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For the Witch, no.
It's one of those nitpicky language things. Compare the cleric's domain slot to the witch's patron ability:
Each domain grants a number of domain powers, dependent upon the level of the cleric, as well as a number of bonus spells. A cleric gains one domain spell slot for each level of cleric spell she can cast, from 1st on up. Each day, a cleric can prepare one of the spells from her two domains in that slot. If a domain spell is not on the cleric spell list, a cleric can prepare it only in her domain spell slot.
At 2nd level, and every two levels thereafter, a witch's patron adds new spells to a witch's list of spells known. These spells are also automatically added to the list of spells stored by the familiar.
The witch's patron spell is added based on the character's witch class level, while the cleric's domain slot is added based on the ability to cast cleric spells. So when a cleric in a prestige class gains the ability to cast 4th-level cleric spells, they get the domain slot. But when a witch in a prestige class gains the ability to cast 4th-level witch spells, that doesn't change her witch level so she doesn't get the patron spell. (Unless the prestige class specifically grants it, like in the examples I grok do u gave.)
The whole thing creates some strange inconsistencies. If a witch takes a break from his patron and then returns to it at a higher spell level. Then are those new patron spells learned as spells of his current maximum spell level or of the spell level a witch would normally gain them?
Nothing in the witch really tells you what spell level the patron spells should be.
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Just realized this is an actual FAQ entry
Witch: If I take levels in a prestige class that advances my spellcasting, do I continue to gain bonus spells from my patron as I gain levels?
No. That is a class feature of the witch class, and the standard "+1 level of spellcasting" prestige class ability only advances spells known, spells per day, effective spellcaster level. (You retain the patron spells from your familiar based on your actual witch level, of course.)
There is no inconsistency it is based on your level of Witch. The spells on the patrons list specify what level they are gained at. For example, A 5th level witch/1st level slayer takes 10 levels of eldritch knight, gains access to the patron spells gained at 2nd level and 4th. If they take another level in Witch they gain access to the patron spell gained at 6th level (Their level in Witch).
But at what spell level is that spell gained at level 17? The caracter is casting 8th level spells, so is it an 8th level spell?
The spell level does not change, they gain the spell at the same level as if they were a 6th level Witch. The fact is they are a 6th level Witch for all class features of the witch except spells. Patron Spells is a separate class feature from spells. They have a caster level and spell slots as if they were a 15th level Witch. If they take the trait Magical Knack, they have a caster level of 17 and spells per day as if they were a 15th level Witch. They lost a caster level by taking a level of Slayer and Eldritch Knight only gives 9 caster levels.
The spell level does not change, they gain the spell at the same level as if they were a 6th level Witch.
Do you have any text to support that? The problem is that the spell level is never set by the patron class ability.
I’ve also brought this up with regards to archetypes that slow when the patron spells get added.
Yea, the FAQ Belfon linked to.
Witch: If I take levels in a prestige class that advances my spellcasting, do I continue to gain bonus spells from my patron as I gain levels?
No. That is a class feature of the witch class, and the standard "+1 level of spellcasting" prestige class ability only advances spells known, spells per day, effective spellcaster level. (You retain the patron spells from your familiar based on your actual witch level, of course.)
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The spell level does not change, they gain the spell at the same level as if they were a 6th level Witch.Do you have any text to support that? The problem is that the spell level is never set by the patron class ability.
I’ve also brought this up with regards to archetypes that slow when the patron spells get added.
I can't seem to find a relevant FAQ but it was stated somewhere (blog? SKR post?) that it counts as the "normal" level you would gain it if you were single-classed. In other words: if you are a level 6 witch with the Agility patron, detour into a spellcasting prestige class for 10 levels, then come back to witch, you get freedom of movement when you reach 8 total witch levels and it counts as a 4th-level spell.
I think the actual relevant answer was about a different class (maybe sorcerer or oracle?) that had similar "add spells at certain levels" language, which is probably why I can't find it.
edit 2: Ah, here we go. That FAQ explicitly says that an aquatic bloodline sorcerer gets geyser at sorcerer level 9 and it counts as a 4th-level spell.
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There are a few PrCs that advance features such as Hex and Patron Spells like Evangelist and Winter Witch.
...But a Mystic Theurge, say, would be SOL?
Any ways to circumvent this?
There are a few PrCs that advance features such as Hex and Patron Spells like Evangelist and Winter Witch....But a Mystic Theurge, say, would be SOL?
Any ways to circumvent this?
Nope. It was a deliberate design goal of PF to give base classes good enough features to make prestige classes a subpar option outside of specific niches.
In the Witch's case, any prestige class that doesn't advance hexes is virtually unusable.
For patrons only you can somewhat get around by picking a patron that has the good spells at low level, e.g. Time which has Silence at 4th and Haste at 6th, but lacks good higher level spells outside of Time Stop at 18th.
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There are only a couple of prestige classes in pathfinder that do not give up more than they give.
The Winter Witch advances all the Witch’s class features and only gives up a single caster level.
The Dawnflower Anchorite can eventually advance a cleric’s domains and channel energy. The only things you give up are a single caster level. In addition to adding class feature it also adds 9 more class skills including perception and 4 skill ranks per level instead of 2 per level. In addition you also get 3 more Credences, Solar Invocations, and Sunbeam twice a day as a spell like ability.
Both those are straight up upgrades to the base class, but those are the exception and both of those have restrictions that limit them to a single deity or patron.
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Evangelist is another class that allows you to retain almost all of the original class abilities.
You lose a single level in your starting class, and you need to do your daily Obedience, but you get more skill points than most classes, faster and generally better Divine boons, add 2 skills of your choice to your class skills, and a few other things.
If your initial class had a 1/2 BAB progression it can even give a better BAB.
Not all Obediences are equal and they work better with some classes, but generally, it is a good choice.
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Generally, Evangelist is a bad choice because being behind 1 spell level half of the time is an enormous loss for full spellcasters.
It costs two feats but it resolves that issue.
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Generally, Evangelist is a bad choice because being behind 1 spell level half of the time is an enormous loss for full spellcasters. And unless you are using Fractional BAB advancement rules, Evangelist will even cost 3/4 BAB classes a point of BAB unless you delay entry. If you are using the Evangelist prestige class as a primary spellcaster, there has to be something very strong you are gaining from your obedience to make that kind of loss worth it.
I actually think Evangelist is one of the best Prestige classes. At least from a design perspective.
The theme is excellent. Aligned Class was a great idea. “Get all your normal class abilities” and a few benefits from Evangelist. The one-level delay before Aligned Class kicks in is perfect to keep the class from being an automatic upgrade while not so painful no one should ever take it.
Yes, being a level behind on spells hurts. The mechanical benefits aren’t going to match the loss until 9th or 10th level. Maybe 6th if your deity has a particularly strong second boon. But overall this is a great design.