I am seeking clarification on exactly which psychic spells can be undercast? the entry merely states "Some psychic spells can be undercast" and "[the spell] is treated exactly like the lower-level version" - does this mean that only the psychic spells with roman numerals (I, II, III, IV) can be undercast? Or could a "greater command" be undercast as a "command" using a 1st level spell slot?
Part of my confusion is that it appears that only the Psychic class itself has access to the roman numeral psychic spells (Id Insulation, Mental Barrier, Mind Thrust,Ego Whip, Intellect Fortress, Thought shield, psychic crush, tower of iron will). These spells do not appear to be on the mesmerist, ocultist, spiritualist, or medium spell lists. So if it was intended only for the I,II,II, and IV spells why would it be listed in the "Psychic Magic" section as a universal feature of psychic spells as opposed to just being a class feature unique to the Psychic class?
The other interpretation is that a mesmerist could undercast "command, Greater" (a 4th level mesmerist spell) for a "command" (as a 1st level spell), and therefore would not have to devote precious spell knowns to lesser versions of a spell already known. But it is not always clear what a "lower level version" of a specific spell is, for example: Greater Invisibility could allow undercasting for invisibility, but would it allow undercasting for invisibility circle? or vanish?
And would "charm monster" allow under casting for "charm person"? In my opinion, it quickly begins to become messy when it is not clear on which spells are "lower-level version[s]".
Thank you in advance for any helpful clarification or thoughts.
Undercasting Spells:
"Some psychic spells can be undercast. This means that the spellcaster can cast the spell at the level that he knows, or as any lower-level version of that spell, using the appropriate spell slot. When a spellcaster undercasts a spell, it is treated exactly like the lower-level version, including when determining its effect, saving throw, and other variables. For example, a psychic spellcaster who adds ego whip III to his list of spells known can cast it as ego whip I, II, or III. If he casts it as ego whip I, it is treated in all ways as that spell; it uses the text and the saving throw DC for that spell, and requires him to expend a 3rd-level spell slot.
Whenever a spontaneous spellcaster adds a spell to his list of spells known that can be undercast, he can immediately learn a spell in place of each lower-level version of that spell he knows. In essence, he loses each earlier version and can replace it with another spell of the same level that is on his spell list.
Every spell which can be undercast includes the text, "This spell can be undercast" in its description.
Basically, just those with I, II, III, and IV versions.
Thank you, I missed that text in each of the spells. I felt that the answer should a have been clear -- and so it was.
So am I missing something? Because as far as I can tell only the Psychic class gets access to spells that are able to be undercast. Why not just make undercasting a class feature of the Psychic as opposed to a feature of psychic magic at large that only the psychic can utilize.
Every spell which can be undercast includes the text, "This spell can be undercast" in its description.
Basically, just those with I, II, III, and IV versions.
Thank you, I missed that text in each of the spells. I felt that the answer should a have been clear -- and so it was.
So am I missing something? Because as far as I can tell only the Psychic class gets access to spells that are able to be undercast. Why not just make undercasting a class feature of the Psychic as opposed to a feature of psychic magic at large that only the psychic can utilize.
To allow for possible class expansions in the future... such as a Magus archetype whose spell list is drawn from the Psychic rather than the Wizard.
Paizo does its best to play the long game with it's rules construction so that it minimises the need to rebuild roads that already have traffic running on them.
Also, both the Mindblade Magus archetype and the Psychic bloodline for Sorcerer allow non-Psychic characters to pick up spells that can be undercast.
Additionally, a Samsaran of a different psychic caster class should be able to dip into the Psychic spell list and pick up choice spells. (Depending on how flexibly the GM reads the alternate racial trait.)
