Hi all,
I've just started playing Pathfinder and I decided to play a Wizard. I love the way the class plays, but I'm having issue with some of the spell descriptions. What does "Per two caster levels" mean???
For instance the wording of Ray of Enfeeblement states - "A coruscating ray springs from your hand. You must succeed on a ranged touch attack to strike a target. The subject takes a penalty to Strength equal to 1d6+1 per two caster levels (maximum 1d6+5). The subject's Strength score cannot drop below 1. A successful Fortitude save reduces this penalty by half. This penalty does not stack with itself. Apply the highest penalty instead." (emphasis mine)
So does this mean that i get a 1d6 + 2 at 2nd level? then 1d6 + 3 at 4th?
Or does it mean 1d6+2 at 3rd level. +3 at 5th, etc. etc.
At least magic missile is clearly stated, but... its not worded exactly the same.
Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Hi all,
I've just started playing Pathfinder and I decided to play a Wizard. I love the way the class plays, but I'm having issue with some of the spell descriptions. What does "Per two caster levels" mean???
For instance the wording of Ray of Enfeeblement states - "A coruscating ray springs from your hand. You must succeed on a ranged touch attack to strike a target. The subject takes a penalty to Strength equal to 1d6+1 per two caster levels (maximum 1d6+5). The subject's Strength score cannot drop below 1. A successful Fortitude save reduces this penalty by half. This penalty does not stack with itself. Apply the highest penalty instead." (emphasis mine)
So does this mean that i get a 1d6 + 2 at 2nd level? then 1d6 + 3 at 4th?
Or does it mean 1d6+2 at 3rd level. +3 at 5th, etc. etc.At least magic missile is clearly stated, but... its not worded exactly the same.
Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks!
The first example is correct. If the spell says 'per two levels" or "for every 5 caster levels possessed", you just divide your caster level by that to get (rounding down, minimum one) to get the answer. If it said "and for every 3 caster levels thereafter" or something similar, it would be different (+1 at 2nd, +2 at 5th, +3 at 8th, etc.)
If a spell or ability says you can get bonuses "every x levels" then you gain the bonus at every level divisible by x.
Every 2 levels = 2, 4, 6, 8, etc.
Every 3 levels = 3, 6, 9, 12, etc.
Every 4 levels = 4, 8, 12, etc.
You get the idea. Good luck!
Thank you!
The pathfinder ruleset is so vast, its sometimes hard for me to grasp all the nuances sometimes... :)
The first example is correct. If the spell says 'per two levels" or "for every 5 caster levels possessed", you just divide your caster level by that to get (rounding down, minimum one) to get the answer. If it said "and for every 3 caster levels thereafter" or something similar, it would be different (+1 at 2nd, +2 at 5th, +3 at 8th, etc.)
I agree on everything except "minimum one". Unless specific calculation calls for a minimum value, there shouldn't be be minimum. So ray of enfeeblement cast by 1st level caster reduces Strength by 1d6 while one cast by 2nd level caster reduces Strength by 1d6+1.
The first example is correct. If the spell says 'per two levels" or "for every 5 caster levels possessed", you just divide your caster level by that to get (rounding down, minimum one) to get the answer. If it said "and for every 3 caster levels thereafter" or something similar, it would be different (+1 at 2nd, +2 at 5th, +3 at 8th, etc.)I agree on everything except "minimum one". Unless specific calculation calls for a minimum value, there shouldn't be be minimum. So ray of enfeeblement cast by 1st level caster reduces Strength by 1d6 while one cast by 2nd level caster reduces Strength by 1d6+1.
Seconded. In particular the no minimum of 1 part. If there is a minimum, it will say it, but by default there isn't.
(a lot of the wizard spell like abilities from specialist wizards and domain powers have a division and a minimum of 1- the spells, not so much). Generally speaking, that minimum is only there if the round down rule would cause the magic to do nothing.
So enfeeblement ray
Caster level 1: 1d6
Caster Level 2-3: 1d6 +1
Caster level 4-5: 1d6 +2
Caster level 6-7: 1d6 +3
Caster level 8-9: 1d6 +4
Caster level 10+: 1d6 +5
Some of the wording does get kind of weird. The side effect of trying to make algebra not sound like you're doing algebra.
There are some spells that specifically state "minimum bonus of X", which is what I was referring to in my first post.