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Question regarding spell levels... (lemmy.ca)
submitted 9 months ago by Pratai@lemmy.ca to c/baldurs_gate_3@lemmy.world
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Would there be a reason to cast a higher level version of a spell if there is no difference between it and it’s lower level version?

For instance:

Speak With Animals II seems to be the same as Speak With Animals I. There are other examples with other spells, but is there a reason to cast the different versions? Cost seems the same, effect seems the same…

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[-] ono@lemmy.ca 20 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Yes: If you're out of spell slots at the base level, but have higher level spell slots remaining.

It's also possible that upcasting makes your spell more resistant to an enemy's Counterspell, depending on how Larian implemented the mechanics. I believe this would follow 5e RAW, but I haven't tested it in this game.

Edit: Rephrased for clarity.

[-] pyrflie@lemm.ee 5 points 9 months ago

Yes, upcasted Counterspell is functioning in game. If you really want to stop a spell cast with the highest spell slot.

[-] ono@lemmy.ca 2 points 9 months ago

I'm not talking about upcasting Counterspell, but upcasting some other spell to make it less likely for a Counterspell against it to succeed.

[-] pyrflie@lemm.ee 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Both directions work since the mechanics of Counterspell function based on the spell slot used to cast. Same or better spell slot autocounters; everything else is a spell attack roll against 10 + the spell slot of the the cast spell.

Edit: I probably shouldn't have use spell attack to describe it but it's basically the same minus the equipment and ability bonuses that apply to attack rolls specifically.

[-] s12@sopuli.xyz 2 points 9 months ago

I thought RAW couunterspell ignores if a spell has been upcasted. I remember something about it only taking the original spell level.

[-] ono@lemmy.ca 4 points 9 months ago

The Player's Handbook says this:

When a spellcaster casts a spell using a slot that is of a higher level than the spell, the spell assumes the higher level for that casting.

Counterspell's description says nothing to override this.

[-] AdmiralAckbar@programming.dev 7 points 9 months ago

Some scale and some don't. At least on the PC version it tells you if there is any benefit to casting with a higher spell slot.

[-] pyrflie@lemm.ee 4 points 9 months ago

Shield is the best and most common answer to this situation as it only ever adds 5 to AC, but if that 5 AC is the difference between your character going down then it's worth a 2nd or even 3rd lvl slot for an additional cast.

[-] Morgikan@lemm.ee 3 points 9 months ago

Because you've already expended your spell slots for that level.

[-] fqdnDOTcom@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago

No, if there’s no stated difference for upcasting then there’s no reason to do so

this post was submitted on 20 Sep 2023
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