What does a Caster Level Bonus actually do?

kiwidoc

I'm playing IWDEE with a load of mods by Weasel aka LavaDelVortel. I've gotOrra - a fighter/mage/cleric. I have a choice of equipping her hat/hood/helm/head slot with either a helm giving a +2 AC bonus, or a hood giving her a +2 caster level bonus. The trouble is I don't know what the caster level bonus actually does - so I can't make an informed choice. Does anyone know caster level details?

btw Orra is interesting and fun to play
https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/comment/1153448#Comment_1153448

Grond0

It just means any spell is cast at a level 2 higher than your current one. If a spell lasts 1 round per level, it will therefore last a couple more rounds. If it does 1d6 per level damage it will do an additional 2d6 and so on.

kiwidoc

So ... good for some spells, no change for others. I may find myself furiously swapping headgear for the rest of the game.

sarevok57

also to note as well, in the non modded game, spells are capped at level 30 in IWD ( if they have a progression in some area that is ) so if your casting class hits level 30 then that caster level headgear will become useless ( unless it can affect dispel magic checks perhaps, but I don't know about that one )