Arcane Strike with SLA

[jmclaus]

Does an SLA satisfy the pre-requisite for Arcane Strike? The FAQ mentions here that SLAs count as requirements the same as spells. It also says that they count as sorcerer/wizard spells, i.e. arcane.

This thread disagrees, but that was before the FAQ was added.

[Under A Bleeding Sun]

Yes.

[Pink Dragon]

My view is that the character needs to have a level in an arcane casting class to qualify for Arcane Strike.

Otherwise the simple trait Magical Talent would qualify a character for Arcane Strike, and I think that is a bit unbalancing. At that point, the Arcane Strike feat may as well not have a prerequisite for arcane casting at all.

[Pink Dragon]

On reading the FAQ, though, it appears that the design team disagrees with me.

[Artanthos]

Rouges qualifying for Arcane Strike with an SLA was one of the examples used by the developers.

[jmclaus]

Magical Talent never increases in CL so you're spending a trait and a feat for +1 damage, which is hardly unbalanced.

It's a lot more unbalanced for races who have SLAs with CL equal to character level. If their build doesn't require a lot of swift actions, they can grab a feat at high levels for basically +3 damage all the time.

[Artanthos]

Certain martial classes can have an arcane caster level. (Rogues & monks)

[cheechako]

jmclaus wrote:

It also says that they count as sorcerer/wizard spells, i.e. arcane.

No, it does not. It says they count as s/w unless they are not s/w spells. The FAQ lists the order of other choices. I interpret that to mean if the SLA is not on any spell list, then it defaults back to s/w. (Class-given SLAs are a based on the class that gave the ability.)

Thus, a Cure Wounds SLA would be divine (cleric) and not arcane.

[Under A Bleeding Sun]

jmclaus wrote:

Magical Talent never increases in CL so you're spending a trait and a feat for +1 damage, which is hardly unbalanced.

It's a lot more unbalanced for races who have SLAs with CL equal to character level. If their build doesn't require a lot of swift actions, they can grab a feat at high levels for basically +3 damage all the time.

Lightbringer trait isn't stuck at level 1, so it scales the damage. There is at least one other trait as well. Still not unbalanced.