Does Heighten Spell increase "dice caps?"

[Sagiro]

This came up during a game last night:

Does the Heighten Spell Feat increase the maximum dice that are rolled for damage dealing spells?

For instance, say a 17th level wizard casts a Heightened Fireball, heightened to a 5th level spell. Ordinarily, fireball is capped at 10d6, but that's a general rule about 3rd level spells. 5th level spells are capped at 15d6 (e.g. cone of cold, flame strike). Does this Heightened Fireball do 15d6, or 10d6?

From the SRD:

A heightened spell has a higher spell level than normal (up to a maximum of 9th level). Unlike other metamagic feats, Heighten Spell actually increases the effective level of the spell that it modifies. All effects dependent on spell level (such as saving throw DCs and ability to penetrate a lesser globe of invulnerability) are calculated according to the heightened level. The heightened spell is as difficult to prepare and cast as a spell of its effective level.

It doesn't say anything about max dice, but is it implied by the very nature of a 3rd level spell vs. a 5th level spell?

Opinions are welcome, but quotes from official sources are even better.

Thanks!

-Sagiro

 

[Nytewolf]

No it does not increase the damage cap. It only increases the effective level of the spell. Which would increase the save DC and allow it to bypass such effects as Globe of Invulnerability and such.

 

[3d6]

That's not a general rule for 3rd level spells. There is a general guideline for the creation of new spells that a 3rd level arcane spell that affects an area should have a damage cap of about 10 dice. Its a guideline for the creation of new spells, and in no way is a rule regarding the functioning of existing spells.

 

[Pyrex]

No.

If you want to increase the die cap you need the Epic Metamagic feat Enhance Spell.

Damage caps are not an inherent function of the spells level, but a general guideline for design.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Earlier discussions on this issue include:

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=58457&highlight=heighten

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=57782&highlight=heighten

I don't know if you'll find any useful information in them though!

 

[dcollins]

Does the Heighten Spell Feat increase the maximum dice that are rolled for damage dealing spells?

I'll also add another "no". The "damage cap" table you're looking at provides guidelines for newly-invented spells; they are not rules that effect existing spell descriptions in any way (for example, the table is not the core rules SRD).

The only place you need to look for level-effects is the actual spell description itself. The maximum damage of the spells you mention are not affected by the level of the spell.