Earlier this year, I was making my very first wizard for a private campaign and I decided that I would want to use an archtype that caught my eye. Namely the Exploiter Wizard. My GM at the time, made a ruling that the Exploiter Wizard's Arcane Reservoir class ability only allowed the wizard to account his wizard levels instead of arcanist levels for the purpose of the Arcane Reservoir's maximum pool, but not for the daily recovery of daily points. Meaning that he would be stuck with 3 points per day, no matter his level.
At the time I thought nothing at in, seeing as my GM was far more experienced and claimed that he was correct. The campaign didn't last for too long, the GM seemed fonder of tormenting his players rather than allowing us to have pleasant role-playing experience. It was all rather chaotic.
Nevertheless, now that I am looking back at the Exploiter Wizard, I was reading up on the Exploiter Wizard's Arcane Reservoir ability again and while the language seems to be a little vague, I am not seeing anything that would lead to such a ruling.
What is the forum's thoughts? Are the wizard levels only used for the purpose of the maximum pool or also for the daily recovery of points?
It's badly worded. The exploiter archetype talks about how many arcane reservoir points you gain at each level, when you actually gain reservoir points daily. I imagine the intent is that it's used for both, but I can't prove it - or prove your GMs interpretation either.
The most coherent conclusion is that since it is the same class ability as the Arcanist, just that Wizard levels are counted rather than Arcanist levels, it should work the same as the Arcanist class feature.
The ability for the exploiter wizard still follows language for other archetypes that hack abilities out of other classes. It says you get the ability, and the ability says it refreshes every day. My guess is that they wanted to save a line or two spelling out EVERY SINGLE TIME your wizard level overrides you arcanist level in regard to the ability. Follow the "duck rule" unless told otherwise. If the archetype gives you the ability, assume it works the same unless noted otherwise. In this case, it's replacing "arcanist level" with "wizard level." I guess it could have been worded better *shrug*, but the intention and reading are rather clear, IMO.
Arcane Reservoir (Su)
An arcanist has an innate pool of magical energy that she can draw upon to fuel her arcanist exploits and enhance her spells. The arcanist's arcane reservoir can hold a maximum amount of magical energy equal to 3 + the arcanist's level. Each day, when preparing spells, the arcanist's arcane reservoir fills with raw magical energy, gaining a number of points equal to 3 + 1/2 her arcanist level. Any points she had from the previous day are lost. She can also regain these points through the consume spells class feature and some arcanist exploits. The arcane reservoir can never hold more points than the maximum amount noted above; points gained in excess of this total are lost.
Points from the arcanist reservoir are used to fuel many of the arcanist's powers. In addition, the arcanist can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir as a free action whenever she casts an arcanist spell. If she does, she can choose to increase the caster level by 1 or increase the spell's DC by 1. She can expend no more than 1 point from her reservoir on a given spell in this way.
Arcane Reservoir (Su)
At 1st level, the exploiter wizard gains the arcanist's arcane reservoir class feature. The exploiter wizard uses his wizard level as his arcanist level for determining how many arcane reservoir points he gains at each level.
It's the exact same class ability. All rules would apply when using the ability.
The real issue would be if you were a Arcanist 4/Exploiter Wizard 7 multiclassing, would your levels stack or be separate reservoirs?
I think most of us agree that you are intended to have the complete ability with complete progression. But there may not be much you could do to change your DM's mind.
Your DM was just problematic. By his ruling, you would have your reservoir, but you wouldn't be able to use it. Because the text doesn't state
Points from the arcanist reservoir are used to fuel many of the arcanist's powers. In addition, the arcanist can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir as a free action whenever she casts an arcanist spell. If she does, she can choose to increase the caster level by 1 or increase the spell's DC by 1. She can expend no more than 1 point from her reservoir on a given spell in this way.
PLUS you don't gain any points at each level, your level just determines how many points your reservoir can hold, and how many you gain per day.
I would throw my book at your DM.