So, I've been considering playing a Master Spy for a little while now and I was working on the character a little earlier when I came across the Master Spy's ability "Art of Deception." Now, unfortunately I'm not at my house at the moment so I'm using the SRD and I can't double check but the SRD says "a master spy adds her class level to all Bluff, Disguise, and Sense Motive checks." So what I'm wondering is, is this true? Is it my total class level, which at Rogue 7/Master Spy 1 would be 8, or is it my Master Spy levels, which would only be 1 in the former situation.
In your example, your class level for Master Spy abilities would be 1. Your character level is 8.
In your example, your class level for Master Spy abilities would be 1. Your character level is 8.
I was thinking it needed to say "master spy levels" for that to be the case. After looking at other things on the SRD though I'm not sure. The Bard's "Bardic Knowledge" says "class level," the Inquisitor's "Stern Gaze" says "inquisitor levels", the Ranger and Inquisitor's "Track" says "class levels," and the Assassin's "Hidden Weapons" says "assassin levels."
The relevant wording (IMO) is in the Multiclassing section of the rules:
Note that there are a number of effects and prerequisites that rely on a character's level or Hit Dice. Such effects are always based on the total number of levels or Hit Dice a character possesses, not just those from one class. The exception to this is class abilities, most of which are based on the total number of class levels that a character possesses of that particular class.
The relevant wording (IMO) is in the Multiclassing section of the rules:
Note that there are a number of effects and prerequisites that rely on a character's level or Hit Dice. Such effects are always based on the total number of levels or Hit Dice a character possesses, not just those from one class. The exception to this is class abilities, most of which are based on the total number of class levels that a character possesses of that particular class.
That clears things up a little more. I didn't think I'd be getting a +8 to a skill from one level in a prestige class (let alone a +8 to three skills) but I thought I'd ask because of the large difference in +8 and +1.