Item creation feat caster level prerequisites: do levels in different arcane classes stack?

[Kavren Stark]

I'm wondering if my Wiz2/Brd1 character can take Brew Potion as his third-level feat, or does he need to have three levels in a single arcane class to do so? I assume arcane and divine caster levels wouldn't stack, but it seems like levels in two different arcane classes or two different divine classes might. I'm also curious as to how that would work for the damage increase you get for every five caster levels with Arcane Strike.

[Sean FitzSimon]

He would need to obtain 3 levels in a single casting class (or combination of class & spell advancing prestige class). Right how he's not a 3rd level arcane caster, he's a 1st and 2nd level arcane caster.

[Dabbler]

No, they don't stack unless he has the Arcane Knack trait, or you import the feat Practised Caster from 3.5's supplements. These make arcane levels of the specified class stack with a limited number of other levels, be they caster or not.

There are also some alternate rules in Unearthed Arcana that allow various caster levels (and levels in non-casting classes) to stack, but they are rarely used so far as I know.

If you used any of these methods, though, because they increase effective caster level this is across the board - with spells, with feats, the works. So if you had Practised Caster (Wizard) then you'd still be a Wizard 2/Bard 1, but you would cast your wizard spells as a 3rd level caster and be eligible for the Brew Potion feat, use Arcane Strike as a 3rd level caster etc.

[MorganS]

Dabbler wrote:

If you used any of these methods, though, because they increase effective caster level this is across the board - with spells, with feats, the works. So if you had Practised Caster (Wizard) then you'd still be a Wizard 2/Bard 1, but you would cast your wizard spells as a 3rd level caster and be eligible for the Brew Potion feat, use Arcane Strike as a 3rd level caster etc.

Wiz2/Brd1 alone doesn't meet the "caster level 3" prerequisite, but RAW, I don't see where "caster level 3" is defined to mean "caster level 3 across the board". For example, if a Wiz2 dipped into sorcerer and took varisian tatoo for +1 caster level on evocation spells, he'd be Wiz2/Sor1 but he'd qualify for the caster level 3 prerequisite because he can cast evocation spells at caster level 3.

The GM might "house rule" otherwise, but I don't see why. Even if you wanted to leverage a narrowly defined CL boosting feet like Spell Specialization to get into a crafting feat TWO levels early, I really don't see how it'd unbalance the game.

But I could be missing something... opposing views anyone?

-- Morgan