Heighten Spell feat - how to use? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Heighten Spell feat - how to use? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
HandOfDoom
09-25-07, 01:26 PM Hello fellow DMs. I have a headaching problem trying to determine the usage of Heighten Spell feat. According to SRD and RAW:

HEIGHTEN SPELL [METAMAGIC]
Benefit: A heightened spell has a higher spell level than normal (up to a maximum of 9th level). Unlike other metamagic feats, Heighten Spell actually increases the effective level of the spell that it modifies. All effects dependent on spell level (such as saving throw DCs and ability to penetrate a lesser globe of invulnerability) are calculated according to the heightened level. The heightened spell is as difficult to prepare and cast as a spell of its effective level.

Does this mean that if Clr9 picks this feat as his 9th level feat, any of the spells he is then casting will be treated as 5th level Cleric spells when checking for Saving Throws and Spell Penetration? And if I understood right this doesn't even sacrifice any of the higher spell slots...

Next session is on Saturday so I would really appreciate your insight for this matter.
Puca
09-25-07, 01:31 PM Does this mean that if Clr9 picks this feat as his 9th level feat, any of the spells he is then casting will be treated as 5th level Cleric spells when checking for Saving Throws and Spell Penetration?Not exactly.

OK, so Im a 9th level cleric, and I plan on preparing Hold Person. The DC of that spell is low, 12+wis mod, and I really want it to work, so I prepare it using Heightened Spell in a fifth-level slot.

Now its DC is 15+wis mod, and what luck I was able to cast it through that Globe of Invulnerability.

And if I understood right this doesn't even sacrifice any of the higher spell slots No. To gain any benefit, the spell must be prepared in the higher slot.
ruff0126
09-25-07, 01:32 PM No, it must be applied to each spell like a normal meta magic feat. The only diffrence is you don't apply a set number you can choose to raise theat spell by 1 level or 40 you know what ever you can cast.

If you apply highten to divine favor 1st level spell and you decide you want to add 4 levels to it. Divine favor now acts as a 5th level spell and is perpared in a 5th level slot.
Anathema
09-25-07, 01:36 PM Not any spell. You have to prepare a lower level spell in a higher level spell slot.

An example would be preparing Magic Missile in a 4th level spell slot to bypass a lesser globe of invulnerability.

Save DC is also based on the level of the spell. Instead of 10 + 3 for a Wizard's fireball, if Fireball was prepared in a 6th level slot it would be 10 + 6.

Without this feat preparing a spell in a higher level spell slot provides no benefit.
goawayugh
09-25-07, 01:36 PM Heighten Spell changes the actual level of the spell. It is not just a modified spell slot. If you Heighten a 1st level spell to a 5th level slot, it is, in ALL ways, treated as a 5th level spell.
hovnarr
09-26-07, 06:59 AM It should be noted that other metamagic feats do not provide this benefit. An empowered fireball, while prepared in a 5th level spell slot, is still treated as a level 3 spell as normal, and is stopped by Minor Globe etc.
StevenO
09-26-07, 01:54 PM Heighten Spell changes the actual level of the spell. It is not just a modified spell slot. If you Heighten a 1st level spell to a 5th level slot, it is, in ALL ways, treated as a 5th level spell.
Heighten spell changes the spells actual level and is treated as the level it is prepared as.

Note that this does NOT change the spell beyond the DC and what defenses stop it. A Summon Monster I perpared in a 9th level slot is now treated as a 9th level spell but it still follows the restriction of SM 1 and is NOT treated as Summon Monster IX.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
HandOfDoom 09-25-07, 01:26 PM	Hello fellow DMs. I have a headaching problem trying to determine the usage of Heighten Spell feat. According to SRD and RAW: HEIGHTEN SPELL [METAMAGIC] Benefit: A heightened spell has a higher spell level than normal (up to a maximum of 9th level). Unlike other metamagic feats, Heighten Spell actually increases the effective level of the spell that it modifies. All effects dependent on spell level (such as saving throw DCs and ability to penetrate a lesser globe of invulnerability) are calculated according to the heightened level. The heightened spell is as difficult to prepare and cast as a spell of its effective level. Does this mean that if Clr9 picks this feat as his 9th level feat, any of the spells he is then casting will be treated as 5th level Cleric spells when checking for Saving Throws and Spell Penetration? And if I understood right this doesn't even sacrifice any of the higher spell slots... Next session is on Saturday so I would really appreciate your insight for this matter.
Puca 09-25-07, 01:31 PM	Does this mean that if Clr9 picks this feat as his 9th level feat, any of the spells he is then casting will be treated as 5th level Cleric spells when checking for Saving Throws and Spell Penetration?Not exactly. OK, so Im a 9th level cleric, and I plan on preparing Hold Person. The DC of that spell is low, 12+wis mod, and I really want it to work, so I prepare it using Heightened Spell in a fifth-level slot. Now its DC is 15+wis mod, and what luck I was able to cast it through that Globe of Invulnerability. And if I understood right this doesn't even sacrifice any of the higher spell slots No. To gain any benefit, the spell must be prepared in the higher slot.
ruff0126 09-25-07, 01:32 PM	No, it must be applied to each spell like a normal meta magic feat. The only diffrence is you don't apply a set number you can choose to raise theat spell by 1 level or 40 you know what ever you can cast. If you apply highten to divine favor 1st level spell and you decide you want to add 4 levels to it. Divine favor now acts as a 5th level spell and is perpared in a 5th level slot.
Anathema 09-25-07, 01:36 PM	Not any spell. You have to prepare a lower level spell in a higher level spell slot. An example would be preparing Magic Missile in a 4th level spell slot to bypass a lesser globe of invulnerability. Save DC is also based on the level of the spell. Instead of 10 + 3 for a Wizard's fireball, if Fireball was prepared in a 6th level slot it would be 10 + 6. Without this feat preparing a spell in a higher level spell slot provides no benefit.
goawayugh 09-25-07, 01:36 PM	Heighten Spell changes the actual level of the spell. It is not just a modified spell slot. If you Heighten a 1st level spell to a 5th level slot, it is, in ALL ways, treated as a 5th level spell.
hovnarr 09-26-07, 06:59 AM	It should be noted that other metamagic feats do not provide this benefit. An empowered fireball, while prepared in a 5th level spell slot, is still treated as a level 3 spell as normal, and is stopped by Minor Globe etc.
StevenO 09-26-07, 01:54 PM	Heighten Spell changes the actual level of the spell. It is not just a modified spell slot. If you Heighten a 1st level spell to a 5th level slot, it is, in ALL ways, treated as a 5th level spell. Heighten spell changes the spells actual level and is treated as the level it is prepared as. Note that this does NOT change the spell beyond the DC and what defenses stop it. A Summon Monster I perpared in a 9th level slot is now treated as a 9th level spell but it still follows the restriction of SM 1 and is NOT treated as Summon Monster IX.