I have a question when it comes to PrC and adding a level of spell casting. I have two examples of classes and would like to know which of the two is the correct one.
Ex: Spontaneous arcane caster meeting requirements for Drag Disc. Let's say he is a level 7 Sorcerer, he has enough XPs to become a level 8 character and chooses the Dragon Disciple. Since it does not say +1 level of existing casting class, would that mean that if he cast fireball he would still deal 7d6 instead of 8d6? and when he is level 2 Drag Disc and gets a +1 to existing casting class he would be a level 9 character, but cast spells as a level 8 (so said fireball would be 8d6 at that time and not a 9d6)
Also if the class is a divine caster and has a PrC that has the same verbage only when the special column has +1 to existing casting class is when the levels stack to determine the strength of the spell?
As far as I can tell, that is correct. If you're taking the time out from your normal spellcasting class to a prestige one, you're going to rely on it for any increase to your existing casting abilities for ALL purposes. That dragon disciple is not going to pick up any new spells aside from the ones from the class itself (barring any other source). So the Sorceror 7 / Drag Disciple 1 is also not even tossing 4th level spells yet. To my knowledge, arcane or divine, it's the same. (And there's the one prestige that's +1 to existing arcane and +1 to existing divine, so you get to do both.)
That is what I thought, just wanted others opinion to verify it :-)
Thanks everyone.