[Spoilers] - Question about classes for BBEG

[NewVegasSlim]

Hi, I was just glancing through the stats for Nyrissa in "Sound of a Thousand Screams", and I was wondering if anyone could point out to me where and how she gained her druid levels. I see from the PRD that a nymph casts spells as a 7th level druid, but it also says she can't spontaneously sacrifice prepared spells for "summon nature's ally x" spells. So that to me indicates she's NOT a 7th level druid, she simply has spells like a druid. But from her stat block in SoaTS she's clearly adding her mystic theurge levels to her druid casting ability. I get that she qualifies for the prestige class based on her sorcerer and druidic casting abilities, but what I don't get is how she can add levels to her druidic ability when she (apparently, like the PRD nymph) does not actually have levels in the druid class.

Anyone have any insight on this? Thanks!

[Erik Freund]

The same thing happens to a creature in SS#3. It is addressed here (very minor SS spoilers)

There's not a whole lot to it, but it is an official response from the AP developer.

[NewVegasSlim]

Erik Freund wrote:

The same thing happens to a creature in SS#3. It is addressed here (very minor SS spoilers)

There's not a whole lot to it, but it is an official response from the AP developer.

Cool, thanks for the link! :)

[Shisumo]

To add a bit more detail to the discussion, the general rule on advancing a monster with class levels is that any spellcasting that is "as such-and-such class" is additive with actual levels in that class, though the rest of the class abilities are based solely on the relevant class levels. The info is in the Bestiary, in the appendix on monster advancement by class.