The mysterious Pathfinder Savant, and his friendly dilemmas

[lro]

This is neither a guide, or an ask for help, I just want to open a debate about a class that is nearly never mentioned on the forums.

The Pathfinder Savant is a class that has always intrigued me since the first time I laid my eyes on it, being able to pick spells from other spell lists, casting scrolls with your caster level, taking ten on umd, and so much more goodies are provided from it's toolbox.

The largest problem I see with the class is that you add the spells to your class list, not you list of known spells. Atleast if you want to be a wizard, which seems to be the vanilla entry for pathfinder savant. As a wizard loses his two spells/level when he multiclasses.

A simply solution to this problem is just to pick druid/cleric instead as they get all spells on their spell list, Storm druid or theologian seems to fit the prc most if you want an archetype. The more riskier approach is to just go wizard, and hope to find the right scrolls, with a combination of finding enough spell books to "borrow".

Another problem I see is that estoric Magic can be interpreted in two ways when trying to select a spell that is already on your list, that it just do not work, or that it works, but you do not gain the +1 spell level penalty. As I read it you should be able to take a level 2 haste, as a level 2 spell if you got the wizard list. But it seems a bit strong.

Esoteric Magic (Ex):

At each class level beyond 1st, the Pathfinder savant chooses a spell from any class’s spell list and thereafter treats it as if it were on the spell list of his base spellcasting classes; if his base class could not normally cast that spell, it is treated as 1 level higher. The spell’s type (arcane or divine) and save DCs function as normal for his base spellcasting class. All other restrictions of his normal spellcasting class apply. This ability does not allow other spellcasters to prepare, cast, or use spell trigger or spell completion items of esoteric spells (such as a sorcerer using a cure light wounds scroll).

Also do people think the prc is worth wasting a feat and losing a spellcasting level?, I really think it does.

[Bardess]

I like it, for NPC however
I always interpreted Esoteric Magic as: add the spell to your known spell list.
As for the second question: if you are a wizard and choose a wizard spell, you add it at its level, if you choose a spell from another list you have the -1 penalty.
Why have you to give up your two spells for level? Don't the level stack as for number of spells cast and known? I always thought so.

[lro]

For you first question, the ability says "thereafter treats it as if it were on the spell list of his base spellcasting classes;" which states spell list, not known spells.

"He does not gain other benefits a character of that class would have gained, except for additional spells per day, spells known (if he is a spontaneous spellcaster), and an increased effective level of spellcasting."

That text is on all prestige classes that advances wizard spell levels as far as I know, that that text clearly states that you do not gain new spells if you are a prepared spellcaster. Which makes it really hard to multiclass or take a prestige class with a wizard. Ignore this part if you for some reason have access to all scrolls/spellbooks you would ever want in your campaign, but my guess is that these things are rare, and limited in most campaign especially high level spells.