Leaving heighten on?

[ceswiedler]

I'm a 7th level CC wizard, and still trying to get the hang of the metamagic feats. Are the following things true?

* Heighten doesn't affect spells which are already the highest level you can cast (for me, 4th level spells)
* Heighten doesn't affect spells which already factor caster level into their effect (MM, Burning hands, Niacs)
* Heighten doesn't cost any additional spell points if it doesn't affect the spell
* If Heighten affects the spell, it makes the spell cost the same as the highest level you can cast; therefore, it's 'cheaper' to heighten a 3rd level spell to 4th level than it is to heighten a 1st level spell to 4th level.
* Heighten raises the DC for resistable spells

If all of these are true, is there any time that I wouldn't want heighten on? I figure that if I'm casting a 1st level spell that can be heightened on a ~CR 7 mob (e.g. hypnotism), it's probably not going to hit unless I heighten it. I suppose if I went into a low-level dungeon, it would be a waste to heighten spells which would already hit the mobs without it...but I don't ever do that. So should I just leave it on all the time?

[hydra_ex]

I'm a 7th level CC wizard, and still trying to get the hang of the metamagic feats. Are the following things true?

* Heighten doesn't affect spells which are already the highest level you can cast (for me, 4th level spells)
* Heighten doesn't affect spells which already factor caster level into their effect (MM, Burning hands, Niacs)
* Heighten doesn't cost any additional spell points if it doesn't affect the spell Only if its glitched, and it can be
* If Heighten affects the spell, it makes the spell cost the same as the highest level you can cast; therefore, it's 'cheaper' to heighten a 3rd level spell to 4th level than it is to heighten a 1st level spell to 4th level. Yes it is cheaper, contrary to the first part of your statement. a heightend 1st lvl spell will cost more than an ordinary 8th lvl spell
* Heighten raises the DC for resistable spells Thats the only point of heighten

If all of these are true, is there any time that I wouldn't want heighten on? I figure that if I'm casting a 1st level spell that can be heightened on a ~CR 7 mob (e.g. hypnotism), it's probably not going to hit unless I heighten it. I suppose if I went into a low-level dungeon, it would be a waste to heighten spells which would already hit the mobs without it...but I don't ever do that. So should I just leave it on all the time?

Leave it on when you think your up against a mob thats going to resists it. Usually, creatures with low will saves will be affected by non-heightened lvl 1 spells, yet the shamans will often no be affected by their heightened versions. Currently, I would leave it off, but if you think things save too much, you can always leave it on.

[Borror0]

Heighten doesn't affect spells which are already the highest level you can cast (for me, 4th level spells)

True.

Heighten doesn't affect spells which already factor caster level into their effect (MM, Burning hands, Niacs)

False. It does affect MM' but it affects Burning Hands and Niacs, because both have a DC so Heighten raise the spell's DC.

Heighten doesn't cost any additional spell points if it doesn't affect the spell

True.

If Heighten affects the spell, it makes the spell cost the same as the highest level you can cast; therefore, it's 'cheaper' to heighten a 3rd level spell to 4th level than it is to heighten a 1st level spell to 4th level.

If you have Heighten on, all spells you can Heighten will cost the highest level you can cast.

Heighten raises the DC for resistable spells

True.

[...] it's probably not going to hit unless I heighten it.

It may hit, it's just more likely if you Heigthen it.

Leave it on only when you find yourself not landing your spels enough or if you do a lot of CC. Turn it off if you're going to Nuke.

[MrWizard]

always on..will only affect spells that deal with saves and increase the spell to be cast as if higher level. Does not afect if spell has no save.

[Borror0]

always on..will only affect spells that deal with saves and increase the spell to be cast as if higher level. Does not afect if spell has no save.

I usually prefer to have it off when nuking against creature with poor reflex saves. (Which was quite often at level 7.)

[ceswiedler]

OK, thanks guys. I try to focus on CC, not damage, and want my spells to land more consistently. Based on what you've said, I think I'll leave it on pretty much all the time.

[Shagn]

Don't forget to take both enhancements for Heighten. It will cost 10 action points, but will save you 2 spell points per level the spell is increased. Heightened web is still useful in end content, and the enhancements make it cheap crowd control.

[Vizzini]

I always leave mine on, at least on my Sorc. I would recommend keeping it on as long as your conservative about when and how your using your spells.

[sephiroth1084]

The only time I found myself turning Heighten off before Gianthold was if I found myself running through SP too quickly in a quest, or if I knew the quest had few shrines. After GH, the only time I've turned off Heighten was by accident.