scorching ray rule question regarding when you get each additional ray

[wizardspawn]

I have a question, I have alway's DM'd and played scorching ray so that:

You get one after you reach third. At 7 you get 3, at 11 your capped. It’s like any other spell with a level range as soon as you hit the minimum you get the effect. 4 – 7 = 2, 8 – 11 = 3. I had this same discussion with blake when he told me I was doing it wrong and to do it the way I am now.

Works the same way on every spell. Magic Missile is the same.

You may fire one ray, plus one additional ray for every four levels beyond 3rd (to a maximum of three rays at 11th level). Each ray requires a ranged touch attack to hit and deals 4d6 points of fire damage.

Magic Missle language

For every two caster levels beyond 1st, you gain an additional missile—two at 3rd level, three at 5th, four at 7th, and the maximum of five missiles at 9th level or higher

I have other another DM who agreed with me and now I have a few players challenging me which is fine because I like to play making sure I understand the rules...Is the assessment above correct

[voideternal]

wizardspawn wrote:

4 – 7 = 2, 8 – 11 = 3

It took me a while to understand what you meant here.

The spell descriptions say when you receive additional missiles / rays.
For Magic Missile:
CL 1: 1 missile
CL 3: 2 missiles
CL 5: 3 missiles
CL 7: 4 missiles
CL 9: 5 missiles

For Scorching Ray:
CL 3 (or 4 for Sorcerer): 1 ray
CL 7: 2 rays
CL 11: 3 rays

Thus a CL 5 Wizard who casts Scorching Ray would get 1 ray.

Edit: Further clarification:

Scorching Ray wrote:

...plus one additional ray for every four levels beyond 3rd...

When you are 3rd level, are you 4 levels beyond 3rd level? No. The first time you are 4 levels beyond 3rd level is at level 7. Thus, a 3rd level caster doesn't get the 'one additional ray'.

Edit 2: Woah, just realized there are two threads. Tentatively flagged for double post.

[Liz Courts]

Duplicate thread, please go here.