Question from a Player: How to Cast Spells at a Higher Level from Character Sheet?

Hi There, I'm using a Roll20 character sheet for the first time, have added and prepared all my spells, but can't figure out how to cast a spell at a higher level to do more damage using the character sheet interface. On the 'Core' part of the sheet, there is a box called, 'attacks and spellcasting' which lists only SOME of my spells. These have a pop-up when clicked on that asks you what level you would like to cast the spell at? So that's good. But only a small fraction of my spells show in this box. On the 'Spells' part of the sheet, ALL the spells are listed and ones marked as prepared can be cast by clicking on them, but there is no option to cast a spell (which can be cast) at a higher level. Is there any way to get the spells listed on the 'Spells' part of the page to give you that 'What level would you like to cast at?' pop-up? Or is there any way to have ALL your prepared spells show up (I guess with a scrollbar) on the 'Core' part of the page where the pop-up works? I've looked all over and not found a complete answer to this, although it seems to be a common question... any help is appreciated!

Hi Ferryn,  What is the name of the character sheet are you using? If you don't know please supply a screenshot.  It sounds like it might be the D&D 5e by Roll20 character sheet.  If it is, when you cast a spell that has an upcast element it will ask you if you want to upcast it.  If the spell does not have an upcast element it will not ask you.  If you have entered the spell as a custom spell, you will need to create the upcast element yourself.  You can do that by filling out the "At Higher Levels" text section with the higher level text.  If it is an Attack rather than a Spellcard you will also need to fill out the "HIGHER LVL CAST DMG" section (above the text). 

Hi Gauss, I'm giving you two screenshots of the character sheet. The first shows the top. The second shows the section, "Attacks and Spellcasting" a little lower down. This is on the 'Core' page of the character sheet. Casting a spell that can be upcast does produce a pop-up window that asks what level I'd like to cast it at. The problem is, only a fraction of my spells show in the 'Attacks and Spellcasting' section and there is no way to scroll to reveal more... Another newbie question, can you cast the spell both by clicking on it on the 'Core' page and the 'Spells' page or just the 'Core' page under 'Attacks and Spellcasting'? * None of the spells are custom.   Yes it is Dnd 5e

The Attacks and Spellcasting is only for some spells, not all spells. The spells that are in the Attacks and Spellcasting section are for spells that either make attack rolls and/or do damage.  Please click on the "Spell" button (Core Bio Spell "cog" at the top right of the sheet) to see the full spell list. Then click on the name of the spell to cast it. 

Okay, thanks! But when I cast an up scaleable spell from the full spell list, no pop-up asks me what level to cast it as.

It looks like you're using the D&D 5E by Roll20  character sheet (one of 5 or 6 other D&D 5E character sheets available). In addition to what Gauss posted, In D&D 5E, not all spells can be cast at higher level for increased effect. For instance, casting Heat Metal at higher level increases the damage done by the spell, but upcasting Wind Wall does nothing, so the character sheet doesn't bother giving you the option to upcast it. If you're trying to have the character sheet track the appropriate spell slots as they're used up, there is an add-on MOD ( 5th Edition OGL by Roll20 Companion ) that will do this.. I know that it can keeps track of spell slots for spells that gai a benefit from being upcast,  but I don't know if it handles using higher level spell slots for spells that don't. (For example, using a higher level slot to cast a 2nd level spell when you've already used up all of your 2nd level spell slots).

Ferryn said: Okay, thanks! But when I cast an up scaleable spell from the full spell list, no pop-up asks me what level to cast it as. Which spell? Did you manually enter it into the spell or did you use the Charactermancer or Compendium to put it on the sheet?

OK, that is odd. I was playing my bard character just last night, using the same character sheet, and casting his spells from the full spell list always gave me the option whenever it was appropriate. It's possible that your character sheet may have been corrupted. Try clearing your browser cache before entering the game and see if that works. Also, if you have any browser extensions running, try entering the game in incognito mode (Chrome) or private Browsing (Firefox) to see an of those extensions is causing problems. If none of that works, you can ask your GM to duplicate your sheet and assign you control to it and see if that fixes it. Ferryn said: Okay, thanks! But when I cast an up scaleable spell from the full spell list, no pop-up asks me what level to cast it as.

 Well, "Call Lightning" for example. A third level spell that should be able to do +1d10 for each level above 3. It just casts it as a third level with no pop up asking what level I want to cast the spell at. I added all my spells from the compendium.

I just added that exact spell to one of my character sheets by dragging it from the compendium. I then clicked on the spell name in the spell list (the full list on the Spells" tab) and it worked as expected. I would try the steps that I mentioned im my previous post. Are other players with spellcasting characters in your group having similar problems? Ferryn said:  Well, "Call Lightning" for example. A third level spell that should be able to do +1d10 for each level above 3. It just casts it as a third level with no pop up asking what level I want to cast the spell at. I added all my spells from the compendium.

Ferryn,  Could you please edit Call Lightning's spell and post a screenshot of the spell when you are editing it?  (Not the attack, the spell.)

I cleared my browser cache and came back in Private Browsing (Firefox)... still not working.

I think this is what you wanted to see. I'm on the full spell page. One pic is top of screen, other is the bottom.

No one else is having a problem. I'm doing this casting while I'm the only one in the game to test it... the dm isn't there. Could that be the problem? I also should add that I've always used a DnDBeyond character sheet with the Beyond20 Firefox Browser Extension to play before. I've just re-created my character using a Roll20 character sheet that has never been used in actual play. (The Beyond20 extension is disabled right now.)

The character sheet should "work" if the GM (or anyone else) is there or not. That spell's configuration looks exactly as it does on the character sheet that I added it too. ( The "HIGHER LVL CAST   DMG:"  entry is what I believe Gauss wanted to check on). I'm suspecting a corrupted character sheet. If that's the case, having your GM create a duplicate of the sheet and give you control over that duplicate,  might fix the issue, but I'm not sure. You might try sending a help request to see if someone from Roll20 can fix the sheet.

Okay - I think I know what the problem is. I have two character sheets in the Game. One that went with the Beyond20 browser extension that enabled me to use a DndBeyond character sheet - and the new character sheet I just created today in Roll20. I can cast spells properly with the old sheet. I guess the DM hasn't done whatever work he needs to replace the old sheet with the new one. I've messaged him about the problem. Guess I'll just have to wait for him to update things. Sorry to have taken up your time guys! Appreciate all the help!

Is your character name exactly the same on both sheets? It's a long shot, but that can sometime confuse the way Roll20 processes things.

No, the names are not the same. The old one is Ferryn Blythwood. The new one is Ferryn in Roll20.

Ferryn,  The screenshots from the spell page, are they the old character (connected to DnDB) or the new character? Next, can you please screenshot exactly what you are clicking on when you try to activate the spell? Is it the name of the spell in the spell's page?  Have you closed the edit before you do that?

Okay.. been working with the DM. Something was glitched because we had used a DnDBeyond character and tried to replace it with a Roll20 character. He deleted my old character. Now, it seems, that deleting a spell from the new character and re-adding it from the compendium makes it work properly. Tried it with two spells. So have to do it with all the spells on the new character sheet - over 100. But at least I know how to fix it! Thanks again for all your time and help!