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…
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.
Yes, upcasted Counterspell is functioning in game. If you really want to stop a spell cast with the highest spell slot.
I’m not talking about upcasting Counterspell, but upcasting some other spell to make it less likely for a Counterspell against it to succeed.
Both directions work since the mechanics of Counterspell function based on the spell slot used to cast. Same or better spell slot autocounters; everything else is a spell attack roll against 10 + the spell slot of the the cast spell.
Edit: I probably shouldn’t have use spell attack to describe it but it’s basically the same minus the equipment and ability bonuses that apply to attack rolls specifically.
I thought RAW couunterspell ignores if a spell has been upcasted. I remember something about it only taking the original spell level.
The Player’s Handbook says this:
Counterspell’s description says nothing to override this.