What are the main benefits of caster levels beyond 20?

[Endarire]

Greetings, all!

According to the Throne of Bhaal manual, spells effectively have a caster level cap of 20, meaning any caster levels beyond that seemingly do nothing.

But do they?  If so, what are the benefits?

Thankee!

[Jarno Mikkola]

36 minutes ago, Endarire said:

But do they?  If so, what are the benefits?

HLAs... and the occational wild surge throw. And the 1 hit point. You can get a lot... of no.

There are mods that fix the spell casting to be more ... come on, 5 casting of 1st level spells at level 40, WTF. It's the same as level 13... he hehehehehe.

[CamDawg]

The dispel magic mechanic relies on caster levels. E.g. a level 20 and level 40 mage will both have Protection from Evil last 40 rounds, but the latter's will be substantially harder to dispel.

[InKal]

pretty sure 40 lvl mage (but not sorcerer iirc) has like 10 more spell slots than 20 lvl mage and both mage and sorc has higher lvl simulacra. but Jarno is right, all progress past lvl 20 is pretty much about HLAs.

[Jarno Mikkola]

1 hour ago, CamDawg said:

The dispel magic mechanic relies on caster levels. E.g. a level 20 and level 40 mage will both have Protection from Evil last 40 rounds, but the latter's will be substantially harder to dispel.

Really, k. So when the game throw you at level 20, a 35th level mage to fight with, it would have the same times to resist than say when you are at level 40, and it throws say a 99th level mage. Which is why you don't prebuff at all. Just saying. Or you just legimitelly cheat to get over level and then you can prebuff all you want and be immune to their dispels, just 10 levels here or there, what does it matter.

[CamDawg]

Thanks Jarno, your contributions to the thread are immeasurable.