Cast spout as a level 2 summoner, how many D4 do I roll?
Level 3?
Level 4?
Level 5?
Level 6?
Level 7?
Level 8?
Level 13?
Huge fight at the table over how heightening works. Shouldn't there just be a table?
thanks!
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Cast spout as a level 2 summoner, how many D4 do I roll?
Spout starts as a level 1 spell. So a level 2 summoner would cast it at level 1 because that is what the spell is heightened to.
So character level 2 = spell level 1 = 1d4 + modifier.
At character level 3, the Summoner would be casting their cantrips at spell level 2. That is a +1 heighten from the cantrip's baseline of spell level 1.
So character level 3 = spell level 2 = 2d4 + modifier.
The rest would continue in that fashion. To jump ahead, at character level 13, the Summoner is casting cantrips at spell level 7. Which is +6 above the baseline of level 1. So it would be rolling 7d4 + modifier.
character level 13 = spell level 7 = 7d4 + modifier.
And to an extent, there is a table. A lot of the standard cantrips all follow this pattern of starting as a level 1 spell and gaining a die of damage per spell heighten. So looking at the table for Summoner spell slots, you can look at any chosen character level and find the highest of the two spell slots that they can cast. Then since the cantrips are heightened at +1 die per +1 heighten, then they have the same number of damage dice as the spell level.
A spell level 4 Spout will deal 4d4 damage.
A spell level 8 Spout will deal 8d4 damage.
That pattern does not hold true for other spells such as Daze or Acid Splash though.
Also, there are some focus spells that auto-heighten that don't start at level 1. They also don't fit this quick pattern, though they do follow the full rules for heightening. An example is Ranger's Soothing Mist. The spell text starts the spell with 2d8 and it heightens at +1 die per +1 heighten, but the spell starts as a level 2 spell. So casting it as a level 3 spell it would only be a +1 heighten, and so would only be healing 3d8. Not 4d8 if you accidentally assumed that the spell started at level 1 and that level 3 was a +2 heighten effect.
So character level 2 = spell level 1 = 1d4 + modifier.
And won't it be nice when we are all using 'spell rank' instead of having to make the distinction between character level and spell level?
So character level 2 = spell level 1 = 1d4 + modifier.And won't it be nice when we are all using 'spell rank' instead of having to make the distinction between character level and spell level?
Not that I am against the change to terms, but for the last 40+ years there has been no issue with calling them spell levels. I think this is more a new generation thing.
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Not that I am against the change to terms, but for the last 40+ years there has been no issue with calling them spell levels. I think this is more a new generation thing.So character level 2 = spell level 1 = 1d4 + modifier.And won't it be nice when we are all using 'spell rank' instead of having to make the distinction between character level and spell level?
No, it's always been an issue, just a fairly minor one.
The D&D1 Player's Handbook from 1978 even had a sidebar explaining that they had considered changing the terminology due to 'level' having four different meaning in game, but decided to stay consistent with the 'basic' game.
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Not that I am against the change to terms, but for the last 40+ years there has been no issue with calling them spell levels. I think this is more a new generation thing.So character level 2 = spell level 1 = 1d4 + modifier.And won't it be nice when we are all using 'spell rank' instead of having to make the distinction between character level and spell level?
It's a "generational thing" in that experienced players are used to it and only new players get confused.