How are caster levels determined?

[David Melendez]

The book states that caster level is usually the same as spell casting class level. What are the exceptions?

[LazarX]

David Melendez wrote:

The book states that caster level is usually the same as spell casting class level. What are the exceptions?

Prestige classes that add to to casting level but obviously don't raise the level of the original class. Or classes like Ranger and Paladin whose caster level is one half the class level.

[Andrew Betts]

David Melendez wrote:

The book states that caster level is usually the same as spell casting class level. What are the exceptions?

If you have more than one separate spell casting class each would have it's own caster level. Also there are prestige classes that increase your spell and caster level. There is also a trait (which is not technically core, but part of Pathfinder none-the-less) that adds +2 to your caster level.

[Owen Weldon]

David Melendez wrote:

The book states that caster level is usually the same as spell casting class level. What are the exceptions?

You can get a magic items that boost your caster level such as prayer beeds or a certain Ioun stone.

[Dave Young 992]

Owen Weldon wrote:

David Melendez wrote:

The book states that caster level is usually the same as spell casting class level. What are the exceptions?

You can get a magic items that boost your caster level such as prayer beeds or a certain Ioun stone.

Interesting. Would you (or anybody else) have more info on that trait?

[Takamonk]

Owen Weldon wrote:

David Melendez wrote:

The book states that caster level is usually the same as spell casting class level. What are the exceptions?

You can get a magic items that boost your caster level such as prayer beeds or a certain Ioun stone.

Or multiples of said certain Ioun stone, as they apparently stack.

[Kvantum]

An example would be a character like a Sorcerer/Dragon Disciple. A Sorcerer 10/Dragon Disciple 10 only casts spells and has spells known like a Sorcerer 17, since Dragon Disciple only provides 7 levels of existing arcane class casting ability over its 10 class levels.

[Tarlane]

Just as a quick note, Paladin and Ranger's caster level was 1/2 their class level in 3x. In PFRPG, its actually their class level -3.

[Owen Weldon]

Takamonk wrote:

Owen Weldon wrote:

David Melendez wrote:

The book states that caster level is usually the same as spell casting class level. What are the exceptions?

You can get a magic items that boost your caster level such as prayer beeds or a certain Ioun stone.

Or multiples of said certain Ioun stone, as they apparently stack.

Where did you get this?

I was under the impression that bonuses from the same source don't stack. Multiple Bless spells cast on you don't stack (as an example), why would multiple orange ioun stones stack?

[TriOmegaZero]

Because the orange ioun stone says +1 caster level and untyped bonuses stack. There is no mention in the item block about a restriction of using multiple stones of the same type.

[Ughbash]

TriOmegaZero wrote:

Because the orange ioun stone says +1 caster level and untyped bonuses stack. There is no mention in the item block about a restriction of using multiple stones of the same type.

But untyped bonues from the same source do not stack....

Now the debate is which do you choose:

A) It is not the same source, it is a seperate Ioun stone.

B) All Orange Ioun stones are from the same soruce.

I personally go with B, but there can be legitimate argument for either interpretation.

[Owen Weldon]

TriOmegaZero wrote:

Because the orange ioun stone says +1 caster level and untyped bonuses stack. There is no mention in the item block about a restriction of using multiple stones of the same type.

Untyped Bonus from different sources. Dodge bonuses stack too, but they have to come from different sources.

Edit: Ninjaed!

[David Melendez]

Thanks for all the responses. Back in the 3.x days, if u were a fighter 5/wiz 1, u would be a 1st level caster. Is this still the case or would it now be character level -3 like a paladin/ranger?

[Owen Weldon]

David Melendez wrote:

Thanks for all the responses. Back in the 3.x days, if u were a fighter 5/wiz 1, u would be a 1st level caster. Is this still the case or would it now be character level -3 like a paladin/ranger?

Still the case. Paladins and rangers are level -3 because they don't get spells until level 4.

[LazarX]

David Melendez wrote:

Thanks for all the responses. Back in the 3.x days, if u were a fighter 5/wiz 1, u would be a 1st level caster. Is this still the case or would it now be character level -3 like a paladin/ranger?

Your fighter class does not add to your wizard level so it would be one.

Paladins and Rangers do advance caster level, they simply just dont' get their first level until 4th class level. They are non casters until that point.