Question about "Spell Immunity"

[gfunk]

With the Clerical spell "Spell Immunity" you can choose one or more spells of 4th level or less for which you are immune for the duration.

My question is, what if you choose a spell with access from multiple classes? For instance, Flame Strike is Drd 4 and Clr 5. If you choose to be immune to Flame Strike are you immune to the 5th level version as well?

Thanks!

 

[Mahali]

Yes.
The spell is considered as it's lowest castable level for such purposes as Spell Immunity. A Heightened spell is the only way to get a below 5th lvl to work so a 5th lvl Magic Missle will still drill you.

 

[smetzger]

Yes.
The spell is considered as it's lowest castable level for such purposes as Spell Immunity. A Heightened spell is the only way to get a below 5th lvl to work so a 5th lvl Magic Missle will still drill you.

I hadn't thought this was the case. Do you have a reference for this ruling?

 

[Dr. Zoom]

A Heightened spell is the only way to get a below 5th lvl to work so a 5th lvl Magic Missle will still drill you.

I checked the FAQ and it disagrees. As long as the spell is on the first level list, Spell Immunity protects against it, metamagic notwithstanding.

From the FAQ:

If a cleric casts spell immunity and chooses, say,
fireball, would the spell stop a heightened fireball? Or a
fireball that has been subjected to another metamagic
feat?
Yes, a fireball that has been modified by metamagic is
still a fireball. The metamagic fireball also can be
counterspelled by a normal fireball.

 

[Mahali]

Skip answered differently in someones e-mail. Try searching Wizards message board and see if it's still there. For reason he quoted

HEIGHTEN SPELL [Metamagic]
You can cast a spell as if it were higher level than it actually is.
Benefit: A heightened spell has a higher spell level than normal
(up to 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 minor globe of invulnerability) are calculated according to the heightened level.

But either way you wanna play it, seems there are precedents for both although the FAQ is always offical where as e-mails and Sage Advice aren't.

 

[kreynolds]

But either way you wanna play it, seems there are precedents for both although the FAQ is always offical where as e-mails and Sage Advice aren't.

A good chunk of the FAQ is Sage Advice. If you don't believe me, check out all the questions in the recent Dragon mags regarding Oriental adventures. They were also added to the FAQ, and they aren't the only ones.

 

[nwn_deadman]

You messed up on the level bit.

The caster that cast the spell from HIS spell list will determine if spell immunity will work against it or not.

A spell with a caster level 4 for one class and 5 for another means nothing.

If it is 5th level on the cast list if pass the immunity EVEN if it is 4th level on another class list.

 

[nwn_deadman]

Where spell immunity is concerned it does NOT matter if you use heighten spell or not, a 50th level magic missle is STILL a magic missle.

 

[Mahali]

Spell Immunity:
The warded creature is immune to the effects of one specified spell for every four levels you have. The spells must be of 4th level or lower.

I don't care if it's STILL A MAGIC MISSLE. It's now a 5th level Magic Missle and no longer effected by Spell Immunity.

Player: I cast a Heightened 5th level Fireball at him.
DM: He has Spell Immunity up to that.
Player: Thats okay, it's a 5th level spell and goes right through Spell Immunity.

Send an e-mail to thesage@wizards.com with the description of Spell Immunity and Heighten Spell and ask what the effect would be. It won't be what is in the FAQ which clearly breaks the description of Heighten Spell.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

I believe that you're mistakenly interpreting the precedent here. Spell Immunity and Minor Globe of Invulnerability have radically different mechanics. Spell immunity grants immunity to specific spells that have to be level x or below. Minor globe of invulnerability grants immunity to all spells of 3rd level or lower. With Spell immunity, the determining factor is the spell's name. That the spells must be lower than level 5 is merely a restriction on which spells can be chosen. Minor Globe of invulnerabilities protection is much broader but is directly contingent upon spell level.

A heightened Magic Missile is still a Magic Missile. A Shield spell would still stop it. A brooch of shielding would still absorb it. Consequently, as a DM, I would rule that Spell Immunity still protected against it--even if it were heightened to 5th level.

On the other hand, a heightened 5th level Magic Missile is no longer 3rd level or lower so it would penetrate a minor globe of invulnerability. (Which is what the Sage Advice you quoted specified).

Skip answered differently in someones e-mail. Try searching Wizards message board and see if it's still there. For reason he quoted


But either way you wanna play it, seems there are precedents for both although the FAQ is always offical where as e-mails and Sage Advice aren't.