So, About Caster Level

[Neal Litherland]

I'm reading through the description of caster level, and it implies that you pretty much use the level of the class you gain spells from in order to determine your caster level. A point of contention that a player I know has is classes with only partial spellcasting. Rangers, bloodragers, etc. who don't get spells till a later level.

Is there anywhere that states they don't get to count their full level as their caster level, or which confirms that they do?

Thanks!

[Jeraa]

Neal Litherland wrote:

I'm reading through the description of caster level, and it implies that you pretty much use the level of the class you gain spells from in order to determine your caster level. A point of contention that a player I know has is classes with only partial spellcasting. Rangers, bloodragers, etc. who don't get spells till a later level.

Is there anywhere that states they don't get to count their full level as their caster level, or which confirms that they do?

Thanks!

By default, that is correct. You use the total number of levels in that class to determine caster level. If a class works differently, it specifically says so. Like the ranger:

Quote:

Through 3rd level, a ranger has no caster level. At 4th level and higher, his caster level is equal to his ranger level – 3.

Or the paladin:

Quote:

Through 3rd level, a paladin has no caster level. At 4th level and higher, her caster level is equal to her paladin level – 3.

[David knott 242]

The Spells class feature for each class says what their caster levels are. It is class level minus 3 for paladins and rangers. If there is no direct statement about that (as is the case with bloodragers), then caster level defaults to class level.

[Neal Litherland]

Thanks much, all!

[Rub-Eta]

Worth noting: The extract users don't have a general caster level.

[Dasrak]

Rub-Eta wrote:

Worth noting: The extract users don't have a general caster level.

Not quite right; it's the Alchemist that doesn't have a caster level. His extracts do have a caster level equal to his Alchemist level.

99% of the time this is rules minutiae, and mostly just applies to meeting the prerequisites for feats and prestige classes.

[Rub-Eta]

Indeed, the Alchemist has one in regards to his extracts' effects (and for dispelling, and some other effective caster levels) - as called out within the Alchemy class ability (and Brew Potion). But he doesn't have a general caster level, like the real spellcasters.
For example: He does not have a caster level in regards to his discoveries (even though some specifically call out his caster level as a prerequisite or variable) - However, this specific example should, probably, just be glossed over and viewed as a reminder of the humanity behind it all and not interpreted as a compilation error in the system.