It says that if you have the deaf oracle curse, you add the silent metamagic feat to any spell you cast. (of which I'm finding out, is pretty sweet with the spell Silence) Does this only include Oracle spells, or does it extend to spell-like abilities (in the case of say a gnome oracle using prestidigitation) or if you multi-class into another spell casting class, like sorcerer or bard?
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It says that if you have the deaf oracle curse, you add the silent metamagic feat to any spell you cast. (of which I'm finding out, is pretty sweet with the spell Silence) Does this only include Oracle spells, or does it extend to spell-like abilities (in the case of say a gnome oracle using prestidigitation) or if you multi-class into another spell casting class, like sorcerer or bard?
Spell-Like Abilities: Usually, a spell-like ability works
just like the spell of that name. A spell-like ability has
no verbal, somatic, or material component, nor does it
require a focus. The user activates it mentally. Armor
never affects a spell-like ability’s use, even if the ability
resembles an arcane spell with a somatic component.
As for the rest, I'm pretty sure it'd only apply to oracle spells, but the language is vague on the point as it says "You cast all of your spells as if they were modified by the Silent Spell feat."
But at least for the gnome oracle he can use his spell-likes all he wants since they have no components.
thats good to hear for the gnome. I'd still like to see if a deaf oracle can multiclass.
"All of your spells" means "all of your spells from any class", in my book. Being a multi-class oracle is painful enough; why not enjoy the fruits of your class abilities?
If it does mean only Oracle spells then the spells from other classes would always suffer a 20% spell failure. I would say that all spells are silenced as the rules for deafness already stack greatly against a character: automatically fail sound-based perception checks, -4 to initiative and opposed perception checks, as well as the previously mentioned spell failure. With all that stacked against the PC, I would rule that all spells are silent despite the lack clarity in the rules.
According to raw it seems all spells are silenced, I would not have a problem with it, as long as it isnt a lame level dip in Oracle to get one fancy ability.
Maybe not, but anybody in a combat situation would be looking around themselves constantly to check for threats (deaf people more so I would assume) so would no doubt notice that his friends are clutching their sides or lying comatose on the ground with blood seeping from under them.
One way an Oracle could handle the deafness would be to take a pseudodragon cohort at 7th level. The psuedodragon would be a good scout and also able to communicate the oracle via telepathy, including relaying things it hears.
According to raw it seems all spells are silenced, I would not have a problem with it, as long as it isnt a lame level dip in Oracle to get one fancy ability.
Well it forces the character become deaf.. and thats pretty harsh there. No bard buffs.. Forget about being able to do social encounters for the most part.
It says that if you have the deaf oracle curse, you add the silent metamagic feat to any spell you cast. (of which I'm finding out, is pretty sweet with the spell Silence) Does this only include Oracle spells, or does it extend to spell-like abilities (in the case of say a gnome oracle using prestidigitation) or if you multi-class into another spell casting class, like sorcerer or bard?
Spell-like abilities are - by definition - not affected by anything that affects only spells, so the oracle ability does not help with that. But as someone else already pointed out, SLA have not somatic or verbal components, so you're fine there anyways.
As for spells from other classes: There is a precedent for the sorcerer bloodline arcana which affects all (arcane only, I believe) spells, even those from other classes. So yes, I would say the benefit (as the curse) extends to all your spells, not only your oracle spells.
On a side note, except for dedicated classes such as the rage prophet, I would think very hard about multi-classing with an oracle. The curse without its later benefits is just too strong a drawback IMO.
Also note that while you're deaf, it doesn't mean you have to be mute. You don't need to be restricted at all in the languages you know, you just won't be able to hear them. Keep your Perception skill maxed, and at level 5 you get a +3 to non-opposed (and obviously non-sound) Perception checks. That'll help with lip-reading, assuming your DM allows it (and he really should, IMHO). Keep a small chalkboard in your pack just in case. Social encounters are not out of the realm of possibility, they'll just be... different. :)