apart from raising DC, what's the purpose of heighten spell?

[rumpelstiltskin]

the description lists ability to penetrate lesser globe of invulnerability (which i don't think even is in the game), is there anything else? it doesn't seem to affect "caster level", i.e. you can't shoot more magic missiles or scorching rays with it.

[thelaughingman]

It also allows you to prepare spells in otherwise less useful spell slot levels. Wanna take some utility spells on a wizard? This lets you still make use of those spell slot levels the majority of the time until you learn more spells.

[corisai]

Make AT never run out of juice with Searing Rays :)

[rumpelstiltskin]

ok thanks for the replies, but i guess i already have reach for that. so there's probably no point in taking it, at least yet

[SIlverblade-T-E]

affecting DC is a *huge* issue for crowd control and some other spells.
Say you have Hideous laughter, being lvl 2 it's a base of +2 DC to save against
heighten it to lvl 9 and it's a base of +9 DC
an extra +7 penalty on a save is *enormous* since the game is basicakly "1d20" based

any change in an attack roll or DC save of +1 is a big step, basically +5% change
when it comes to fighters with multiple attacks,
or an area of effect spell (thus many saves required)
or a serious fight against a "boss",
altering rolls even by +1 has a significant effect
altering them by as example suggests +7, is HUGE

if you are fighting the Big Bad Ugly Of Extreme Butt Stomping, and your simple Hideous laughter spell stops him fighting back because he failed his save, this is enormous advantage
or if a dozen enemies charge the party and none of them save versus a Heightened "Slow"....

metamagic feats are extremely useful in right circumstances :)

[rumpelstiltskin]

thanks, but my AT caster level is still 9, so i don't think it'll be super-useful yet. then again, apart from spell focus i'm not sure what other feats i can take instead

[corisai]

Originally posted by SIlverblade-T-E:

Say you have Hideous laughter, being lvl 2 it's a base of +2 DC to save against
heighten it to lvl 9 and it's a base of +9 DC.

metamagic feats are extremely useful in right circumstances :)

Ahem. Problem that very, very few spells worth it.

In your example is an obvious waste of 9th level slot for very weak (against high-level disables) spells.

[corisai]

Originally posted by rumpelstiltskin:

thanks, but my AT caster level is still 9, so i don't think it'll be super-useful yet. then again, apart from spell focus i'm not sure what other feats i can take instead

Skill monkey - you never could be wrong with it :) Especially for Perception (if WIS-based).

[OnlyOffensive]

Originally posted by rumpelstiltskin:

thanks, but my AT caster level is still 9, so i don't think it'll be super-useful yet. then again, apart from spell focus i'm not sure what other feats i can take instead

spell penetration, spell specialization, weapon focus ray/touch? necessary shooting feats like precise shot? Perhaps some skill focus, like persuation, to pass high level checks for crazy exp.
Couple greater spell focuses also pretty good.

[SIlverblade-T-E]

Originally posted by corisai:

Originally posted by SIlverblade-T-E:

Say you have Hideous laughter, being lvl 2 it's a base of +2 DC to save against
heighten it to lvl 9 and it's a base of +9 DC.

metamagic feats are extremely useful in right circumstances :)

Ahem. Problem that very, very few spells worth it.

In your example is an obvious waste of 9th level slot for very weak (against high-level disables) spells.

it was an example ;) and depends entirely on what spells you have and your intent

for example, sorcerors have fewer spells but can cast more often, so if need be, heightening an *appropriate* spell for a stuation can be a good idea.
Wizards have many more spells to chose from so it's usually less of an issue/need

:)

[rumpelstiltskin]

Originally posted by OnlyOffensive:

Originally posted by rumpelstiltskin:

thanks, but my AT caster level is still 9, so i don't think it'll be super-useful yet. then again, apart from spell focus i'm not sure what other feats i can take instead

spell penetration, spell specialization, weapon focus ray/touch? necessary shooting feats like precise shot? Perhaps some skill focus, like persuation, to pass high level checks for crazy exp.
Couple greater spell focuses also pretty good.

was thinking about shake it off (to gradually give it to everyone), but weapon focus touch is a good idea. for persuasion i have a moderate skill (points from high int), a +5 necklace, and a +char headband if necessary.

[Entropie]

Note that touch applies only to melee touch attacks and ray to all ranged touch attacks.