Understanding Spell Penetration

[redraider]

help me Obie Wan, help me...

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I have searched the threads and can't find the answer. What stacks?

feats:
Spell Penetration +2
Greater spell Penetration +2

enhancements:
improved spell penetration +3 (3 levels of this enhancement)

items:
greater spell penetration VI +3

Do these all stack? I'm sure the 2 feats stack and the enhancement stacks on them, but am I wasting my time carrying the +3 greater penetration item?

Is the calculation:

d20 + spell lvl (so heighten would help) + stat bonus + bonus vs. creatures spell resistance?

So, if I am casting PK (lvl 5) and have a 32 cha (+11) and all of the above, my calculation would be:

d20 + 5 + 11 + 10 (+2+2+3+3) = d20 + 26

if I heighten it would be:

d20 + 7 + 11 + 10 (+2+2+3+3) = d20 + 28

if I don't heighten AND the item doesn't stack:

d20 + 5 + 11 + 7 (+2+2+3) = d20 + 23

Please confirm if I understand this correctly. My brain is going to explode... :confused:

[Ghoste]

they all stack, although heighten spell does nothing for overcoming SR. It has nothing to do with the spell level, just the caster level.

[redraider]

So the formula is:

d20 + caster level + stat bonus + bonus vs. creatures spell resistance?

So, if I'm 14th lvl sorc and have a 32 cha (+11) and all of the feats, items, and enhancements above, my calculation would be:

d20 + 14 + 11 + 10 (+2+2+3+3) = d20 + 35

WOW

[Ghoste]

D20 + caster lvl + spell pen feats + spellpen enhancements + spellpen items

No spell lvl added in, no ability score bonus, no metamagic feats, no school DC bonuses.

When the roll pops up on your screen it will show the die roll and say:
caster level check
spell resistance
success/failure

So +24 for your build, actually a very good spell pen.

[Deragoth]

Ghoste nailed it.

1d20 + Caster Level + Feats + Enhancements + Highest Single Item.

A 24 is freakin' high, and requires a lot of sacrifice. I don't know anyone with a 24.

[redraider]

I love you guys, I had to know how this stacks up. Now I can post my other question on potency...

[redoubt]

Some feed back on spell pen for ya...

My sorc runs with:
spell pen feat +2
spell pen 3 enchance +3
greater spell pen 4 item +3
caster level +14
total = +22.

In PoP elite (as a rough estimate) I can bypass the Rakshasa SR about a half the time.

If you go all the way to +24... I think you will own most SR type mobs.

Enjoy.

[MrWizard]

Some feed back on spell pen for ya...

My sorc runs with:
spell pen feat +2
spell pen 3 enchance +3
greater spell pen 4 item +3
caster level +14
total = +22.

In PoP elite (as a rough estimate) I can bypass the Rakshasa SR about a half the time.

If you go all the way to +24... I think you will own most SR type mobs.

Enjoy.


I can vouch for this. I have both spell pen feats and the enhancements....
+7 +14 (level) + spell pen items.

I seldom ever see the blue shimmer, most I will see is the 'save' thing...