D&D (2024) Down Leveling spells, from the Expert Classes playtest.

[doctorbadwolf]

If it's about being able to do something with your lower level slots, why not just allow 2 slots at a given level to be used as 1 slot at the level above? So if you had 2x 1st level slots, you could use them to cast a 2nd level spell (that you have prepared). And if you have 2x 1st level slots, 1x 2nd level slot and 1x 3rd level slot, you could use them all to cast a single 4th level spell (that you have prepared)...

I’d love to have that be how a class works, but I think it’s a lot more complex for all Spellcasting to work that way.

Sorcerers, or Warlocks. The ones that break the rules of how magic works. Maybe Artificer, but IMO artificer needs a higher spell progression more than it needs even more versatility.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I really hope they add more upcasting to various spells, especially in the “more targets” style.

 

[W'rkncacnter]

This basically says: "this one subclass is a prodigy at this one spell, and can do things others can't". And for a half-caster, there aren't a whole lot of 3rd level slots to use it with.

As long as they keep on making things spells instead of features, we need the flexibility to give a spell normally above level to a (sub)class. And that seems to be their direction, so this is a needed tool.

i don't see how this makes it any less cursed. in fact, it just makes me hate it more.

 

[Maxperson]

It’s part of the playtest, make sure you note it on the survey then.

I think the idea was to gatekeep spells out of lower level but let casters soak up lower level slots.

Note I’m not yet disagreeing.

I dunno what to think yet.

Where is that rule in the packet?

 

[W'rkncacnter]

Where is that rule in the packet?

10th level hunter ranger feature

 

[NotAYakk]

Please, if you are going to introduce a thread like this, be less vague?

Half of the people in the thread seem to think that downleveling spells is some kind of ability any spellcaster will have.

The Hunter subclass at level 10 has the unique ability to cast a specific 3rd level spell using 1st or 2nd level slots.

Really, it is a subclass ability that lets them convert spell slots into AOE attacks, rather than invent a new mechanic for it.

They can use a 1st level slot to do a 1d8 damage aoe, a 2nd level slot to do a 2d8 damage aoe, a 3rd level slot to do a 3d8 damage aoe, a 4th level slot to do a 4d8 damage aoe, and a 5th level slot to do a 5d8 damage aoe (assuming the spell itself isn't modified).

If you modify the spell so the baseline spell doesn't suck (say, 5d8 (22) damage), then it would be 3d8 for 1st level + 1d8 per slot level for the Hunter. For anyone else with the spell, it is a 3rd level spell that does 5d8 damage.

 

[Maxperson]

10th level hunter ranger feature

Aha! I looked for it in the glossary. Looking at the feature, I don't think it was intended for general use, but specifically for that one spell. As fireball shows, it doesn't really translate well to all spells. 2d6 to everything in a 20 foot diameter sphere is far more powerful than any other 1st level spell.

 

[darjr]

Please, if you are going to introduce a thread like this, be less vague?

Half of the people in the thread seem to think that downleveling spells is some kind of ability any spellcaster will have.

The Hunter subclass at level 10 has the unique ability to cast a specific 3rd level spell using 1st or 2nd level slots.

Really, it is a subclass ability that lets them convert spell slots into AOE attacks, rather than invent a new mechanic for it.

They can use a 1st level slot to do a 1d8 damage aoe, a 2nd level slot to do a 2d8 damage aoe, a 3rd level slot to do a 3d8 damage aoe, a 4th level slot to do a 4d8 damage aoe, and a 5th level slot to do a 5d8 damage aoe (assuming the spell itself isn't modified).

If you modify the spell so the baseline spell doesn't suck (say, 5d8 (22) damage), then it would be 3d8 for 1st level + 1d8 per slot level for the Hunter. For anyone else with the spell, it is a 3rd level spell that does 5d8 damage.

Please take a look at the video where I think they say they are experimenting with down-leveling spells and that this one spell is just an example.

Edit: I updated the op to contain the info.

 

[Maxperson]

Please take a look at the video where I think they say they are experimenting with down-leveling spells and that this one spell is just an example.

View attachment 262954

I can't tell from that whether they are talking about a general multiattack feature or specialized multiattack features of that sort in certain classes, subclasses and perhaps monsters.

 

[darjr]

@Maxperson @NotAYakk

I've updated the OP and added a link to the video at the point where they say it is a test of the feature in general.