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Topic. My player wants to play a magus, and is dipping a level in wizard for the evocation admixture focused school. He wants to apply Versatile Evocation to his magus spells. I don't see why this shouldn't be allowed as the ability doesn't restrict it to wizard class spells (though I would argue that he shouldn't be able to change divine evocations if it came up); however, now he is trying to convince me that his opposition school penalties only apply to his wizard spells. Again, I cite the lack of language pointing to these penalties only applying to spells from the wizard list as evidence that they apply to all spells of that school regardless of the spell list it came from or the class slot it was prepared in.
This player has a habit of making me second guess myself, so I'm sure I'm on the right track but I need someone else to chime in and provide a sanity check.
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CORE FAQ (see the "General rule"):
Sorcerer: Do the bonuses granted from Bloodline Arcana apply to all of the spells cast by the sorcerer, or just those cast from the sorcerer's spell list?
The Bloodline Arcana powers apply to all of the spells cast by characters of that bloodline, not just those cast using the sorcerer's spell slots.
General rule: If a class ability modifies your spellcasting, it applies to your spells from all classes, not just spells from the class that grants the ability. (The exception is if the class ability specifically says it only applies to spells from that class.)
I've made a careful reading of the Wizard Arcane School rules and they do not appear to specifically say that having to use two slots to prepare a spell from an opposition school only applies to Wizard spells. So, I'd have to say that you have to use two slots to prepare any opposition school spells, even non-Wizard (i.e. Magus spells).
On the bright side, the same FAQ supports you using the Admixture ability to modify Magus spells since the Admixture ability does not specifically say it only applies to Wizard spells.
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Follow up question. I think I know the answer to this one, as well. Does the wizard's chosen school's extra spell slot per caster level apply to all caster levels or just wizard caster levels?
A spell's power often depends on its caster level, which for most spellcasting characters is equal to her class level in the class she's using to cast the spell.
You can cast a spell at a lower caster level than normal, but the caster level you choose must be high enough for you to cast the spell in question, and all level-dependent features must be based on the same caster level.
The way this is worded implies that the wizard's bonus spell slots for his chosen school only apply to his wizard caster level. However, the wizard's arcane school ability says:
In addition, specialist wizards receive an additional spell slot of each spell level he can cast, from 1st on up. Each day, a wizard can prepare a spell from his specialty school in that slot. This spell must be in the wizard's spellbook.
That doesn't actually mention caster level, just "spell level he can cast" which tells me it applies to all spell levels the wizard has access to regardless of his wizard level.
Can I get some further clarification on this?
EDIT: One final bonus question that probably merits a new post but since this is already here I'm asking here: do multiclass casters that use spellbooks need more than one spellbook or can they share a single book across multiple classes? I'm guessing no as that seems like more tedium than anything else.
I really don't believe that for a moment Captian Zoom. I just can't imagine the designers intended that FAQ entry to broaden restrictions, rather than reduce them.
I'm inclined to agree as well. My player will be pleased. Thanks for the responses!
Actually, now that I'm thinking about it again, the bonus school spell slot rule could be interpreted differently.
In addition, specialist wizards receive an additional spell slot of each spell level he can cast, from 1st on up. Each day, a wizard can prepare a spell from his specialty school in that slot. This spell must be in the wizard's spellbook.
If he's wizard 1/magus 7, and he receives an additional spell slot of each spell the wizard can cast, then it would be limited only to wizard spells he has access to, and not all of them.
Additionally, it could mean it must be be a wizard spell in the wizard's spellbook. If a multi magus/wizard is required to keep two separate spellbooks (which could be the case, given that class spell slots are kept separate and the spells are drawn from two different lists), then he could only apply spells from his wizard's spellbook to the bonus slot. Ugh. There's still a lot of ambiguity here, wish we could get an official ruling either way.
*Stuff*
Hah! You wrote exactly what I was thinking when I made my last post. The wizard's spell slots are distinct from the magus' spell slots, therefore the rules that apply to spells prepared as a wizard and the rules that apply to spells prepared as a magus. Makes sense.
Just to add further clarification to Akerlof's (and my new) perspective, when you replace Magus in the example with Cleric, it becomes much more obvious that the Wizard's bonus spells from his arcane school would not apply to other class spell levels.
You can use the same physical spellbook, but there is a distinction between magus spells and wizard spells.
Akerlof's interpretation is one that I'd considered as well, but I don't find it convincing. Even if you are a Wizard 1/Magus 1 your character is a (1) wizard and he or she is (2) preparing a spell.
People generally believe that a Spellslinger can use Arcane Gun with other classes' spells, but that ability specifically references the Spellslinger as the one who can use it.
Or go look at the Arcane Trickster:
Tricky Spells (Su): Starting at 5th level, an arcane trickster can cast her spells without their somatic or verbal components, as if using the Still Spell and Silent Spell feats. Spells cast using this ability do not increase in spell level or casting time. She can use this ability 3 times per day at 5th level and one additional time per every two levels thereafter, to a maximum of 5 times per day at 9th level. The arcane trickster decides to use this ability at the time of casting.It's pretty obvious that this ability applies to spells that the AT gains from other classes.
I see your point, but Tricky Spells applies to casting spells that are already prepared. It's the same distinction as the one made in the Versatile Evocation ability. Arcane Trickster is a prestige class that is designed for multiclassed characters and that Tricky Spells should apply to any spells the character has prepared is implicit in the language.
It sounds ambiguous, until you consider that the wizard's bonus slot is for wizard spells. The spells learned as a wizard can only be slotted into the caster's wizard spell slots, and the spells learned as a magus can only be slotted into magus spell slots. He can't use his wizard Level 1 spell slots to prepare spells he learned as a magus, the same way he couldn't if he had cleric levels. Bonus slots gained from high ability scores work the same way -- they only allow spell prep for the class the bonus slots were earned in.
It is key to note that the wording for the bonus spell slot says, "This spell must be in the wizard's spellbook." "In the wizard's spellbook" implies that it was learned as a wizard spell, not another class spell that is also conveniently on the wizard spell list.
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There is no rule or faq that I am aware of that says 'If a class ability modifies your spell preparation, it applies to your classes, not just the class that modifies your preparation.'
Spell preparation and spell casting are not the same thing, an spell preparation is much more of an individual class focused mechanic than spell casting is.
So basically the Magus gets the Versatile Evocation for his magus spells, but the bonus spells, opposition schools etc only apply to his wizard spells.
Comparison to outside examples suggests that this is not correct.
Your outside example is not applicable in this situation the same way that Versatile Evocation is not applicable. Class spells and spell preparation are not class features. You cannot under any circumstance prepare one class' spells in slots that you earned from another class unless the class providing those slots specifically states as much.
When a new arcane trickster level is gained, the character gains new spells per day as if she had also gained a level in a spellcasting class she belonged to before adding the prestige class. She does not, however, gain other benefits a character of that class would have gained, except for additional spells per day, spells known (if she is a spontaneous spellcaster), and an increased effective level of spellcasting.
Would you argue that a wizard 2 [transmuatation]/cleric 2 could prepare his cleric Magic Weapon spell in his bonus transmutation spell slot? No, because that spell is provided by his cleric levels. It is not in his Wizard spellbook, nor was it taken from the Wizard list. He would also need to know the spell as a Wizard to do so.