Role-playing Games Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for gamemasters and players of tabletop, paper-and-pencil role-playing games. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this community
I've always thought that increased caster level (ex. by spell specialization) increased the effective number of scaling spells' damage dice, too.
Fireball's description: "deals 1d6 points of fire damage per caster level (maximum 10d6)". If I'm level 8 with spell specialization on fireball, how many dice should I roll, 8 or 10? I'm not sure if caster level affects dices, too.
Some DM told me it does, while others told me that it's completely wrong. Does anyone have an official source on this?
The benefit of the feat Spell Specialization, in part, says, "Treat your caster level as being two higher for all level-variable effects of the spell." One of the level-variable effects of the spell fireball (and many others spells like lightning bolt, polar ray, and even disintegrate) is its damage, so this GM would rule that a level 8 caster that takes the feat Spell Specialization (fireball) typically rolls 10d6 points of damage for his fireball spells and increase the spell's range.
Unlike a general increase in caster level like from an ioun stone (orange prism), this GM wouldn't allow the feat Spell Specialization (fireball) to help the possessor's chances of, for example, his fireball spells overcoming spell resistance, as that's a function of caster level not the spell.
However, the feat's unmentioned by the Ultimate Magic FAQ. Further, the term level-variable is unique to the feat Spell Specialization, and creative director James Jacobs even dodges a question about what the term means in this 2014 Paizo message board post. With the mystery surrounding the term, it's unsurprising that different GMs read the feat's effects in different ways.
If the spell has variables based on the caster level, then those variables are also increased if your caster level increases (or decreases).
From the SRD:
Caster Level
A spell’s power often depends on its caster level, which for most spellcasting characters is equal to her class level in the class she’s using to cast the spell.
You can cast a spell at a lower caster level than normal, but the caster level you choose must be high enough for you to cast the spell in question, and all level-dependent features must be based on the same caster level.
In the event that a class feature or other special ability provides an adjustment to your caster level, that adjustment applies not only to effects based on caster level (such as range, duration, and damage dealt), but also to your caster level check to overcome your target’s spell resistance and to the caster level used in dispel checks (both the dispel check and the DC of the check).
So if your caster level for a spell is increased, everything that is based on caster level also increases, including range, duration and damage dice. The description of Spell Specialization is specific and does mention that all variables are increased, so there is no reason to think the damage shouldn't be increased aswell.
Treat your caster level as being two higher for all level-variable effects of the spell.
However, some spells have their damage dice fixed (like Flaming Sphere), and as such, their damage is not increased by your caster level.
