If I was a GM, I wouldn't allow it. Drows are anyways more powerful than the core races. The only problem is that Arcane trickster gets +1 existing caster class. So I'd rule that you need only one level of a arcane spellcaster class to qualify for AT
My quibble here (to a rules lawyer) would be that spell-like abilities technically aren't spells; they just act like them in a lot of ways. So, while a drow (noble) has SLAs that mimic 2nd level spells, s/he doesn't actually cast a 2nd level spell.
To a person willing to listen to reason and not bound by RAW, I would simply state that it just doesn't work that way. Take a spell casting class and some rogue levels and move on. As Jonne mentions, the 10 levels of spell casting go to waste, making it sort of odd to take that PrC.
Mauril is correct. SLA's are not spells, and being able to use an SLA is not the same as being able to cast a spell.
This was stated time and again for 3.5, particularly in relation to the Warlock class qualifying for certain prestige classes. If a PRC requires casting a spell, then the character needs to actually cast spells; SLAs don't qualify. A PRC requiring a certain caster level instead of spell casting of a certain level would be available for characters with SLAs but not spellcasting. However all of the PFRPG prestige classes with spellcasting require the ability to cast spells, so caster level alone is insufficient to satisfy the requirements of any of them.
I agree with Mauril and Father Dale. SLAs are not spells.
That said... Arcane Trickster is pretty weak by the time you get there. As a GM I would just change the prereqs to 5 ranks of spellcraft, 1st level arcane spellcaster, and 2d6 sneak attack which would allow a player to enter this class at 5th level with at least 4 levels of rogue and 1 level of sorcerer or 3 levels of rogue and 2 levels of sorcerer. You might need to re-jigger some of the class abilities, I have to look back at them to see if they are level appropriate for 6th level but I don't recall anything crazy.
Obviously that's a total house rule...
aaaawwwwWWWWW... Why you guys have to cite rules that make sense?? :)
Wellll, I guess I can't do that anymore, and it's not like my DM isn't gonna read this thread, so I guess I'll just be a hobgobby or something. Thanks for the feedback.
But just imagine if it did work like that, it would be so awesome, only having to wait until level 4, instead of level 6.
You mean level 7, earliest you can enter trickster is rogue 3/ wizard 3.