Spell-like Ability / Early Access Prestige Class / +1 Spell level

[Driver 325 yards]

If you are playing a race that allows you early access to a prestige because of a spell-like ability you could enter the prestige class without any class levels in a spell casting class. When the prestige class gives you +1 spell level, can you just choose a class that you have not leveled in for that +1 spell level.

[Avoron]

Not if it's worded somewhat like this:
"At the indicated levels, an eldritch knight gains new spells per day as if he had also gained a level in an arcane spellcasting class he belonged to before adding the prestige class."

[Zwordsman]

yup just read the section of hte class about spell levels and see if it has restricted wording. some do some don't.

[Driver 325 yards]

Avoron wrote:

Not if it's worded somewhat like this:

"At the indicated levels, an eldritch knight gains new spells per day as if he had also gained a level in an arcane spellcasting class he belonged to before adding the prestige class."

Makes sense. Can you give me an example of a prestige class that does not have restrictive language?

[Avoron]

All core prestige classes and probably most others were deliberately given the same wording. Just put one level into a spellcasting class (preferably full spellcaster to get the most out of it). What in specific were you thinking of?

[James Risner]

Driver 325 yards wrote:

Makes sense. Can you give me an example of a prestige class that does not have restrictive language?

I doubt any prc are written without that language. If there is one written that way, expect extreme table variance.

[Zwordsman]

there are actually a few clases that don't say anything other than "+1 level of spellcasting class"
Unless they're uncompletely uploaded on nethys and 20. vield illlusionist is the one I know of for sure. but its also open to any kind of spell casting if it has illusion spells. I know my psychic mesmer (when that book comes out) might go into it..
but divine arcane psychic it's not specific.

I think hellknight signifier is like this also?

I'm pretty sure there are a few others as well

then there are things like harrower that just specify the magic casting class you had before "When a harrower gains a level, she gains new spells per day as if she had also gained a level in a spellcasting class she belonged to before she added the prestige class."
Which is like the above example except it doesn't specify what kind of casting class.

So there are a few here and there

but.. why do you want one that doens't specify a casting class before they take it? Even if it didn't have that line, and you took a casting class afterwards it would not retroactively level your casting up

[Lifat]

Yeah... At least at my tables I would require an applicable spellcasting class to be able to add that extra spell level from the prestige class.