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If feat or some effect grants you increased caster level in regards to some spell you cast, does that same bonus apply on caster level checks to overcome Spell Resistance?
Example:
Level 3 Wizard casts Magic Missile
He has Varisian Tattoo as a feat so his caster level with Evocations is +4 in total.
Is his caster level check Vs SR 1d20+3 or 1d20+4?
the latter 1d20+4
Yes in specific situations.
Example:
If you have a +1 to caster level checks when casting magic missile that won't help you at all for overcoming SR if you are not casting magic missile.
The reason is that your caster level is X in all normal situations. It is (X+1) when casting magic missile. So if you are casting magic missile then you get the +1 when overcoming SR. Otherwise you don't.
Using your above example, the caster level check is 1d20+4 when casting magic missile, and 1d20+3 otherwise.
If you just have a +1 caster level from an item or feat that is always active then that +1 always applies.
A Caster Level Check is made by rolling 1d20 and adding the caster level of the character or creature casting the spell.
An interesting one
Caster level of the character has not changed only the spell and the caster level check is somewhat independent of the spell being cast.
but at the same time varisain tattoo explicitly says it increase the caster level for the spell.
mmm I could go either way
Your caster level is normally your class levels in a casting class.
The feat you mentioned makes you cast as one level higher for the specific situation. You can't cast as a level 3 and level 4 caster at the same time. Since you are casting as a level 4 caster when using magic missile that is what is applied to your check to overcome the SR.
You can also post this to the ask James Jacobs thread. I am sure that I am correct though.
Thanks for input Concerro and don't get me wrong, I am kind of leaning myself toward your interpretation also, I just wanna be sure about it.
I understand. Basically you always add the relevant modifiers if they apply to the current situation.
Another example.
You cast the spell at a caster level of +1. I think we can agree on that.
So if that is the caster level the spell was cast at then that is also the caster level used for all instances of the spell including overcoming SR.