heighten and spell penetration?

[The_Duck]

Can these work together?
specifically, what spells are best used with heighten?

I kind of assumed Hypnotism would be a good spell to use with both but my results were not conclusive. Would heighten even work with Hypnotism? My assumption was that I would get a higher % hit for the spell but maybe I am not thinking about this correctly.

please help a noob.

[Visty]

every spell with a save and a spelllevel at least 1 lower then the highest you can cast does work with heighten

and ofc it works with spellpen too as they are totally differant things

a good heighten spell is web for example, as mobs have high will and fort usually but low reflex

[vVAnjilaVv]

Actually usually most mobs have EITHER a high will save OR a high fort save and generally always have low reflex saves. Sorry to split hairs with u Visty, but I just wanted to be more specific for our aspiring arcanes.

Also look at ur spell descriptions in ur spell book where u change spells, many of them have DC's but no spell resistance, thus making heighten important and spell pen N/A...such as web and cloudkill.

[Rawum]

Heighten will cast a level as if it were the same level as the highest you can cast. Thus increasing the DC (difficulty check) to resist the spell.

DC = 10 + spell level + int mod (or cha/wis for sorcs/clerics)

For example a level 20 wiz can cast level level 9 spells and web is a level 2 spell.

A normal web would give a DC of 10 + 2 + int mod where as a heighted web would be
10 +9 + int mod for an increase of 7.
You can determine if a spell can be heightened by mousing over the description from your character sheet and see the applicable metamagic feats. (though its a safe bet to say that if a spell can be resisted you can heighten it)

Spell penetration works differently and on select non direct damaging spells such as enervation.

If a creature has spell resistance a caster will need to make a spell penetration check = caster level + spell pen feats / items

This check will need to be as high as the creature spell resistance in order to affect the creature.

[The_Duck]

well, I'm level 6 and I now have heighten and a SP dagger which gives me +2.
I am interested in increasing the effectiveness of my Hypnotism and Charm (person/monster).

It sounds like both SP and Heighten will help me with Hypnotism and Charm.
Do I have this right?


In the end I am testing some things out by trying to run WW Elite solo. I figure that would be a good test of my skills and equipment. First time was ultimate fail and hypnotism hit 1/2 the mobs at best. thinking charm person and ooze pet would work better and let those clear everything.

[Tyrande]

[...]

In the end I am testing some things out by trying to run WW Elite solo. I figure that would be a good test of my skills and equipment. First time was ultimate fail and hypnotism hit 1/2 the mobs at best. thinking charm person and ooze pet would work better and let those clear everything.

IMHO just make/buy a frosty summoning (ML10 summon) clickie with 10 charges usable at your level and cast extended blur and fire resist (and may be haste) on frosty and a warforged barbarian hireling and have them tank the kobolds for you.

You can sit back and then yell, "Work faster, slaves!" :P

[Rawum]

well, I'm level 6 and I now have heighten and a SP dagger which gives me +2.
I am interested in increasing the effectiveness of my Hypnotism and Charm (person/monster).

It sounds like both SP and Heighten will help me with Hypnotism and Charm.
Do I have this right?


In the end I am testing some things out by trying to run WW Elite solo. I figure that would be a good test of my skills and equipment. First time was ultimate fail and hypnotism hit 1/2 the mobs at best. thinking charm person and ooze pet would work better and let those clear everything.

Heighten will help with those spells in the water works but you still have a few levels to go before you need to worry about spell penetration. IIRC mobs with spell resistance start to be more of a problem around Gianthold (level 13ish)