Multi-Class Spellcasting and Increasing their Caster Level

[Eugene Nelson]

Ive got a big if question. Is there a feat that if you are a multi-classed wizard with say fighter 6/4 respectively that raises your effective caster level for the wizard? Im not trying to get more spells or anything just a higher caster level. I know 3.5 had it and it was +4 not to exceed your total level but does this exist in pathfinder anywhere?

[Obirandiath]

The feat you're refering to, Practiced Caster, has not been brought to PF. Not yet, anyway. I have to assume that it has not been converted for a reason since it appears on these message boards frequently. There is, however, a trait called Magical Knack that increases caster level by +2 up to your character level.

[Snorter]

The thing about a trait is, you have to know you're going to need it, when you're first level.

Then it sits around on your character sheet, doing nothing, for a few levels, until you either multiclass out of being a caster, or take your first caster level (for those who start off as non-casters).

In other words, as written, it's a very metagamey, non-intuitive way of doing what Practiced Caster used to do, and doesn't support players who allow their characters to grow organically via their experiences in play.

If Practiced Caster is deemed too powerful to port over (which is debatable, since any wizard/cleric/druid who's sacrificed access to 2 levels of spells is hardly over-powered), then a revised version which brings the caster level adjustment down to +2 would still be welcome as a feat.

Allow the problem to be tackled from two angles;

a trait for those who are happy to declare "My PC will be multiclassing at level X, and here is my pre-planned build from level 1 to 20, with all feats and skills listed, along with all the items I will be owning at every point, due to the Wealth-by-Level assumptions...",

and a feat for those players who take the scenic route, who pick their next class level, feats, skills as they go, and find themselves needing to bolster their class level in hindsight.

[sanwah68]

Or as a third angle: Take the feat Additional Traits, which gives you two extra traits, with one of them being Magical Knack.

[Snorter]

I agree, the Additional Traits feat is a mechanical work around.

It just seems clunky, given that feats are seen as something you learn, during the campaign, and traits are by definition, something inborn, or picked up during childhood/adolescence.

[LazarX]

Obirandiath wrote:

The feat you're refering to, Practiced Caster, has not been brought to PF. Not yet, anyway. I have to assume that it has not been converted for a reason since it appears on these message boards frequently. There is, however, a trait called Magical Knack that increases caster level by +2 up to your character level.

And it will never be brought over if only for the usual reason that it's protected IP not open material.

[fasthd97]

I would like to see the trait rewritten so you dont have to explain why all of your pcs that want to be eldritch knights were raised by magical creatures.

[Quantum Steve]

LazarX wrote:

Obirandiath wrote:

The feat you're refering to, Practiced Caster, has not been brought to PF. Not yet, anyway. I have to assume that it has not been converted for a reason since it appears on these message boards frequently. There is, however, a trait called Magical Knack that increases caster level by +2 up to your character level.

And it will never be brought over if only for the usual reason that it's protected IP not open material.

This.

WOTC has in fact copyrighted the concepts of "+4" and "Caster Level" when used together. As such, no one else can publish a feat that uses those two terms in tandem.

Not even if they reword it and call it something else.

[wraithstrike]

It is not the idea of +4 and caster level. It has to copy the entire feat.

Dyanmic Theurge wrote:

Prerequisite: 3rd-level Mystic Theurge

Unlike most you are able to focus on two casting classes at once if one is arcane, and the other is divine.

At 3rd level you get a caster level bonus to both the arcane and divine class chosen equal to +1. Every additional 2 levels it increase by another +1 up to a maximum caster level of +4.

I was only writing the feat in order to get a point across. I know the RAW is abusable with the way I wrote it.

[Staffan Johansson]

I am not a lawyer, but I think Wizards would have a lot of trouble getting a lawsuit over a feat that gives +4 to caster level, to a max of HD, to stick. The problem however is that there is enough there to bring the suit, and lawsuits are expensive as hell.

[wraithstrike]

You can sue over anything, even if another feat only says +3. Arguing that any feat that gives any extra caster levels can probably be drawn out.

WoTc also knows that a lot of their fans also play PF, and it would cause further alienation.

[Eugene Nelson]

I guess because of some petulant yuppie at WotC I have to ask for a DM fiat and rule if I can have it or not. Just wish I knew how to get hero lab to see it :(

[Diego Rossi]

You can try to get your GM to allow you to join a caster guild so that when you get enough fame you can take the fllowing boons:

Inner Sea Magic wrote:

Eclectic Training (5 Fame):

Guilds often require members to master and train in different subjects. When your Fame score in a guild reaches 5, choose one spellcasting class you have at least 1 level in — you increase your effective caster level in that class (including the number of spells you know and can cast per day) by +1, to a maximum caster level equal to your total Hit Dice. Single-classed spellcasters should still pick a class to which this bonus applies, since this bonus is retroactive.
...
Esoteric Training (35 Fame):
The bonus to caster level you gain from Eclectic Training increases to +3 (but is still limited by your total Hit Dice). You may select a second spellcasting class to gain a +1 bonus to effective caster level.

[Eugene Nelson]

Is there a spell or magic item that ups your caster level besides the ioun stone?

[Diego Rossi]

Look this thread.
I think there are all or almost all the existing system to increase you caster level in it. They are dispersed in several posts.

[amethal]

Eugene Nelson wrote:

Is there a spell or magic item that ups your caster level besides the ioun stone?

Well, there's Death Knell ....

[Gareshra]

You know, the death knell idea could actually work out to create some interesting roleplaying and character flavor. Imagine an eldritch knight or multiclasses cleric who carried around living sacrifices which he either drained for power or "offered" to his dark gods for a boon. I think I might suggest that to another player in our group...

Anyways, I think if you're looking for that kinda option you'll want to ask the DM for some house rules or pull the feat over from 3.5.

[Alitan]

Or you could just accept the penalty for being mutliclassed and move on.

[LazarX]

Staffan Johansson wrote:

I am not a lawyer, but I think Wizards would have a lot of trouble getting a lawsuit over a feat that gives +4 to caster level, to a max of HD, to stick. The problem however is that there is enough there to bring the suit, and lawsuits are expensive as hell.

When a strong case can be made for derivative work. And given the ties to Pathfinder and D&D 3.5, then yes. Paizo is not going to put it's chances on Wizard's radar who are probably doing a very good job of checking every book the former put out.

[Snorter]

Can we stop with the paranoia, regarding the legions of lawyers poised to swoop on anyone who writes a feat with the same 'plus' as an existing ability in a WotC book?

It's only a breach, if you perform a blatant cut and paste.
Writing the same mechanical concept in your own words is not actionable.
If it were, OSRIC, Swords & Wizardry, Labyrinth Lord would all be filing for bankruptcy as we speak.