Post/Author/DateTime	Post
GreyStar 12-28-07, 05:58 PM	First off, would a warlock's Imbue Item feature allow him to craft a lich's phylactery? Second could racial substitions or class variants that affect only the spell-casting progression of the base class still manifest when taking levels in a prestige class that allows spell progression? The text typically states that they gain another caster level as though they had advanced in the base class, but no other features. Examples would be a dragon-blooded sorcerer gaining spell-like abilities and less spells known (from Races of the Dragon) or the favored soul learning a few sorcerer spells from the Favored of Bahamut variant in Dragon Magic.
Talisman 12-28-07, 08:43 PM	First off, would a warlock's Imbue Item feature allow him to craft a lich's phylactery? By the RAW, yes, I think. Imbue item allows a warlock to craft items only if he has the appropriate Item Creation feat (in this case, Craft Wondrous Item), but it allows him to use UMD to fake having the appropriate spells. One of the prereq's to craft a lich's phylactery is "The character must be able to cast spells..." which I think you could use UMD to take care of. Interestingly, you don't have to be able to cast spells to acquire the lich template, except indirectly. The template can be applied to any humanoid that can craft a phylactery...and crafting a phylactery requires spellcasting ability...but the warlock exploits a loophole in the rules. Second could racial substitions or class variants that affect only the spell-casting progression of the base class still manifest when taking levels in a prestige class that allows spell progression? The text typically states that they gain another caster level as though they had advanced in the base class, but no other features. Examples would be a dragon-blooded sorcerer gaining spell-like abilities and less spells known (from Races of the Dragon) or the favored soul learning a few sorcerer spells from the Favored of Bahamut variant in Dragon Magic. I think so. Since most spellcasting PrC's say you gain a new spellcasting level "as though you had gained a new level in any preexisting spellcasting class," I think that works.
Oliver D'Argent 12-29-07, 07:17 AM	One of the prereq's to craft a lich's phylactery is "The character must be able to cast spells..." which I think you could use UMD to take care of. UMD only allows a Warlock to fake a spell for item-crafting purposes, so it would not fulfill the "must be able to cast spells" requirement. Taking one level of Wizard, Cleric, or some similar spellcasting class should take care of that requirement, however.
ishpumalibu 12-29-07, 07:34 AM	I don't believe that +1 level of existing spellcaster works for a warlock, if you look at the eldritch theurge in complete mage it has a separate increase system for warlocks that says "+1 level of existing invocation-using class" so unless they've erratad stuff to be equal to that i think you're limited to only those classes....
Oliver D'Argent 12-29-07, 07:48 AM	As long as it doesn't specify "divine spellcasting class" it does work. The Acolyte of the Skin PrC in Complete Arcane says "+1 level of existing spellcasting class" and specifically uses it with the Warlock class in the sample character. The thing with Warlocks and PrCs is that they cannot qualify for those that require the actual ability to cast spells. If the spellcasting requirement is for a specific spell, a spell-like ability can fulfill the requirement - but a requirement of "must be able to cast X level spells" cannot be met by a Warlock unless he multiclasses with a true spellcasting class.
Talisman 12-29-07, 12:49 PM	UMD only allows a Warlock to fake a spell for item-crafting purposes, so it would not fulfill the "must be able to cast spells" requirement. "Emulate Class Feature: DC 20. Your effecive level in the emulated class equal your UMD check minus 20." PHB, page 86 Spellcasting is a "class feature."
Oliver D'Argent 12-29-07, 01:31 PM	Imbue Item specifically only allows you to replace a required spell with a UMD roll to create an item - you must actually meet any other requirement.
DastardlyDan 12-29-07, 05:31 PM	I don't believe that +1 level of existing spellcaster works for a warlock, if you look at the eldritch theurge in complete mage it has a separate increase system for warlocks that says "+1 level of existing invocation-using class" so unless they've erratad stuff to be equal to that i think you're limited to only those classes.... It does. Look under the section "Warlocks and Prestige Classes" pg. 18 of Complete Arcane. So long as it states "+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class" or "+1 level of existing spellcasting class," a Warlock gains Eldritch Blast damage, Invocations Known, and increased grade of Invocations as appropriate. (The first means you must be an arcane spellcaster, the second means you can be either arcane or divine. Warlocks are considered arcane spellcasters.) The reason the Eldritch Theurge specifies "+1 level of existing invocation-using class" means it's designed to work with Invocation-using classes specifically. A Wizard or Cleric would not gain spell progression in that prestige class, if they could even qualify for it in the first place. Also, unfortunately, a single-classed Warlock cannot become a Lich. Being able to emulate a class feature with Use Magic Device is intended to be used, for example, with a magic item that requires the ability to use a Sneak Attack to use effectively. You can use the UMD skill to trick the magic item into thinking you have Sneak Attack, so the magic item can function. A Warlock cannot qualify for a prestige class that requires being able to cast spells, only ones that have a caster level requirement. Since you can't utilize Use Magic Device to qualify for a prestige class, you shouldn't be able to use it to qualify to become a Lich. Of course, if your DM rules that you don't need to be able to cast spells to become a Lich, then you can.
ishpumalibu 12-29-07, 07:53 PM	thanks you guys for correcting me, now i'm going to bow out before I make more of a fool of myself.