Metamagic Tweak

[Amechra]

So, just a random houserule:

Wizards (and other similar "book" casters) can't apply Metamagic on the fly. Instead, they can scribe metamagic versions of spells - this uses the same rules for scribing new spells, using the new, adjusted spell level. So rather than having the Extend Spell feat and just preparing/casting Extended Cat's Grace, you have to take the feat and then spend the time and money to scribe it before you can cast it.

However, this goes both ways - if your Wizard finds a scroll of Extended Cat's Grace, you can cast it even if you don't have the Extend Spell feat. Adding such a spell to your spellbook (or preparing it from someone else's) adds +5 to the Spellcraft DC to do so.

Taking a metamagic feat eliminates that +5 DC, lets you scribe your own enhanced spells, and lets you take a spell enhanced by that feat as one of the spells you gain automatically on level-up.

[Nifft]

Wizards (and other similar "book" casters) can't apply Metamagic on the fly.

That's the normal rule.

Wizards normally have to prepare spells with Metamagic applied when they fill their slots.

Only Sorcerers & Bards can apply Metamagic "on-the-fly".

However, this goes both ways - if your Wizard finds a scroll of Extended Cat's Grace, you can cast it even if you don't have the Extend Spell feat.

I think that's also the normal rule.

[Garryl]

Here are the differences I see from the normal rules:
- Wizards can scribe and learn metamagic-modified spells, as opposed to just the base spell.
- Wizards can't prepare metamagic-modified versions of spells they know unless they've learned that version of the spell.
- Wizards can scribe metamagic-modified versions of spells they know using metamagic they have.

Near as I can tell, all this does is make taking metamagic feats and using them directly really expensive and inconvenient for Wizards, while at the same time letting them trade gold to not need them (just buy a scroll/rent a spellbook of the specific spell/metamagic combos you want) once they're high enough level to ignore the +5 Spellcraft DC to learn them.

[SorO_Lost]

You must hate Sorcerers huh?

Wizards can already know like a bajillion Spells through burrowed Spellbooks and since Spellcraft's DC for learning Spells caps at 24 by the 17th level a +5 increase "for balance" is primarily laughable. Instead they pick up the benefit of using their Bonus Feats they already get on other stuff and all Metamagics for free.