As caster personas for the vigilante, Warlock and Zealot are nice. While the Warlock I seem to understand is a 6-level Arcanist as far as mechanics go and the Zealot is a more standard Inquisitor, they have a really unique progression in the fact that while their caster level progresses normally, they have to take a talent to access higher level spells and more slots. This is really interesting as one can choose to limit its spellcasting ability in favor of more class features without necessarily multiclassing, but this has a major hurdle when combining it with prestige classes who advance spellcasting.
While the caster level for spell properties increases as normal, to me it's clear that they don't gain more spell slots and access to higher levels.
While I think that this does not warrant to remove their unique spellcasting progression, in think some adjustments are in order.
For example can be stated that for every three levels their spellcasting is advanced by a prestige class (I'm keying this off the Bard/Magus/Inquisitor progression), they automatically gain the successive Arcane/Divine Training to the highest they already have.
This wouldn't break any balance, as prestige classes that advance spellcasting take this in account and balance the fact by not progressing spellcasting at every level or taking account of the fact that the character does not gain the class feature of the base class.
In addition, Arcane/Divine Training, can require a minimum Warlock/Zealot Caster Level instead of vigilante level, in order to take account of eventual spellcasting progression from prestige classes and other external sources.
Shameless bump
I think they're just in the same sucky boat as the Alchemist. On the other hand, it means that they have a lot more reason to get non-caster prestige classes, since they don't advance anyways.
If the casting automatically progressed, who would stay single-classed caster Vigilante? I'm trading half my main class feature away for casting anyways, and the prestige classes will sometimes advance my casting faster.
If it keys off of caster level, I can grab CL-boosting stuff to grab casting early.
Rarely PrCs give full progression, and the ones that do have 1/2 bab anyway. Also most abilities that key off Vigilante level don't grow and the general class features are not gained, on top of ~3 Talents
A Warlock/Zealot that take all the spellcasting talents is supposed to be on par of Magi/Bards/Inquisitors, and thus should "benefit" from multiclassing and PrCs in a similar way
On a side note, PrCs that advance extracts progression do exist.
A Zealot Evangelist would actually be interesting thinking about it....
A Zealot Evangelist would actually be interesting thinking about it....
Evangelist is a non-issue as it advances the entire class except one level so the Talents can be taken.
The problem raises with classes that advance caster level.
Zealot hase some nice thematic combinations like Dissident of the Dawnflower
Oh no, I meant for flavor reasons :P
By day, a playboy millionaire..
by night... a dark, zealous Evangelist that will come knocking on your door to spread the word :P
Speaking of prestige classes, what would happen if I decided to go Mystic Theurge?
You could go either Warlock + another divine or Zealot + another arcane. The vigilante cannot enter the class by itself as it is.
Yes, the requirement to keep taking Arcane/Divine training feels clumsy.
Not being able to take casting PrCs is a disappointment.
The Warlock or Zealot seem made for concepts like cult leader, outlaw priest, schismatic, or similar ideas.
But you can't take advantage of Demoniac or Diabolist for you secret fiendish cult master, you couldn't take Dissident of the Dawnflower for your hidden Taldane worshipper of Sarenrae, and if you want your secret member of the Grey Gardener's to actually take the prestige class you're boned.
