Would there be a reason to cast a higher level version of a spell if there is no difference between it and it’s lower level version?

For instance:

Speak With Animals II seems to be the same as Speak With Animals I. There are other examples with other spells, but is there a reason to cast the different versions? Cost seems the same, effect seems the same…

  • ono@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    18
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    Yes: If you’re out of spell slots at the base level, but have higher level spell slots remaining.

    It’s also possible that upcasting makes your spell more resistant to an enemy’s Counterspell, depending on how Larian implemented the mechanics. I believe this would follow 5e RAW, but I haven’t tested it in this game.

    Edit: Rephrased for clarity.

      • ono@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        I’m not talking about upcasting Counterspell, but upcasting some other spell to make it less likely for a Counterspell against it to succeed.

    • s12@sopuli.xyz
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      I thought RAW couunterspell ignores if a spell has been upcasted. I remember something about it only taking the original spell level.

      • ono@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        1 year ago

        The Player’s Handbook says this:

        When a spellcaster casts a spell using a slot that is of a higher level than the spell, the spell assumes the higher level for that casting.

        Counterspell’s description says nothing to override this.

  • AdmiralAckbar@programming.dev
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    1 year ago

    Some scale and some don’t. At least on the PC version it tells you if there is any benefit to casting with a higher spell slot.