Lantern Bearer = arcane spellcasting class?

[Der Origami Mann]

FAQ wrote:

http://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1fm#v5748eaic9qow

"(...) The design team is aware that the above answer means that certain races can gain access to some spellcaster prestige classes earlier than the default minimum (character level 6). (...)"

+

FAQ wrote:

http://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1fm#v5748eaic9qt6

"(...) Most spell-like abilities should be considered arcane, ...)"

= Access to Dragon Disciple (DD)

Can I get through Spells per Day from DD the spell like abilities from the Lantern Bearer PrC?

[GM Arkwright]

You can go Lantern Bearer-> DD, sure. But if you don't have levels in a class that can actually cast spells, the +1 spellcasting per level will be wasted.

[Der Origami Mann]

GM Arkwright wrote:

You can go Lantern Bearer-> DD, sure. But if you don't have levels in a class that can actually cast spells, the +1 spellcasting per level will be wasted.

But when I can get in DD through Lantern Bearer, why isn´t Latern Bearer a "spellcasting class"?

[Quandary]

Quote:

Can I get through Spells per Day from DD the spell like abilities from the Lantern Bearer PrC?

You need to already have arcane spellcasting with spells/day progression for DD to progress it, DD cannot give you that from scratch when all you have is isolated arcane SLAs (which many PC races have inherently with just Commoner levels). Sorry that Paizo's SLA FAQ muddied the issue for you, by allowing you to qualify for DD with SLAs, but DD will not give you casting progression that you don't already have a base of. If you really tried to push the rules, you could claim that usages/day of SLAs counted as, and was advanced by spells/day progression. But you would not gain any new SLAs because it is not a spontaneous spellcasting class and SLAs are not 'spells known' in any sense.

[Quandary]

But I hit FAQ on the top post, you should too, to bring this to Paizo's attention.
It is a result of their FAQ, and they may find this case relevant on how they rule on the game.

[Drachasor]

The Lantern Bearer doesn't technically have Spells Per Day (no ability gives them that chart, etc). Though this isn't defined as precisely as one might want.

Hmm, there's certainly an argument to be made for this. I'd probably allow it just because the end result of advancing Lantern Arcana would be someone with much weaker abilities than using a proper spellcaster.

The argument would go thusly:

Lantern Arcana clearly grants spell-like abilities per day. Spell-like abilities are treated as spells in most respects (except where it says otherwise). Spell-like abilities default to arcane, so this is an "arcane spell-casting class" in this sense (though it has some divine spell-likes as well, but that shouldn't prevent progression).

All that said, this would be a horrible, horrible idea in terms of how effective it would be. Only Lantern Arcana would be advanced, not other abilities of the class.

[Der Origami Mann]

Quandary wrote:

But I hit FAQ on the top post, you should too, to bring this to Paizo's attention.

It is a result of their FAQ, and they may find this case relevant on how they rule on the game.

THX and THX for your answer :-)

Drachasor wrote:

(...) I'd probably allow it just because the end result of advancing Lantern Arcana would be someone with much weaker abilities than using a proper spellcaster. (...)

I think the "Lantern Arcana" is a special type of an "arcane spellcasting class".

Lantern Arcana:

Lantern Arcana (Sp)

A Lantern Bearer gains a series of spell-like abilities. The Lantern Bearer's caster level for these effects is equal to her character level, and the save DC is equal to 10 + the spell's level + her Intelligence modifier. To use a spell, she must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell-like ability's spell level.

At will: dancing lights, light, and spark.

A lantern bearer gains additional abilities as she advances in level. When she initially gains access to a set of spell-like abilities, she can use each spell-like ability once per day. For every two class levels after gaining a specific set of spell-like abilities, she gains an additional use per day of each ability in that set. (For example, a 3rd-level Lantern Bearer would be able to use darkvision, delay poison, and see invisibility each once per day, and faerie fire, pass without trace, and protection from evil each twice per day.)

1st level: faerie fire, pass without trace, and protection from evil.

3rd level: darkvision (self only), delay poison (self only), and see invisibility.

5th level: continual flame (3rd-level spell, lasts up to 10 minutes/level; a Lantern Bearer within 20 feet of a continual flame she created using this ability can extinguish it to cast searing light), dispel magic, and magic circle against evil (self only).

7th level: heightened daylight (heightened to a 4th-level spell), dimensional anchor, and freedom of movement (self only).

[Claxon]

Spell like abilities aren't spells (though they act like them in many respects). A DD's class ability that progresses spell casting would not under current rule interpretations advance the Lantern Bearers SLAs.