier is only 2.
Spontaneous Casters Sub-System
Spontaneous full progression casters, such as the sorcerer, have the option of using iterative casting actions to apply meta-magic feats to their spells cast using this system. Any legal spell, those with a casting time of free, swift or immediate, may have meta-magic feats applying on-the-fly using extra iterative casting actions. This costs a number of actions equal to the level adjustment of the feat, plus 1. Thus applying the enlarge spell meta-magic feat would cost 2 additional iterative casting actions, 1 for the enlarge spell feat plus 1.
Example 1: A 13 level sorcerer with an 18 CHA would have a CAB of 3, allowing up to 3 iterative casting actions with a full-round action. The sorcerer could apply the enlarge spell meta-magic feat to his chosen spell for the cost of all 3 of his iterative casting actions; 1 for the spell, plus to to apply the feat. He could take no other action, save a 5-foot step.
Example 2: The same sorcerer, but with only a 15 CHA, would be limited to a maximum of 2 iterative casting actions because his CHA ability modifier is only 2, which isn't enough to allow the use of the enlarge spell meta-magic feat. However, he could use a zero level adjustment meta-magic feat, such as Energy Substitution for a cost of 1 additional iterative action.
Special: Use of the meta-magic option allows only a single spell iterative to be cast in a round, regardless of the number of iterative actions allowed to the caster.
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