I see "cast spells as a X-level sorcerer" in many monster stat blocks. I know I can change their spell selection around to suit my purposes (my Water naga would rather have Mage Armor than Shield, for example).
Does this mean they also get the bloodline feats or powers as well or does it simply mean they can access and cast arcane spells as though they had seven levels of sorcerer and no bloodline needs to be selected or factored in?
I suspect it's the later but want to be sure.
Also, how does a monsters innate casting ability affect them if they actually start taking class levels in Sorcerer? Do they start at level "X" or do they start at 1?
How would adding 1 level of sorcerer affect a creature that inherently casts as a level 7 sorcerer?
I believe not, otherwise... Bad stuff.
And I'm not sure if it would stack...
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When a monster says it "casts spells as a Xth level" whatever, it means exactly that. They cast spells as that level of caster. They get no other benefits from that class at all, just the spellcasting. That means monsters that cast as sorcerers don't have a Bloodline and monsters that cast as clerics don't get Channel Energy. They only get that classes spellcasting ability.
It's the latter. 'Casts spells as' means only that and nothing more. However, in the universal monster rules, it says that if you add class levels of the class a creature casts spells as, then they stack. So if you give your naga, say, 3 levels of Sorceror(aquatic), then she can cast spells as if she were 10th level, but only has bonus spells, feats, and bloodline powers as a 3rd level sorceror.
So if you give your naga, say, 3 levels of Sorceror(aquatic), then she can cast spells as if she were 10th level, but only has bonus spells, feats, and bloodline powers as a 3rd level sorceror.
Ok that makes more sense.
I was confused by this line in the rules:
"If the creature possesses class features (such as spellcasting or sneak attack) for the class that is being added, these abilities stack."
I wasn't sure if adding one level of Sorc would give the naga in questions the feats along with the level 1 and level 8 bloodline powers.
Not completely accurate but consider it kind of like having levels in a prestige class: the spellcasting goes up, but not the other class features (typically).