Using Subtitute Domain Spell for Domain Devotion feats

[Hallack]

A friend and I are discussing the use of the spell Substitute Domain as a trick to gain varying Domain feats.

In this instance it is for a game where DM is allowing the spell to gain access to Domains outside diety/principle's normal scope. 

The Trick is simple...

• Cast Substitute Domain spell and choose a new Domain
• The trade out that newly acquired Domain for the corresponding Domain feat.

Normal

• Normally you can only gain Domains granted by deity/principle
• Normally you can only take Domain feat that is thematically appropriate

The main book needed for this is Complete Champion for the spell and Domain feats.

Of note, the character using this trick is using the spontaneous casting cleric variant so this REALLY opens up his spell choices.

Any thoughts on this nifty little trick? 

[Jackinthegreen]

Which version of spontaneous cleric are you using?

As is written, it'd last for one day per level, so you'd "only" get the domain feat during that time.  It's a nice bit of flexibility, although clerics usually tend to be pretty flexible anyway.  Make sure you've got a Pearl of Power or two for it.

You could get the Spell domain for Anyspell shenanigans too, which opens up some arcane spells.

Here's a large list of domains. http://home.comcast.net/~ftm3/ASMoNM/domains.html

[Black Knight]

I'm using the Spontaneous Divine Caster version from the Unearthed Arcana book.

[Jackinthegreen]

The thoughts on this trick should be pretty obvious.

With Spontaneous Domain known, and nixing the bit about it only being from your deity or a certain theme, you have access to any domain, its granted powers, and perhaps a devotion feat.  This is quite nice and powerful, and would probably take the usually T2 caster into T1.

[Hallack]

..., and perhaps a devotion feat. 

It is this less obvious portion in particular that we had been discussing.

At first I was disagreeing that he could trade in his newly acquired domains for corresponding Devotions.  But on further reading it does seem to require the trade when you first gain access to a domain.  So, a 20th level cleric seemingly can decide to trade domain for devotion.

I wanted to share this discussion here mostly for the Substitute Domain/Devotion trick aspect as I do not recall ever seeing it discussed before. 

Another tool for the optimizing toolbox even in cases where Diety domains are being enforced.

[Jackinthegreen]

Correct, once you gain access to a domain you can elect to trade its granted power for a devotion feat.  While not explicitly said, when you no longer have access to a certain domain you don't get to keep its devotion feat either, unless you got it through a normal feat slot.