My Favorite MetaMagic Feats in D&D 3.5 are from Complete Mage

I am in the process of adding a few wizard levels to my rogue and at 5th level she earns a metamagic feat.  I've never been very satisfied with the metamagic feat list in the PH, so I was pleased when I found the "Reserved" class of metamagic feats in the "Complete Mage".  These feats allow your character to do some minor but potentially useful magic all day long; as long as they hold some magical energy in reserve.  That means your character has to refrain from casting certain spells; because once those spells are cast, you no longer have the reserve energy remaining to use your reserve feat.

There are twenty five reserve feats in the book, and they allow things like:

• The ability to cast a 3d6 lightning bold every round all day
• The ability to cast a 3d6 fireball every round all day
• The ability to teleport a short distance every round all day
• The ability to fly for one round, but every round all day
• The ability to summon an elemental every round all day
• The ability to detect magic every round all day
• I think you get the picture

Each reserve feat is keyed on a type of spell.  For example, the Storm Bolt reserve feat allows you to cast a line of electricity that does a d6/level of damage every round as long as you have a spell of the electricity type currently in mind that is 3rd level or higher and is uncast.  Also, the caster gains +1 Caster Level on all electricity spells cast.

So get your hands on that book if you want a good alternative to the PH list of metamagic feats!