Can a caster voluntarily fail a level check to overcome Spell Resistance?

[jaults]

The subject pretty much says it all. You can always fail a save if you want, right? Can you also choose to NOT overcome SR?

Thanks,
Jason

 

[Artoomis]

The subject pretty much says it all. You can always fail a save if you want, right? Can you also choose to NOT overcome SR?

Thanks,
Jason

From the SRD:

A creature can voluntarily lower its spell resistance. Doing so is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Once a creature lowers its resistance, it remains down until the creature’s next turn. At the beginning of the creature’s next turn, the creature’s spell resistance automatically returns unless the creature intentionally keeps it down (also a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity).
A creature’s spell resistance never interferes with its own spells, items, or abilities.

 

[Camarath]

I don't think that you can voluntarily fail a level check to overcome Spell Resistance.

 

[James McMurray]

I allow a spellcaster to cast a spell at a lower effective caster level if they want, to a minimum of th lowest possibly level for that spell (such as 5th for fireball). This lowers all level-based effects of the spell, bluding spell penetration.

However, there are no rules for a caster to automatically fail a spell penetration check.

 

[Artoomis]

I don't think that you can voluntarily fail a level check to overcome Spell Resistance.

Correct. You can , however, lower your resistance (see above), which would make no sense at all if you could voluntarily fail the check.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Correct. You can , however, lower your resistance (see above), which would make no sense at all if you could voluntarily fail the check.

No, that's the opposite situation.

Lowering your resistance is so that you can allow a spell someone else casts to take effect.

What he's saying is something like "I have an ally with SR 5. He's in melee with a bunch of creatures with no Spell Resistance. I can beat SR 5 without even trying, but can I cast Fireball and deliberately flub the check, so that my ally's measly SR 5 protects him, and all the bad guys get fried?"

Lowering resistance has nothing to do with what he's asking.

-Hyp.

 

[Artoomis]

No, that's the opposite situation.

Lowering your resistance is so that you can allow a spell someone else casts to take effect.

What he's saying is something like "I have an ally with SR 5. He's in melee with a bunch of creatures with no Spell Resistance. I can beat SR 5 without even trying, but can I cast Fireball and deliberately flub the check, so that my ally's measly SR 5 protects him, and all the bad guys get fried?"

Lowering resistance has nothing to do with what he's asking.

-Hyp.

Right. I was answering the wrong question.

To answer to correct question - NO.

The check is not under your control. It's not your to "flub" - it's the "property" of the entity with SR. You cannot lower how effectively your spell penetrates SR.

I see no reason not to allow a feat for this, though.

 

[3d6]

The subject pretty much says it all. You can always fail a save if you want, right? Can you also choose to NOT overcome SR?

Thanks,
Jason

No, but you can cast a spell at a lower caster level.

CASTER LEVEL

A spell’s power often depends on its caster level, which for most spellcasting characters is equal to your class level in the class you’re using to cast the spell.

You can cast a spell at a lower caster level than normal, but the caster level you choose must be high enough for you to cast the spell in question, and all level-dependent features must be based on the same caster level.

In the event that a class feature, domain granted power, or other special ability provides an adjustment to your caster level, that adjustment applies not only to effects based on caster level (such as range, duration, and damage dealt) but also to your caster level check to overcome your target’s spell resistance and to the caster level used in dispel checks (both the dispel check and the DC of the check).

 

[jaults]

Thanks, Hyp, that's exactly what I was asking. Of course, it was SR 24, a summoned Earth Elemental, and an Antimagic Field, but that is what I wanted to know... Thanks for your help, guys.

Jason