How does heighten spell actually work?

[Xyllen]

does a spell that has two meta-magic feats say quicken spell and heighten spell work for the effective spell level?
example (1)
heightened (1level)and quickened(4 slots) magic missile, is the effective level 6 or 2
Example (2)
heightened (0level) and quickened(4 slots) magic missile, is the effective level 5 or just 1
Really looking to see if just my taking heighten spell and adding it too other meta-magics so the effective spell level goes up along with the new spell slot used.

[blahpers]

Example 1 has effective level 2 but requires at least a 6th-level slot.
Example 2 has effective level 1 but requires at least a 5th-level slot.

Quicken Spell doesn't raise the effective spell level of a spell by itself. There's no reason to think that it would just because you applied another metamagic feat to the same spell.

[Von Marshal]

Saw a few older post that agree and disagree with blahpers here.
It seems this question has been around for awhile. FAQ tag is a good thing.

[moon glum]

Heighten spell is a metamagic feat that increases level of the spell slot required for the spell a number equal to the increase in the spell's level. So, a glitterdust spell (2nd level) heightened to be a 6th level spell increases the spell slot required for glitterdust by 4. If you then widened glitterdust it would use a 9th level slot, but be equal to a 6th level spell for purposes of computing saving throw DC, what sorts of globes of invulnerability it could pass through, etc..

[concerro]

How it works, and why. Click this link.

[Gauss]

Example 1 would occupy a level 6 spell slot but count as a second level spell for purposes such as globe of invulnerability and saving throw DCs (yes, I know MM doesnt have a save).

Example 2 would occupy a level 5 spell slot but count as a first level spell for purposes such as globe of invulnerability and saving throw DCs (again, MM doesnt have a save).

This has been my understanding in 3.0/3.5 and I havent seen anything in 3.P that changes that understanding.

The only two uses for Heighten are to raise the spell DC and to bypass effects like globe of invulnerability.

- Gauss

edit: 48second ninja by moon glum...dang!

[Sangalor]

Gauss wrote:

...

The only two uses for Heighten are to raise the spell DC and to bypass effects like globe of invulnerability.
...

That and it lets you fulfill prerequisites like "being able to cast 2 3rd level divination spells" with 2 lower level spells (e.g. 2 1st level spells or 1 1st and 1 2nd level spell etc.) since you change the spell with heighten. At least it most likely would - I am not 100% sure of it, but wanted to add this thought :-)

[wraithstrike]

I think for the purpose of prereqs they mean the actual spell level, not the effective spell level.

[Sangalor]

wraithstrike wrote:

I think for the purpose of prereqs they mean the actual spell level, not the effective spell level.

You may be right and you might not. But your "effective" level argument sounds good, so I would tend to agree it does not work :-)

Well, it was just a quick thought. Would be a nice way to save spells, though ;-)