| 4 people marked this as FAQ candidate. |
Hello, I know it has been asked like a zillion times, but after reading a lot of threads I still have doubts.
When I get levels in a Prestige Class that gives me Spells per Day as "+1 level of existing class", that extra level only gives me:
-Spells per Day
-Known spells (only spontaneous casters)
-Caster Level for spells (the wording is "an increased effective level of spellcasting.")
Not cleric domain abilities, special class abilities, bard performance, blood lines, etc... ok
Now the questions:
*Cleric domain spell slot/ domain bonus spells: Do I get it for the spell levels that I can cast using the PrC levels? (because it appears in the Spells per Day table of the Cleric) Or I don't get that +1 spell per day (because it is part of the domain benefits).
I.e. A 5th level cleric gets another 2 levels from a PrC (for a 7 level total). Would I have domain spell slots for 1st, 2nd and 3rd spell levels but not the 4th?
*Wizard Arcane School bonus spell slot and penalties: I understand that Arcane School special abilities don't improve and you keep being an specialist for simplicity.
However do you suffer the Arcane School penalties for spells uses per day gained using the PrC class?
Do you get the bonus spell slots from the Arcane School class feature?
*Wizard free spells: Usually a Wizard gets 2 free spells per level. Does it also happen when you get the spellcasting level from a Prestige Class?
Thanks in advance
That's what I do.
Clerics will get that extra slot for their domain, as well as domain spells to put in there.
Wizards will get free spells. Specialists will get the extra slots complete with the restriction that they're for specialist spells. Specialists also keep having difficulties casting spells from their banned schools, even if the effective casting level and associated spell levels are only indirectly from his specialist wizard class - they're still evoker spells, or transmuter spells, or whatever.
It should be noted, however...and I believe this is correct...that sorcerers do not get the added benefit of the extra spells provided by their bloodline if they advance via a prestige class's +1 level of spellcasting. The reason I bring this up is because I was actually working on a sorcerer with levels in a prestige class last night and noticed Paizo's stat-block spreadsheet doesn't add the bonus spells for spellcasting levels that get bumped up by the prestige class. Reflecting back on it, I think it makes sense. The bloodline spells are far more thematically tied to advancement as a sorcerer of that specific bloodline...which is more of a class ability than an inherent part of the underlying spells known for all sorcerers.
But that's just my two-cents,
--Neil
I think it would be useful to have a clarification on what is RAW.
This is what I do.
Cleric - much the same
Wizard - much the same but no bonus feats. +2 spells per level and I'll generally allow familiar progression too although I know its not really covered. No upper level specialist etc... powers.
The spells known for a wizard is really small and so long as its a casting class I figure they have the exposure.
Sorcerer - I'm not sure - Would like a better idea. I think you could make a case for all the numerical progressions but not the bloodline powers.
Sigurd
It should be noted, however...and I believe this is correct...that sorcerers do not get the added benefit of the extra spells provided by their bloodline if they advance via a prestige class's +1 level of spellcasting. The reason I bring this up is because I was actually working on a sorcerer with levels in a prestige class last night and noticed Paizo's stat-block spreadsheet doesn't add the bonus spells for spellcasting levels that get bumped up by the prestige class. Reflecting back on it, I think it makes sense. The bloodline spells are far more thematically tied to advancement as a sorcerer of that specific bloodline...which is more of a class ability than an inherent part of the underlying spells known for all sorcerers.
But that's just my two-cents,
--Neil
I didn't even know that Paizo had a spreadsheet for that.
Here's how I'd do it. Look at the class descriptions. Specifically, look at the section marked 'Spells'. Whenever you gain a +1 level in spellcasting, whatever is listed under that entry is valid for the PrC to grant. Sorcerers and bards add to their caster level, spells per day, and spells known. They'd also add the option of swapping out spells. Clerics add spells per day. Now, to be honest, I'd add the domain slots and the bonus spells of specialist wizards. Keeps the bookkeeping simple. But bloodline spells wouldn't be allowed. I'd not allow familiars to improve, though that's based on RAW, not the power of the familiar. No progress in other class abilities, no bonus feats gained, no improvements of domain powers or existing bloodline powers, etc.
Here's how I'd do it. Look at the class descriptions. Specifically, look at the section marked 'Spells'. Whenever you gain a +1 level in spellcasting, whatever is listed under that entry is valid for the PrC to grant. Sorcerers and bards add to their caster level, spells per day, and spells known. They'd also add the option of swapping out spells. Clerics add spells per day. Now, to be honest, I'd add the domain slots and the bonus spells of specialist wizards. Keeps the bookkeeping simple. But bloodline spells wouldn't be allowed. I'd not allow familiars to improve, though that's based on RAW, not the power of the familiar. No progress in other class abilities, no bonus feats gained, no improvements of domain powers or existing bloodline powers, etc.
I have been doing more research on my own. I figured out that it should work as it worked for 3.5 because the wording hasn't changed much. Well, It isn't clear in 3.5, I have read the 3.5 FAQ, I didn't find any clarifications.
Finally I read the examples and details in some 3.5 DMG PrCs, Tome & Blood, Defenders of The Faith and the "Prestige Domains" in DotF. Finally I found some sample 3.5 PrCs in WotC articles like
that (but the author isn't a 3rEd designer afaik).
Well, looks like that it works as you say. You gain CL, spells per day, spells known if sorcerer or bard (i don't know about wizards), domain slots/spells and bonus slots for specialist (specialist still suffer the same penalties). However your class level doesn't increase, and you don't get bloodline powers, arcane school powers, bonus feats, skills, hps, etc... and abilities that depend of class level won't improve.