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I've recently made a Half-Elf Sorcerer (Razmiran Priest kit) in Organized Play. Being not interested in multiclassing, I'm taking the Arcane Training (Sorcerer) racial trait.
I need the benefits of this ability clarified to me. What exactly is the impact of my own caster level on operating spell-trigger/completion items? The understanding my group's mostly been operating on was that such items use their own caster level (which is always minimum unless specified otherwise), but that as long as the spells they do are on the wielder's list, they can use it with no problem. Am I to understand we're a little bit wrong? For the record, the character's at that stage where I can still screw with his abilities and race if I want to.
I had the same question when I made my Half-Elf Witch. Generally, the consensus is that you are correct in how the ability works (or doesn't) with items, with one exception: Staves. Staves use the wielder's caster level unlike most other items. Scrolls, Wands, Rings, none of them care what your caster level is above a certain minimum, but staves do.
Now the other usage is for you to take it for a class in which you do not have any levels and thus be able to use low level items. A non-caster can take it and gain a huge benefit in exchange for all their favored class bonuses. So a Half-Elf Fighter can take it can use scrolls as a 1st level Wizard/Sorc, Bard, or Witch.
Now if you were in a homebrew you might be able to convince your GM to have it apply as a +1 level bump for all items, but as written it doesn't work that way.
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really? our group was puzzled by it too.
the wording of it implies that if you don't have any levels in the class, you can use wands/scrolls from that class as if a 1st level caster from that class.
but then the wording doesn't make sense when it talks about adjusting the caster level of items , since wielding a wand doesn't change if you're 1st or 5th level in a casting class.
Arcane Training: Half-elves occasionally seek tutoring to help them master the magic in their blood. Half-elves with this racial trait have only one favored class, and it must be an arcane spellcasting class. They can use spell trigger and spell completion items for their favored class as if one level higher (or as a 1st-level character if they have no levels in that class). This racial trait replaces the multitalented racial trait.
It doesn't actually say they cast scrolls as 1 level higher. it says "they can use spell trigger and spell completion items for their favored class as if one level higher". referring to their caster level / level in their favored class. Not the caster level of the item.
so the level of the scroll never changes, but a first level wizard would count as a 2nd level wizard for reading scrolls. or a second level wizard would count as 3rd level when reading a 2nd level scroll, and not have to make any caster level check to complete it successfully.
likewise a 1st level Fighter half-elf with this would be able to read 1st level arcane scrolls if he took his favored class in wizard or sorcerer without having to make a caster level check.
but the scroll's caster level would remain the same.
Right. It generally doesn't do anything for scrolls or wands, only a staff which does use the wielder's level if it's higher.
There is one exception, though. If you're casting from a scroll that's too high for you, you have to make a caster level check. It would help there.
I'm taking the Arcane Training (Sorcerer) racial trait. I need the benefits of this ability clarified to me.
Arcane Training: "Half-elves occasionally seek tutoring to help them master the magic in their blood. Half-elves with this racial trait have only one favored class, and it must be an arcane spellcasting class. They can use spell trigger and spell completion items for their favored class as if one level higher (or as a 1st-level character if they have no levels in that class). This racial trait replaces the multitalented racial trait."
As a level 1 sorcerer, you use spell trigger and spell completion items as if you were a level 2 sorcerer.
What exactly is the impact of my own caster level on operating spell-trigger/completion items?
Spell Trigger, not very much. This is things like wands, as long as it's on your spell list, you can use it.
But for Spell Completion items, like Scrolls, you need to be of high enough level in the right class to cast the spell already. (As well as having the spell on your list, and having a high enough ability score)
So lets say your level 5 sorcerer (who has at least 13 Charisma) wants to activate a Scroll of Fireball. Normally, you would have to make a caster level check to do so, and possibly have a mishap if you fail. But because your Arcane Training makes you count as if you were a level 6 sorcerer, you can cast the scroll no problem.
It works. My ninja has this trait so he can use wand of shield, wand of protection from evil, and keeps a few useful scrolls on him. You don't get your favored class hit point/skill point each level(you have no levels in your favored class) but you also don't have to dump a bunch of points into UMD.
What makes me chuckle about this ability is things like the Arcane Discovery "Staff-Like Wand" or the special ability of the Wizard class archetype Scrollmaster called "Improved Scroll Casting" which is like a limitless version of the Cyphermage's "Enhanced Scroll" lore. These things allow your CL to be used in place of the wands/scrolls built-in CL.
Example- A Lvl. 10 Half-Elf Wizard with the Scrollmaster Archetype can not only cast a scroll with a 6th level spell on it because they are a counted as being Lvl. 11, but they can also cast lower level scrolls with an effective CL of 11. In short, A 10th level Half-elf Scrollmaster can casts spell scrolls at a higher level than their memorized spells.
While some might think this "sounds" broken, it really is not. There are feats, abilities, and a few traits that allow you to cast certain spells at a higher CL or that increase your CL for satisfying requirements. Like I said in the beginning, it's something that makes me chuckle a little. :)