Behold! The true power of Heighten Spell!

[Dragonblade]

It recently occured to me upon reading another thread regarding Heighten Spell that most players and DM's don't realize the true power of this feat.

Most people use it just to increase the DC of a spell by casting it at a higher level. But what they don't realize is that higher level spells also have a higher damage cap.

A 5th level fireball not only has +2 to the save DC but the damage cap of a 5th level spell is 15d6, not 10d6 like a 3rd level fireball.

Likewise, a 5th level Magic Missile, cast by 20th level wizard does 10d4+10 points of damage.

A 9th level fireball can do up to 25d6, assuming the casting wizard is 25th level of course.

Check out page 95 in the 3rd Edition DMG. I haven't seen the 3.5 edition DMG yet.

 

[bret]

This has been discussed before. The section you are referring to is about researching new spells.

Since there is nothing in the feat that talks of raising the damage cap, most people rule that the feat doesn't do this. Feats only do what they say they do.

 

[Dragonblade]

There is nothing in either the description of the feat or the section in DMG that discusses damage caps that prohibits a higher level fireball from doing more damage. In fact, it makes perfect sense.

Nor is it in any way unbalancing. Since the actual level of spell is increased and you have to cast it as a higher level spell, it is perfectly balanced.

In fact, I would say that if Heighten Spell only improved the save DC it is grossly underpowered compared to say, Maximize spell or Empower spell.

 

[Dragonblade]

A 5th level fireball is no more or less powerful than Cone of Cold. Nor is a 10d4+10 9th level magic missile overpowered compared to say, Wish.

Rather a 9th level magic missile that only does 5d4+5 is extremely underpowered compared to Wish or Meteor Swarm. Improved save DC not withstanding.

 

[Caliban]

Sorry, metamagic feats only affect the parameters they state that they effect.


Heighten spell doesn't change the damage a spell does, as that's determined by the spell's text (and the caster's level), not the spells level. (The spell's level is a guideline as to the damage cap when creating the spell, not a hard and fast rule. Look at Disintegrate and Harm for examples of spells that don't follow the guideline.)

 

[Dragonblade]

Sorry, but I think I'm right.

Reread page 95 again more carefully. Although the table for spell damage caps is included in the section of creating spells it is included there for reference because that is the damage cap that spells of X level have.

The Heighten Spell feat says specifically that it actually raises the spells level and "ALL effects dependent on spell level are calculated according to the heightened level..." Saving throw DCs are just one example given.

No where in any part of the feat description does it say that the damage cap that comes with higher level spells is specifically excluded.

As DMs you are free to nerf the feat as you see fit, but until WotC specifically excludes damage cap as being something that isn't heightened with the rest of the spell, I think I'm right.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Listen to Caliban, Dragonblade.

 

[Camarath]

Dragonblade tell me the section that the subsection "Damage Caps for Spells" is found. Is it not under "Creating New Spells"?

 

[Camarath]

Reread page 95 again more carefully. Although the table for spell damage caps is included in the section of creating spells it is included there for reference because that is the damage cap that spells of X level have.

This refers to the creation of balanced new spells not preexisting spells.

The Heighten Spell feat says specifically that it actually raises the spells level and "ALL effects dependent on spell level are calculated according to the heightened level..." Saving throw DCs are just one example given.

No rules, other than this guideline (for the creation of new spells), state damage caps are dependent on spell's level.

No where in any part of the feat description does it say that the damage cap that comes with higher level spells is specifically excluded.

That is because damage caps based on spell level are a factor in spell creation not in dealing with existing spells.

As DMs you are free to nerf the feat as you see fit, but until WotC specifically excludes damage cap as being something that isn't heightened with the rest of the spell, I think I'm right.

If you can site some rule source that does not explicitly deal with the creation of new spells, to defend your assertion that damage caps scale with spell level, then you might have a valid point. But, this section of rules seems to be taken out of context.