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.
If I have spell specialization for Mind Thrust IV, does it also apply (+2 caster level) if I undercast?
What about if I have spell perfection on Psychic Crush V, does it apply (free metamagic, doubling of my Spell Focus bonus) if I cast Psychic Crush III?
My feeling is RAW no, but that it really shouldn't be a problem, given that these sorts of feats were written before
If not, what if I apply metamagic and the undercasting surge phrenic amplification?
Undercast Surge (Su): When the psychic undercasts a spell, she can spend points from her phrenic pool to increase the spell's effective level, essentially using up a lower-level spell slot to cast a higher-level version of the spell. This costs 2 points per spell level increased. She can't use this ability to cast a version higher than the version she knows. For instance, a psychic who knows mind thrust III but not mind thrust IV could cast mind thrust II and spend 2 points to treat it as mind thrust III, but couldn't spend 4 points to treat it as mind thrust IV. This amplification can be linked only to spells that can be undercast.
Does this let me cast spells with an effective level over my maximum spell level, the only way to do it without using a Metamagic Rod?
Example: I know Mind Thrust VI (6th level) and can cast 9th level spells. So I undercast a Persistent, Empowered, Dazing Mind Mind Thrust I (9th spell level slot after metamagic slots), and spend 10 phrenic pool points (ouch) to make it work like Mind Thrust VI?
bump