Elder Giant Magic - Why haven't I heard of this?

[Endarire]

Behold, Elder Giant Magic, a feat from Secrets of Xen'drik 135!  It's a somewhat risky way to get +3 CL on long-term buffs, but if you have a familiar or ally who can boost your Concentration check reliably (go, go gadget guidance of the avatar at-will item!) then you're golden.  And it stacks with every other CL booster I know, like Reserves of Strength.

[SorO_Lost]

I get a dozen hits and a couple handbook mention it. As well as the CL list thread, hell even my Dragon Age combo in the Dragon Handbook does too.

Stop spamming pointless threads.

[Mithril Leaf]

Classic Sor0! 

[SorO_Lost]

I was told I was too nice, so I'm working on my edge again.
I stole some kid's candy last night, it was awesome.

[Solo]

Behold, Elder Giant Magic, a feat from Secrets of Xen'drik 135!  It's a somewhat risky way to get +3 CL on long-term buffs, but if you have a familiar or ally who can boost your Concentration check reliably (go, go gadget guidance of the avatar at-will item!) then you're golden.  And it stacks with every other CL booster I know, like Reserves of Strength.

You haven't heard if it because you haven't heard of it.

[Endarire]

SorO, I doubt you can be too nice.  How hard have you tried to be too nice?

[SorO_Lost]

SorO, I doubt you can be too nice.  How hard have you tried to be too nice?

Are you asking me out?

I'm thinking Chinese, 7p tomorrow at the great wall.

[Endarire]

I'm not asking you out.  Just curious.

[Rebel7284]

Unless you're abusing Persistent Spell, there is a pretty small niche of spells you can actually boost with this.  How many long term buffs care about caster level?  Enough to spend a feat on?

[Tr011]

Unless you're abusing Persistent Spell, there is a pretty small niche of spells you can actually boost with this.  How many long term buffs care about caster level?  Enough to spend a feat on?

I think it's quiet nice for
1. longer buff-duration (with +3 CL on h/lvl buffs you end up at CL 21 having 24h buffs or CL 9 + xtend having 24h buffs or CL 5+xtend having buffs that last until you go to sleep). Also there are sometime 10min/lvl buffs that you might want to have 24h a day, that's sometimes a good strategy at higher levels and there it helps a lot.
2. permanent buffs vs. dispel.
3. permanent buff effects. Two examples that are REALLY great: Extract Gift and Hardening.
4. Out-of-combat dispels. Spellcraft 9 is met at level 6 when you still need the +3 to Dispel Magic. Later you need it for Greater Dispel Magic.
5. Out-of-combat object destruction. Hoho.
6. Out-of-combat heals. Although it isn't really strong in here except for the Heal spell, which usually isn't for out-of-combat.
7. If you trick people into thinking you wouldn't kill them so the fight didn't start already.

[SorO_Lost]

I'm not asking you out.  Just curious.

I am.

[Endarire]

Some buffs also have effects based on CL, like greater magic weapon or magic vestment.  Get the next tier of bonuses up to 3 levels sooner!

And SorO, if you're asking yourself out, why not just go?

[SorO_Lost]

Not what I meant.

[Halinn]

Not what I meant.

It is, however, what Endarire meant.

[SorO_Lost]

Indeed.

[Wyvernhand]

Some buffs also have effects based on CL, like greater magic weapon or magic vestment.  Get the next tier of bonuses up to 3 levels sooner!

This was my first thought.  I have a buffing cleric who will probably be picking this up at ECL12, and between that and Divine Spell Powah and a couple other tricks, should be able to hit CL20 Magic Vestiments and Chained Greater Magic Weapons.  Nice find.

[SorO_Lost]

Meh, Reserves of Strength let's you Stun your self for +3 to CL at ECL 1. Technically this is cast NOW, pay later which is more advantageous than EGM. Plus you can mitigate Stun whereas you're always stuck paying the round cost for EGM. Well, that and RoS works with any spell regardless of casting time and breaks CL caps...

By level 6 when EGM finally comes online the only useful trait is that fact it stacks with a better, superior, Feat.

[PlzBreakMyCampaign]

I stole some kid's candy last night, it was awesome.

The sad thing is I believe you...

[zugschef]

I stole some kid's candy last night, it was awesome.

The sad thing is I believe you...

still better than if he stole some kid and left its candy.

[Mithril Leaf]

Meh, Reserves of Strength let's you Stun your self for +3 to CL at ECL 1. Technically this is cast NOW, pay later which is more advantageous than EGM. Plus you can mitigate Stun whereas you're always stuck paying the round cost for EGM. Well, that and RoS works with any spell regardless of casting time and breaks CL caps...

By level 6 when EGM finally comes online the only useful trait is that fact it stacks with a better, superior, Feat.

However, with both you can really even more break polymorph, so that's something at least. It's not a bad feat per say, but it is indeed inferior to Reserves of Strength. Also, Reserves of Strength is second party while Elder Giant Magic is first, which may have an impact on it's inclusion in games.