Hi all,
I recently created a Samsaran cleric, and my GM asked that I pose a question to the forums!
Mystic Past Life (Su): You can add spells from another spellcasting class to the spell list of your current spellcasting class. you add a number of spells equal to 1 + your spellcasting class's key ability score bonus (Wisdom for clerics, and so on). The spells must be the same type (arcane or divine) as the spellcasting class you're adding them to. For example, you could add divine power to your druid class spell list, but not to your wizard class spell list because divine power is a divine spell. These spells do not have to be spells you can cast as a 1st-level character. The number of spells granted by this ability is set at 1st level. Changes to your ability score do not change the number of spells gained. This racial trait replaces shards of the past. (ARG, 198)
My question is regarding a spell I'd like to take:
Named Bullet (pg 238, Ultimate Combat), which is an Inquisitor 4, Ranger 3, Sorcer/Wizard 4, Witch 4 spell.
I can take this spell as an Inquisitor or Ranger spell since they are divine, but do I take it as a 3rd or 4th level spell? Is there any precedent for this? There are a few other spells that fall under the same category for me, and we'd like to know how the community is handling it.
Thanks in advance for any help!
You should look at each of the spell lists, RAW you need to choose spells from "another spell casting class" which is singular. So which ever class you choose, all of your selected spells come from that class. If you take it as an inquisitor spell, all of your spells must be chosen from the inquisitor spell list. If as a ranger spell, all spells from the ranger list.
"another spell casting class" which is singular. So which ever class you choose, all of your selected spells come from that class.
I beg to differ. If indeed this would have been the intent, the phrasing should have been something like "any one other spellcasting class" or "select one other class. You may now chose..." . And since making it plural would suggest you must use multiple spell lists to pick from, the current choice of words is the simplest, most readable format that does not limit the ability to the spells of one other class.
Mind you, it's not a bad nerf for what is a very abusable ability.
Do a search for "mystic past life" you'll probably find you are in the minority with your interpretation with the rules lawyer-ly types.
It's called mystic past life, not lives. You only get to pick one other class's spell list. I could argue the other way that the ability should read "you can add spells from all other spellcasting classes". Anyway...
When dealing with classes that have a slower spell progression, I always look at the level they learn the spell, not the spell level itself. As a cleric, you can cast 4th-level spells at 7th level. The inquisitor isn't able to cast 4th-level spells until 10th level. The ranger isn't able to cast 4th-level spells until 13th level. If you wanted to add a spell to your spell list from one of these other classes, I would make you wait until the appropriate level that the other class could cast the spell (meaning 10th or 13th level). Yeah, it sucks, but I think it's only fair since you are able to add spells to your list that you otherwise would never be able to cast.
If your GM rules that you can cast 4th-level spells, so you can cast any other 4th-level spell added to your list, then great! When I first read that ability, I knew it would cause issues. They really should've clarified the ability more, but they probably didn't in order to save space when typing/printing the book. I really hate that they edit for space, but it only causes headaches for everyone.
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Also you can interpret as learn the spell as you learn it so if its on your list you cast it still at the level you have learned it, example: The Summoners Haste spell is level 2, learned as a wizard would be still level 3 but a free spell. Its one way to interpret it not sure, I know its tempting to add a level 9 spell to a level 6 slot but I don't interpret it that way myself. Hmm I wonder what the odds of this race becoming pfs legal are? :P