Epic IdealistsOnce an Idealist reaches 21st level, his Idealist level continues to increase (as long as he continues to accrue levels in Idealist classes), but he no longer learns new Ideals automatically. However, he can select the Expanded Philosophy epic feat to learn new non-epic Ideals, and can select the Epic Ideal feat to learn one of the Epic Dragon Ideals detailed in chapter 4. See chapter 3 for details on these epic feats.
Expressing Epic IdealsEpic Ideals work somewhat differently from non-epic Ideals. You may not express any other Ideals while expressing an Epic Ideal, nor can you express more than one Epic Ideal at any given time. In addition, the benefits you gain differ somewhat from the non-epic Ideals:
- Ideal powers - The ideal powers from an Epic Ideal are not tiered like those of non-epic Ideals. You gain access to all ideal powers from an Epic Ideal whenever you express the Ideal.
- Dragonmage - When a dragonmage learns an Epic Ideal, he automatically counts as qualifying for that Ideal's associated Epic Sphere for the purposes of learning epic spells. When he expresses an Epic Ideal, he gains the ability to cast one epic spell of his choice from the associated sphere, or gains an additional refinement of an epic spell from that sphere that he already knows. He must satisfy the usual restrictions to choose an Apex Spell.
- Scaleshaper - A Scaleshaper who expresses an Epic Ideal treats it just like a non-epic Ideal.
- Wyrm Warrior - A Wyrm Warrior who learns an Epic Ideal counts as having the Initiation feat for that Ideal's associated epic discipline. Whenever he expresses an Epic Ideal, he gains one epic maneuver from that Ideal of his choice without needing to learn it first; however, he can only choose the Pinnacle maneuver if he already knows all the other maneuvers in that discipline.