Prestige Classes and higher levels of spells

[Arthur G]

Hi there. Long time listener, first time caller hoping to get some clarification on something another player and myself are debating.

Prestige classes and that darn "+1 level to spellcasting class" thing. What does that actually mean in regard to obtaining higher levels of spells?

To clarify, I'm not talking about caster levels at all. I found plenty of threads dedicated to that topic, but none that could tell me if a character can learn to cast high-level spells through a prestige class.

To borrow an example from another such thread: I understand that one can simply think of, say, a Fighter 1/Wizard 5/ Eldritch Knight 10 as a lv.15 Wizard with regard to his spellcasting. But does that mean that such a PC can cast lv.8 spells at a caster level of 15, like a proper lv.15 Wizard, or does it instead mean that he can only cast lv.3 spells, like the Wizard 5 that he actually is, with a caster level of 15?

Thanks in advance for any help with this matter.

[Orfamay Quest]

He can cast level 8 spells like a proper level 15 wizard. But, unlike a proper level 15 wizard, he can't scry on his familiar.

[Zahir ibn Mahmoud ibn Jothan]

It means he is a 15th level caster, and can cast 8th level spells as such.

He DOES NOT gain any of the other Wizard benefits of being 15th level, like the familiar being better, or bonus feats and such.

[Zahir ibn Mahmoud ibn Jothan]

Ninja'd, but not by much!

[Skizzlefrits]

In addition to those above, you also have to note that you, as a wizard, don't actually learn new spells from leveling up in a Prc, you have to buy scrolls/borrow a spellbook to learn the new levels of spells.

[Arthur G]

Fantastic. Thanks so very much, guys, for the informative (and damn swift) replies. You have made two newbies very happy.