Prestige class & Spells

[Defraeter]

I know many players think that when a prestige class offer an increase in caster level/existing class, the PC keep on to gain:
- new slots for Domain Spells or Arcane School
- new spells known for Bloodline
But nothing in the rules says that.

Base classes have CLASS TRAITS, and those which cast spells have all the Class Trait "Spells" or "Spells by day".
The Class Trait "Spells" gives a base daily spell allotment (4 max by spell level for a prepared spellcaster, 6 max for a spontaneous spellcaster, 5 max for a bard, etc...). The spontaneous spellcasters have also a number max by level of spells known. Inside this trait, you can add a bonus spells by day which depends on ability score needed to cast.
That's all.

Some base class have ANOTHER Class Trait which may give bonus spells by day.
Class Trait "Domains" for Cleric: this trait gives powers and bonus spell domain which depends of level of cleric.
Class Trait Arcane School for Wizard: this trait gives powers, forbidden school, bonus spell specialization school
Etc...

The Class Traits "Spells" are different of class traits "Domains" or "Arcane School" or "Bloodline" or...

A prestige class may add "+1 level of existing class", which means "spells per day, spells known, and caster level", so an increase of Class Trait "Spells", NOT of other class traits, like "Domains" or "arcane School".
Unless the prestige class is written with "Domains" or "Arcane School" class trait, the other class traits are blocked to the level of the base class: you cannot add new domain slots...

Ex: cleric 3/wizard Evocation 3/ Mystic theurge 3
spells by day
Divine - caster level 6:
lvl 1: 3 (base allotment) + bonus of ability score + bonus Domain spell
lvl 2: 3 (base allotment) + bonus of ability score + bonus Domain spell
lvl 3: 2 (base allotment) + bonus of ability score

For Domains power and spell bonus, the PC is level 3: he has just one slot bonus for lvl 1 and lvl 2, NOT lvl 3.

Arcane - caster level 6:
lvl 1: 3 (base allotment) + bonus of ability score + bonus Evocation spell
lvl 2: 3 (base allotment) + bonus of ability score + bonus Evocation spell
lvl 3: 2 (base allotment) + bonus of ability score

For School power and spell bonus, the PC is level 3: he has just one slot "specialization school" bonus for lvl 1 and lvl 2, NOT lvl 3. The PC keeps on his forbidden school, but gains no more.

I admit the rules are not "very" clear: have the developers given a clarification since?

[Rocket Surgeon]

Well. You're partially right.

When I gain a new level in spells for my Evoker/Eldritch Knight (an example), I DO gain the bonus spell for my specialization, since it is part of my regular spellcasting.

What I do NOT get is the associated powers of the school, Wizard bonus feats, familier improvement, and so on.

If I didn't get the bonus I would have gimped myself in 2 schools of magic for nothing, and that would just be daft of me...

[Abraham spalding]

I think I have the answer to your problem:

Rules wrote:

A cleric gains one domain spell slot for each level of cleric spell she can cast, from 1st on up.

It doesn't matter what the cleric's level is, only what clerical spell level she has access too. If somehow she was a 5th level cleric but managed to gain access to sixth level clerical spells she would get her domain spell slots for each spell level.

This is because the domain class feature is granted at cleric level 1 -- the entire feature. It just does more the more spell levels you have access too. The domain spell slot only references the spell levels you have access too. Not your clerical level.

Same with the wizard:

Rules wrote:

In addition, specialist wizards receive an additional spell slot of each spell level he can cast, from 1st on up.

[Defraeter]

I don't want to argue. ^^
I could, but many thread have already done.
Your explanation is not bad, but you play on words...

I am not here to convince you, but to know if an official clarification exists.

[Spahrep]

Abraham spalding wrote:

I think I have the answer to your problem:

Rules wrote:

A cleric gains one domain spell slot for each level of cleric spell she can cast, from 1st on up.

It doesn't matter what the cleric's level is, only what clerical spell level she has access too. If somehow she was a 5th level cleric but managed to gain access to sixth level clerical spells she would get her domain spell slots for each spell level.

This is because the domain class feature is granted at cleric level 1 -- the entire feature. It just does more the more spell levels you have access too. The domain spell slot only references the spell levels you have access too. Not your clerical level.

Same with the wizard:

Rules wrote:

In addition, specialist wizards receive an additional spell slot of each spell level he can cast, from 1st on up.

I'd be inclined to agree with this interpretation myself. If they didn't want it to be this way, I'm fairly sure they would say for each cleric/wizard level as they do in other areas of rules.

[Abraham spalding]

Defraeter wrote:

I don't want to argue. ^^

I could, but many thread have already done.
Your explanation is not bad, but you play on words...

I am not here to convince you, but to know if an official clarification exists.

Your whole "argument" is based on words that aren't there, on ideas that aren't present, on a problem that is nonexistant and you accuse me of playing on words?

There is a huge difference between every other class ability that states "when a character hits level (x) in this class he gets (y)" and "When you get access to a new spell level you gain a bonus spell slot".

The first specifically states character/class level -- the second specifically and only states spell level and is granted at first level instead of granted multiple times over the course of the class levels.

In fact it's specifically not like, say, sneak attack where it explicitedly states that it increases with class level (or rage, or bardic performance, or smite evil, or weapon training, or domain powers, or anything else in the game.

It's not "playing on words" it's exactly what the ability states.

IN FACT:

Go check out any of their prestige class characters in an AP or module. Please note what you find.

[Defraeter]

@Abraham spalding: sorry if i "shocked" you, but i am not english native, so sometimes your "subtleties of language"...
I didn't mind to accuse you!!! ^^

And i should have taken the words "class features" instead of "class trait".

Find an example? Great suggestion.
Why did i not think of that? ^^
I would have lost less time...

I have only found 2:
One in Council of Thieves n°4: confirm that bonus domain spell keep on
One in Kingmaker n°6: confirm you gain nothing from bloodline.

It seems you're right! ^^ And me wrong for this point.^^

But i find it's a shame, because you have very few reasons to keep on a wizard until level 20... Just switch to prestige class, it is more interesting.

[Abraham spalding]

* on the language part -- we are alright, I didn't realize you didn't mean what was typed as it was typed.

For a generalist wizard I fully agree that there are few reasons to go to 20 -- for the specialized wizard not so much:

Conjuration: Having a trumpet archon at your beck and call 24/7 is a nice thing even at level 20.

Divination: Having a 30 Init minimum at all times (and acting in the surprise round) is very nice.

The others have several similar perks that I can seen a spell caster wanting to have.