Making an effective half caster dedication

[Martialmasters]

My preference of spell casters has always leaned towards the half caster. A mechanically ingrained Gish.

I was sad to find there are no classes like that in 2e. Even paladin's now champions don't get spell slots but focus.

So my thought was creating a dedication to fill this void. Goals are.

1- progresses your slot availability faster than a traditional caster dedication, letting you progress in spells known at a rate somewhere between full casters and caster dedications.

2-capping the highest spell slots at no More than half of a full caster (so 5th level maximum).

My goal is by level 10 or 12 you basically cap this dedication.

All names and description are just placeholders right now.

2-spell dedication-requirements 14 in either Cha/Wis/or int. Trained in either arcane/occult/nature it religion.

You gain 2 first level spell slots. Your spell list is determined by your trained skill. If you have more than one, pick one.

4- spell advancement-add 2 level 2 spell slots.

8-spell advancement- add 2 level 3 spell slots

10-spell advancement-add 1 4th level and 1 5th level spell slots

12-half caster breadth-add 1 spell slot to each spell level.

So at 12th level you'd have

3-first level

3- second level

3- third level

2- fourth level

2- fifth level

Same number of feats as a full caster dedication but you gain them sooner.

Might be too powerful. Should I cap it at 4th level? Hell third?!

Third I'd probably go

2-2 first

4- 2 second

6th-2

10th- 1 of each

[Samurai]

Do they get any cantrips? You don't list them.

What about something like this:?

So, the base Dedication feat at lvl 2 includes the 2 cantrips + 2 lvl 1 spells.

The Lvl 4 Basic Spellcasting gives 2 lvl 2 spells and, at 6th lvl you get 2 lvl 3 spells, and at 8th lvl 2 lvl 4 spells.

Breadth at 8th lvl gives 1 more of each of those.

Bump the Expert Spellcasting to 10th lvl, which immediately gives 2 5th lvl spells, and 2 6th lvl spells at 12th level.

You pay for the faster progression by never getting the Master Spellcaster feat

[Xzoltar]

I find that dedication spellcasting is already pretty generous, you gain 2 slots vs 3 for a Full Caster in exchange for a 5 feats. If you don't want full spellcasting you can stop taking feats. Giving more than 2 spell slot seem too much considering True Caster now have 3-4 spell slots

Even in past editions Half-Caster like Ranger and Paladin get their spell at level 4+, so you can still mimic that by taking Cleric or Druid Dedication feats,

If one of my player ask for this, this is how I will balance thoses feats. Your trading 6 feats instead of 5 feats for a faster progression but less spellcasting overall. This seem a little weak.

- Hybrid Dedication [level 1] : You gain 2 Cantrips and 1 Trained Skill

- Basic Hybrid Spellcasting [level 2] : You gain 1 spell slot of level 1 and gain a second spell slot at level 12.

- Least Hybrid Spellcasting [level 4] : You gain 2 spell slot of level 1 and gain a second spell slot at level 14.

- Lesser Hybrid Spellcasting [level 6] : You gain 3 spell slot of level 1 and gain a second spell slot at level 16.

- Expert Hybrid Spellcasting [level 8] : You gain 4 spell slot of level 1 and gain a second spell slot at level 18.

Master Hybrid Spellcasting [level 10] : You gain 5 spell slot of level 1 and gain a second spell slot at level 20.

Another way to do it, that I think is still balanced without overshadowing True Caster will be 4 feats like normal but your trading spells of level 6 for a faster progression

- Hybrid Dedication [level 2] : One Trained Skill and One Minor Boon depending on the Hybrid Class.

- Basic Hybrid Spellcasting [level 2] : You gain 2 Cantrips. You also gain One spell slot of level 1 and gain a second spell slot at level 12.

- Expert Hybrid Spellcasting [level 4] : At level 4 you gain One spell slot of level 2 and gain a second 4th level spell slot at level 14. At level 6 you gain one spell slot of level 3 and gain a second 3rd level spell slot at level 16.

- Master Hybrid Spellcasting [level 8] : At level 8 you gain a spell slot of level 4 and gain a second 4th level spell slot at level 18. At level 10 you gain One spell slot of level 5 and gain a second 5th level spell slot at level 20.