Spellcasters and Prestige classes [Archive] - Wizards Community

Spellcasters and Prestige classes [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Chronus13
03-11-07, 01:19 AM Ok, so I was flipping through my books trying to find ways to increase my wizard's caster level. I was looking at the Archmage and the Master Specialist and I noticed something that I may have been doing wrong for a long time but have been assuming forever.

Under the "Class Features" section for Master Specialist, the Spellcasting entry it states: At each level, you gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known, if applicable) as if you had also gained a level in the wizard class. You do not, however gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained.

Well, that increase in caster level caught my eye. For the Archmage and pretty much every other caster prestige class I have looked at don't say anything about increasing the caster level just the spells known and spells per day. Does this mean that if I was a Wiz 10/ Archmage 5 that I would still only cast up to 5th level wizard spells??

:weep: Someone please clear this up for me. :weep:

Edit: Also, if my caster level doesn't increase unless a Prestige Class specifically states it then would it be ok to take the Practiced Spellcaster feat?
Ariath Ska'Vhor
03-11-07, 01:54 AM I think it's safe to assume you also increase your caster level. At least that's how I always interpret it.
Naderion
03-12-07, 01:07 PM Spellcasting is exactly the same as if you would have gained levels in your base class.
If the prestige-class has this class feature. Archmage does not.
Master_Verhoffin
03-12-07, 11:13 PM I would say that Archmage levels do increase caster level. I've never seen a prestige class that advances spells per day/known but not caster level and, considering that Archmages are supposed to be the greatest masters of magic, it just makes sense. Besides, the sample Archmage here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20070130) is a Wizard 15/Archmage 5 with a caster level of 20.
Treymordin
03-13-07, 01:35 PM You would need to add your base class together with the PRC. For example, you are a 5th level wizard, 7th level Wizard of High Sorcery, from Dragonlance. 1st level Archmage. Since you have two PRCS that add to your spellcasting ability you would add 8 to your caster level of 5. Hence you are able to cast spells as as 14th level wizard.
ZeroHour85
03-18-07, 09:18 PM I have a question in the same lines as this. Currently I am playing a Wizard/Sorcerer/Ultimate Magus (Complete Mage). One of my friends told me it would be awesome if I turned him into a melee caster and I decided to toy with the idea and started looking at the Spellsword (Complete Warrior).

Now my question is that the spells per day from the Spellsword, can I have it refer back to the Ultimate Magus class who's spells per day refer back to increasing the Wizard and Sorcerer's class?
Aximili
03-18-07, 09:57 PM Either wizard or sorcerer.
The Ultimate magus does not posses spellcasting abilities, only a class features that increases other classes' spellcasting.
The_Shaman
03-19-07, 12:28 PM Likewise. Unless you have a specialized progression from your PrC (i.e. the sublime chord/Suel Arcanamagh/Assassin etc), it doesn't work.
Dyne
03-19-07, 05:38 PM Spellcasting is exactly the same as if you would have gained levels in your base class.
If the prestige-class has this class feature. Archmage does not.

Archmage does have it, it's just worded weird. You can't increase your spells per day without increasing your caster level. That's BS (unless your a Dragon Disciple, though many would argue that class's spellcasting progression is BS).
The_Shaman
03-19-07, 06:31 PM I think it was a 3.0 thing that wasn't translated yet. The only other time I've seen such spellcasting is in the OA Eunuch Warlock.
ZeroHour85
03-19-07, 09:04 PM I was just wondering about this. A friend and I went over the pun-pun build (nasty thing) and we were looking over other combos that one may be able to do. If one was able to have a PrC point to a class to determine their spells per day as if they leveled up in that class, in which determines the spells per day by advancing a level in another class, some interesting combos could be done.

