The ability to empower and maximize a spell differs slightly in mechanics. In a nutshell, the empower spell takes up a lower spell level while the maximize spell is used for higher levels. Fireballs are a prime example of an empowered spell. They deal sixty plus one half of 10d6 damage and deal one-half as much damage to all nearby creatures. However, they work on different parts of a target.
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Fireballs deal 60 plus one half of 10d6 damage
The initial damage of Fireballs is 60 plus one half of 10d6 damage, but this spell deals half that amount of damage at the end of a creature’s turn. This spell is a waste of 3rd level spell slots, but it does deal more damage than a Fireball does. The downside of this spell is that you have to hit your targets 65% of the time to maximize the damage it does. Fortunately, there are a few options available.
Consecrated talent is a maximized talent
A creature can only have one instance of the Consecrated talent at a time. During a consecration, the observer must sense the creature to determine its alignment. A creature can only have one instance of this talent active at a time, and the second casting of the same talent at a higher level replaces the first one. It is possible to apply consecration to objects with touch, but you must choose the center of the area first.
Rolling more dice
The number of dice needed for an empowered spell is dependent on the spell’s base damage. In some cases, rerolling 1s has the most impact. Larger damage dice increase additional damage. A spell that uses a large number of dice can stack with itself to do more damage. For example, rolling a 30 plus 5d6 empowered will increase the damage of a spell by 20%.
Casting a studied talent
The benefits of casting an empowered spell are similar to those of a fully empowered spell, except that an empowered spell uses one extra spell slot. Casting a spell empowered by this talent only takes one spell slot higher than its normal level. This means that an empowered scorching ray deals 24 points of damage (plus one half of the normal amount) instead of the usual 4d6. The same is true for spells that are empowered by studying a talent.
