Bonus spells at lower levels

[ZhanStrider]

So, as a level 4 sorcerer with a charisma of 21, I can only cast spells of 2nd level and lower. But I have bonus spells for 3rd and 4th level spells. Can I use those to cast 1 or 2nd level spells?

[xyianth]

Unfortunately, no you can't.


The ability that governs bonus spells depends on what type of spellcaster your character is: Intelligence for wizards; Wisdom for clerics, druids, paladins, and rangers; or Charisma for sorcerers and bards. In addition to having a high ability score, a spellcaster must be of high enough class level to be able to cast spells of a given spell level.

Emphasis mine.

[ZhanStrider]

Unfortunately, no you can't.



Emphasis mine.

Curses foiled again!

[Uncle Pine]

No: (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/theBasics.htm#abilitiesAndSpellcasters)

The ability that governs bonus spells depends on what type of spellcaster your character is: Intelligence for wizards; Wisdom for clerics, druids, paladins, and rangers; or Charisma for sorcerers and bards. In addition to having a high ability score, a spellcaster must be of high enough class level to be able to cast spells of a given spell level.
This is because as a 4th level Sorcerer you don't have 0 3rd and 4th level slots: you have - 3rd and 4th level slots. 0 and - in D&D are treated differently, because if you add (or subtract) any number from - it remains unchanged. Similarly, having a score of 0 in an ability score is entirely different from having a nonability (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#nonabilities).

EDIT: Swordsage'd.
EDIT_2: In future, you may want to use the Simple RAW thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?460263-Simple-RAW-thread-for-3-5-31-By-now-your-question-has-probably-been-answered) for simple questions that aren't open to interpretation.

[ZhanStrider]

No: (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/theBasics.htm#abilitiesAndSpellcasters)

This is because as a 4th level Sorcerer you don't have 0 3rd and 4th level slots: you have - 3rd and 4th level slots. 0 and - in D&D are treated differently, because if you add (or subtract) any number from - it remains unchanged. Similarly, having a score of 0 in an ability score is entirely different from having a nonability (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#nonabilities).

EDIT: Swordsage'd.
EDIT_2: In future, you may want to use the Simple RAW thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?460263-Simple-RAW-thread-for-3-5-31-By-now-your-question-has-probably-been-answered) for simple questions that aren't open to interpretation.

Thanks for the link that's helpful!

[Chronos]

By contrast, at some levels a bard does get 0 spells per day. A bard with a sufficiently-high Cha can use bonus spells at those levels.