You can't even though it might seem logic. Each version is a different spell, so you have to learn each one separately.
Except for psychic magic. "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..."
Considering that most higher level version of a spell can do everything a lower one can what would be the point? It will not use a lower level slot so you gain absolutely nothing from this.
Considering that most higher level version of a spell can do everything a lower one can what would be the point? It will not use a lower level slot so you gain absolutely nothing from this.
There may be something to gain - the lower spells generally have smaller material components. For example, lesser restoration has no costly component, regular restoration costs 100gp or 1000gp, while greater restoration costs 5000gp.
If all you have is a greater restoration prepared, but need something fixed that could be done with a regular restoration or lesser restoration, it would be beneficial if you could do what the OP is asking. But unless you have an ability that lets you do so, you can't.
I guess the real advantage could be for spontaneous spellcasters who could forget the lower level version after learning the higher level version, allowing them to replace it for another spell.
Several systems allow what you propose, but they aren't 'Vancian'. Our games grant the I-IX summoning spells to be cast as you want, but that's our games. We also require the learning of the lower level spells and use 'spell trees' or progressive spells. The 'house' grimoire also has numerous variations of 'theme' spells.
Must you know Lesser Restoration or Restoration to be able to learn Greater Restoration? Possibly something similar for a Sorcerer. I have a friend who's playing Sorcerer and wants to know so that they doesn't want to waste their time getting lower versions of a spell when the spell they really want is the greater version. Again, is it a necessary to to learn a lesser/normal version to learn a greater version?
No, you don't need to know Lesser Restoration or Restoration to learn Greater Restoration. But since Greater Restoration is highly expensive to cast and you have to wait a long time to get it in the first place, it is to your benefit to get Restoration if you can. To a lesser extent, this is also true of Restoration compared to Lesser Restoration.
No, you don't need to know Lesser Restoration or Restoration to learn Greater Restoration. But since Greater Restoration is highly expensive to cast and you have to wait a long time to get it in the first place, it is to your benefit to get Restoration if you can. To a lesser extent, this is also true of Restoration compared to Lesser Restoration.
Thank you very much. I will inform my friends.
Raw, no. Sorcerers can take any spell whenever.
In our campaign group, casters must take the steps on the ladder, but the Sorcerers can swap for the higher level spell when available and can downgrade the # spells as any of the lower versions (Spell IX allows the casting of spell I through VIII). Prep casters have to 'learn' the next version, but having the lower level versions help. Oops, we don't get free spells when we level up, but learning is easier. And making scrolls is cheaper.