Prep a spell in a higher-level slot

[wdmartin]

I've just gained fourth level spell slots from a prestige class, and my GM is enforcing the "you don't get 2 free spells from prestige casting" rule. As a result, I can cast fourth level spells, but do not actually know any.

So I'd like prep some 3rd level spells in 4th level slots. How do I do that in Hero Lab? I don't have any metamagic feats, and if I select a 3rd-level spell, it throws errors. I could just live with the errors. But if there's a mechanism for doing this without throwing errors, I'd rather use that.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

Use adjustments on the "Adjust" tab to decrease the number of 4th level spells and give them to the 3rd level slots.

 

[AndrewD2]

And this is why I've always thought Hightened Spell should just be a built in mechanic to spellcasters ...

 

[Silveras]

And this is why I've always thought Hightened Spell should just be a built in mechanic to spellcasters ...

Heighten Spell actually increases the save DC because it has effectively boosted the spell's level. As I understand it, preparing a lower-level spell in a higher-level slot does not change the spell level.

 

[AndrewD2]

You are correct, but personally I feel if you're using the higher level slot you should get a bonus.

 

[Aaron]

The bonus you get is overcoming certain spell defenses, which limit them to spells of Xth level or less. Which is a paltry bonus, to be sure.

 

[wdmartin]

ShadowChemosh, those adjustments are a godsend. They just offer so many ways to fiddle with things to take care of weird little edge cases and house rules! Thanks for putting so much time and effort into making those.

 

[Silveras]

The bonus you get is overcoming certain spell defenses, which limit them to spells of Xth level or less. Which is a paltry bonus, to be sure.

Hmmm? Not without house rules, as far as I can tell.

With Heighten Spell, the Save DC goes up, and the spell counts as the level of the new slot, bypassing things like lesser globe of invulnerability that work on specific spell levels. Neither of those happens when you use a higher-level slot to prepare a lower-level spell, as far as I know.

Using a higher-level slot allows you to prepare (or cast) more low-level spells than you normally would. So, if you need 4 castings of [i[fireball[/i] and you only have 3 level-3 slots, but you have a level 4 slot, you're covered. Or, as in the OP's case, when you have a slot but don't know any spells of the appropriate level to use it with. It has no other effect that I know of.. which is AndrewD2's point.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

So for future readers the community "Basic Pack" in version 3.13+ will have two new features to help with this issue. The first is a new adjustment called "Class, Spells Change Lvl" that will let you transfer spells from one level to another level using one adjustment.

The second feature is a metamagic ability that all casters can add that will raise the spell level up one level. So lets say you wanted to have burning hands use up level 2 slots. You would add the metamagic favorite called "- Higher Spell Slot -" add add Burning Hands and set the counter to +1. This will cause Burning Hands to use up 2nd level spell slots.

Here is an example Sorcerer with burning hands setup as both 1st and 2nd level spell:

 

[Aaron]

Interestingly, I think we just got a submission from one of our contractors which does something similar. Would you mind if we put out an official version of this instead of the community?

 

[ShadowChemosh]

Interestingly, I think we just got a submission from one of our contractors which does something similar. Would you mind if we put out an official version of this instead of the community?

I can't stop you.

So which one did you get the Adjustment or Metamagic and are you sure the its the same thing?