Show Notes
On this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss upcasting spells in DnD and Pathfinder. Casting a spell above its base spell level is a crucial mechanic in both DnD 5e and in Pathfinder 2e, and understanding how it works and how to put it to good effect is crucial to understanding spellcasting.
Find Ash on StartPlaying.Games.
If you’ve enjoyed the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and rate us on Spotify or your favorite podcast app. It’s a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners.
Materials Referenced in this Episode
- RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes
- Content from RPGBOT.net
- DnD 5e
- Player’s Handbook (affiliate link)
- Big Bad Booklet by Hitpoint Press
- Other Stuff
- Lamentations of the Flame Princess (affiliate link)
- Roll20
- Veins of the Earth
Transcript
Check back soon!
Hello,
Thanks for producing an excellent podcast. It’s great to listen to.
I am mainly a Pathfinder 2e GM and I wanted to correct a statement done in the podcast. Wizards in PF2e does not need to learn spells at higher levels, they just prepare them in higher level spell slots and enjoy the new effects that come from casting the spells from those levels.
As a spontaneous caster, you’d need to learn it at the level you want to cast it unless you select it as a signature spell. This can be seen as a meaningless restriction but considering that lvl 2 Invisibility and lvl 4 Invisibility are the same spell in PF2 but two different spells in 5e it’s not a big difference. The end result is the same except that in PF2 you have the option of spending a signature spell selection on Invisibility to avoid relearning it.
Further, I’d like to point out that upcasting is even more important in PF2 than in PF1 or DnD5e and at same time still making level 1 slots useful. Consider Heal as an example. In other editions higher level spells will just outshine lower level spells in such a way that upcasting the lower level spells isn’t competitive. Not so in PF2. Heal remains competitive from level 1 to level 20. At the same time it enjoys the character level scaling mechanic of 5e so casting Fear from a level 1 slot is a valid option even for a high level character.
Also, the Incapacitation trait is worth mentioning. Some spells are so powerful (or “save or suck”-y) that there is a mechanic that basically forces you to use your high level slots for casting them, making upcasting a necessity for these spells to stay competitive and creates a nice complement to just numerical increases from upcasting.
Further, numerical scaling in PF2 is very streamlined. A lot of spells do 2d6 per spell level. Shape, format, damage type and other stuff can change but that’s a general rule of thumb. Getting higher level spells doesn’t outshine (substantially) the lower level spells that can be upcasted in raw damage, but they add features. Burning Hands and Cone of Cold are good examples. Cone of Cold does *only* 2d6 more damage from a 5th level slot (12d6 vs 10d6) but does cold damage and is a bigger cone.
Many thanks,
Martin
Thanks for the correction! I definitely had the wizard bit wrong.