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

[LazarX]

You get 2 rays at 7th, and 3 rays at 11th and higher. Some DM's might allow an Intensified Scorching Ray to top out at 4 rays at 15th.

[wraithstrike]

With magic missiles you are correct. There is no other reasonable interpretation that I can think of.

edit: The scorching ray example is also correct.

[Caliban_]

wraithstrike wrote:

With magic missiles you are correct. There is no other reasonable interpretation that I can think of.

edit: The scorching ray example is also correct.

You don't get the 2nd ray for Scorching Ray until you hit caster level 7, and you don't get the 3rd until you hit caster level 11.

The OP's example would have a 4th lvl caster getting two rays, for 8d6 damage. Way beyond the normal damage curve.

[wraithstrike]

Caliban_ wrote:

wraithstrike wrote:

With magic missiles you are correct. There is no other reasonable interpretation that I can think of.

edit: The scorching ray example is also correct.

You don't get the 2nd ray for Scorching Ray until you hit caster level 7, and you don't get the 3rd until you hit caster level 11.

The OP's example would have a 4th lvl caster getting two rays, for 8d6 damage. Way beyond the normal damage curve.

I realized later on that he had it wrong. He has 2 other duplicate post so I let him know in one of the other ones that his method was confusing.

[Liz Courts]

Duplicate thread, please go here.