All right, I bought the book, and I am looking at the casting method for the Sha'ir - I thought that it would be an arcane variant of the spirit shaman (from complete divine), but instead it confuses me.
To ensure that I am actually reading this right, I will post my understanding here, and then continue with questions below.
1) The Sha'ir has a limited number of spells known (not including divine spells) that are easy for him to access (+2 to Dipl. check, and quick 1d4+lvl rounds).
2) He can get any other arcane spell he has seen/heard of with a more difficult Dipl. check, and 1d6+lvl minutes wait
3) He can get a divine spell from assorted domains, but he has to make an even more difficult Dipl. check, and wait 1d6+lvl hrs).
4) A retrieved spell sits in his memory for caster level hrs (or until cast) and then dissipates.Areas of confusion -
1) Sha'ir retrieves a spell (say magic missile). Can he cast it multiple times (up to his limit in spells per day of that level)? i.e. Is he like a sorceror with his retrieved spells or like a wizard, needing to retrieve every time he casts. Currently I am assuming his spells are treated like those of a wizard, but I am unsure.
I believe that he treats them like a wizard. You summon one spell for each slot.
2. Is there a limit on the number spells per day a Sha'ir can retrieve? EG. Can a 20th level sha'ir retrieve 8 9th level spells (of which he can only cast 5) at 0800 in the morning, an cast his choice of them (up to 5) for the next 20 hrs? Currently I am assuming only N spells retrievable/day with N being the number of spells that caster can cast per day.
You can retrieve spells as long as you have a spell slot to place it in.
3. What is the effect of a spell dissipating in memory - can the sha'ir simply request another one? Eg. a 1st level sha'ir requests a spell (magic missile) at 0800. At 0900 it dissipates w/o being cast. Can the Sha'ir simply request another (magic missile) spell for the 0900 to 1000 period? Does this dissipated spell count as one of his 2 1st level spells per day? Currently I am assuming that a dissipated spell counts as a cast spell.
It simply disappates and you have to summon it again. You don't lose the spell slot.
4. Can you dump a spell retrieved to make room for a new one? Eg. You are a 15th level Sha'ir, and you have already requested and stored the following 8th lvl spell - Mind Blank. Can you send your gen to fetch Polymorph Any Object (as one of your comrades has been petrified), and then dump Mind Blank when it gets back.
Yes.
5. Prestige class entry requirements - Does a sha'ir spellcasting count as either or both of the following: Spontaneous, Divine? Does advancement in a divine spellcasting class enhance your sha'ir levels? Are Divine spells cast by this class counted as arcane? Currently I am assuming that a) Sha'ir spellcasting counts only as non-spontaneous arcane b) Divine spellcasting will not advance a sha'ir's effective spellcasting ability c) Divine spells cast by this class do indeed count as arcane.
I would classify the Sha'ir as a spontaneous arcane caster. Though there is an arguement that it does not cast spontaneously.
6) Assuming the above assumptions hold true, is it nearly impossible to be useful as a low level sha'ir? You need to be able to predict what you need & when you'll need it to within the hour (at 1st level), and you will lose your spell casting ability if you are wrong. You are also unable to react to a suprise situation unless you have put some of your spell slots up, to be wasted if there isn't a surprise. It would make the class a lot more useful, if some of the above assumptions were not true (definately 3, and 1 & 2 would also help...)
At low levels, you keep some fairly useful spells in the known slots. That way you can have it at a moment's notice. When you run out of spells, you send the gen to get them again. At least you can fix your list with a moments notice. After all, a wizard can only select his spells once per day and can't adjust it if the situation drastically changes.
