I am unsure. I am going to lean towards no.
The thing is that the arcana mentioned specifically call out spells in their effect. Kinetic blasts are spell list abilities.
The game usually goes a long way to make sure to say 'spells and spell like abilities' when it means to cover both. So the fact that it doesn't says that it most likely does not apply to SLAs.
The game usually goes a long way to make sure to say 'spells and spell like abilities' when it means to cover both. So the fact that it doesn't says that it most likely does not apply to SLAs.
Eeeeeh. Kinda. Until recently the game considered spell-like abilities as spells for a lot more. Consider early entry to PrCs. Lately it is theoretically clearly defined, but a lot that probably should count for spell-like abilities doesn't call them out.
Despite which, I would guess there is no intent for crossblooded elemental/orc bloodline to work for kineticist.
Eeeeeh. Kinda. Until recently the game considered spell-like abilities as spells for a lot more. Consider early entry to PrCs. Lately it is theoretically clearly defined, but a lot that probably should count for spell-like abilities doesn't call them out.
I was more immediately thinking of things like the hardy trait of dwarves, which specifies both, and superstition rage power, which specifies both and supernatural abilities as well.
But yeah, general point is there. Plus, taking a 1 level dip gives +40 damage on touch attacks (more like +60 with empowered) for pyros? When they already have the best AoEs? And they can spam this all day everyday without any limit?
That just seems silly.
Here's a thread and the last post has a link to Mark giving his thoughts.
So, saving your the digging and the ctrl+f:
Officially on the side of working: Augment Summoning works with summon monster SLAs by FAQ, and Dimensional Agility feats work with dimension door SLA by FAQ, both officially. There isn't a general rule FAQ here, but it seems that abilities that call out a spell (or group of spells) by the spell's name are pretty likely to work with a SLA of those exact spell names.
Strongly on the side of working: Spell Penetration's rules text doesn't mention spells at all, just caster level checks to defeat SR, so it should work on SLAs with some confidence.
Strongly on the side of not working: Abilities like sorcerer arcana (and some wizard school powers like admixture) work when you "cast a spell," so those should not work on SLAs with some confidence.
Officially on the side of not working: Metamagic feats officially don't work, as per the FAQ linked by Dekalinder.
So, recapping on the cases cited by the dev:
1. If it calls it out by name, it officially works. Result: Kinetic blasts aren't based on specific spells (usualy) and as such this may be irrelevant2. A feat that doesn't specific spells at all would work. Result: arcana specify spells, so irrelevant.
3. He directly mentions that he is fairly sure arcana don't work on SLAS. Result: highly relevant.
4. Certain feats (and by extention- possibly some other options) meant for spells don't work for SLAs. Result: possibly relevant.
This generally leans towards the idea that the arcana wouldn't work.
Yes. Though, I do feel obligated to mention some things like Rogue magic talents do say you "cast a spell" as a spell-like ability. Not relevent to the Kineticist, but it is another case where spell-likes should be affected.
See I'm of the view that SLA are like spells in all the ways except where it says they are not. Augment summons works for summon spells and works for summon SLA, not because of extra wording but because they are summon spells. So spell focus can work for a SLA if we know it's school, but that something don't work, like you can't boost CL for it.
Also I looked at doing a sorcerer dip for kineticist and it's not actually as helpful as you'd think. It boosts your power for a level, but if you had stayed pure for the next level you'd do more damage.
Also I looked at doing a sorcerer dip for kineticist and it's not actually as helpful as you'd think. It boosts your power for a level, but if you had stayed pure for the next level you'd do more damage.
?
How so? You are getting +1 (+2 if crossblooded, which is no disadvantage to you if you are just dipping) damage per damage dice. Damage dice is one of the kineticist's main resources when damage is involved.
Are you only looking at low levels? Because the advantages of the arcana grow the higher level you get. Since kineticist blasts grow every odd level, then going o levl 19 and then using level 20 for the sorcerer dip is pretty much pure benefit. And even at level 9, you are still getting enough extra damage on the blast to justify delaying the scaling of your blast (and that is just looking at the simple blast, let alone a composite blast, or a composite empowered blast).
You can grab +20 extra damage on simple blasts, +30 on empowered simpl, +40 on composites, and +60 on empowered composites. Besides grabbing another infusion (which might not matter as much at high levels, since you likely grabbed most of the good stuff), you are looking at straight benefit here. Particularly for fire, which has its full damage on its AoE effect.