Wisdom and Spellcasting

[❤]

So I am aware of the fact that Wisdom grants certain classes (Clerics, Druids, Rangers) bonus spells per day based on its ability score and also determines what spells can be cast.

My question is, does Wisdom do anything at all to increase the effectiveness of a spell that is cast?

[Mork]

Yes it does if they use wisdom for spells.

10 + the spell level + the wisdom modifier = DC (difficulty check)


For example, a cleric with 18 wisdom casting the level 2 spell, hold person.

10 + 2 + 4 = DC 16 will save

A enemy will need to roll 16+ against will save to resist.

[Mork]

However, wisdom won't do anything for a wizard, they use intelligence for spells.

10 + spell level + intelligence modifier = DC

[❤]

Hmm I see, that makes sense. I imagine it improves DC for all offensive spells that use wisdom? And what about friendly spells like heals and buffs?

[Mork]

They use caster level, which is not exactly the same as a character level.

A cleric is a pure caster class, 1 class level = 1 caster level
A ranger get spell at level 4, so that's when he start getting caster level.

For example, a fireball will use caster level for how many d6 it has.

[=[NK]= Col. Jack O'Neil]

Dc is only needed to overcome enemy resistance.

If you're playing say a melee cleric that only buffs and heals, you don't need to worry about your dc at all. But if you pump it up you may get another spell or so, but you're probably better going minimum wisdom and getting an item to boost it to 19 and using those points elsewhere.

[❤]

I see, thank you guys.

[Remove skull merchant]

Originally posted by =NK= Col. Jack O'Neil:

Dc is only needed to overcome enemy resistance.

If you're playing say a melee cleric that only buffs and heals, you don't need to worry about your dc at all. But if you pump it up you may get another spell or so, but you're probably better going minimum wisdom and getting an item to boost it to 19 and using those points elsewhere.

Why 19 again ? To get certain level spells ?

[=[NK]= Col. Jack O'Neil]

Yeah as per the rules, to cast level 1 spells you need 11, level 2 12, 3 13 and so on.

Otherwise you can't cast that level spell

[Finrod]

Originally posted by =NK= Col. Jack O'Neil:

Dc is only needed to overcome enemy resistance.

To be more exact, high DC is needed so that ennemies won't save against the spell, some save cancel completely, other partially.
They are different from the caster level checks, that are needed to overcome spell resistance
There are feats that improve caster level to overcome spell resistance or feats that improve DC

Personally, for a full caster with wisdom, I would go for wisdom 20 at character creation.
Druids and clerics have some offensive spells like destruction, firestorm, tsunami, finger of death, blade barrier... I don't think high DC is useless for them.

And also, wisdom is the attribute attached to the will save, which is very important, so more reasons to maximize it.