From what's said here doesn't seem like thats viable since the pointed to class does not advance in spells as a wizard or cleric, but the text does not draw that clear a line IMHO. Some interesting combos could be worked out if it did work from using the Mystic Theurge class if that was used at the top of the chain with Ultimate Magus and some others down under it, but thats another discussion.
The_Shaman
03-19-07, 09:20 PM Aww, man.. that's as slick as using MT for a sublime chord/ur-priest. It smells.
ZeroHour85
03-19-07, 09:28 PM Aww, man.. that's as slick as using MT for a sublime chord/ur-priest. It smells.

LOL, wish it was legit, I'd make an NPC for my group to fight out of it... Of course I am the DM but then I would be setting standards.... Some line to cross.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Chronus13 03-11-07, 01:19 AM	Ok, so I was flipping through my books trying to find ways to increase my wizard's caster level. I was looking at the Archmage and the Master Specialist and I noticed something that I may have been doing wrong for a long time but have been assuming forever. Under the "Class Features" section for Master Specialist, the Spellcasting entry it states: At each level, you gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known, if applicable) as if you had also gained a level in the wizard class. You do not, however gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. Well, that increase in caster level caught my eye. For the Archmage and pretty much every other caster prestige class I have looked at don't say anything about increasing the caster level just the spells known and spells per day. Does this mean that if I was a Wiz 10/ Archmage 5 that I would still only cast up to 5th level wizard spells?? :weep: Someone please clear this up for me. :weep: Edit: Also, if my caster level doesn't increase unless a Prestige Class specifically states it then would it be ok to take the Practiced Spellcaster feat?
Ariath Ska'Vhor 03-11-07, 01:54 AM	I think it's safe to assume you also increase your caster level. At least that's how I always interpret it.
Naderion 03-12-07, 01:07 PM	Spellcasting is exactly the same as if you would have gained levels in your base class. If the prestige-class has this class feature. Archmage does not.
Master_Verhoffin 03-12-07, 11:13 PM	I would say that Archmage levels do increase caster level. I've never seen a prestige class that advances spells per day/known but not caster level and, considering that Archmages are supposed to be the greatest masters of magic, it just makes sense. Besides, the sample Archmage here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20070130) is a Wizard 15/Archmage 5 with a caster level of 20.
Treymordin 03-13-07, 01:35 PM	You would need to add your base class together with the PRC. For example, you are a 5th level wizard, 7th level Wizard of High Sorcery, from Dragonlance. 1st level Archmage. Since you have two PRCS that add to your spellcasting ability you would add 8 to your caster level of 5. Hence you are able to cast spells as as 14th level wizard.
ZeroHour85 03-18-07, 09:18 PM	I have a question in the same lines as this. Currently I am playing a Wizard/Sorcerer/Ultimate Magus (Complete Mage). One of my friends told me it would be awesome if I turned him into a melee caster and I decided to toy with the idea and started looking at the Spellsword (Complete Warrior). Now my question is that the spells per day from the Spellsword, can I have it refer back to the Ultimate Magus class who's spells per day refer back to increasing the Wizard and Sorcerer's class?
Aximili 03-18-07, 09:57 PM	Either wizard or sorcerer. The Ultimate magus does not posses spellcasting abilities, only a class features that increases other classes' spellcasting.
The_Shaman 03-19-07, 12:28 PM	Likewise. Unless you have a specialized progression from your PrC (i.e. the sublime chord/Suel Arcanamagh/Assassin etc), it doesn't work.
Dyne 03-19-07, 05:38 PM	Spellcasting is exactly the same as if you would have gained levels in your base class. If the prestige-class has this class feature. Archmage does not. Archmage does have it, it's just worded weird. You can't increase your spells per day without increasing your caster level. That's BS (unless your a Dragon Disciple, though many would argue that class's spellcasting progression is BS).
The_Shaman 03-19-07, 06:31 PM	I think it was a 3.0 thing that wasn't translated yet. The only other time I've seen such spellcasting is in the OA Eunuch Warlock.
ZeroHour85 03-19-07, 09:04 PM	I was just wondering about this. A friend and I went over the pun-pun build (nasty thing) and we were looking over other combos that one may be able to do. If one was able to have a PrC point to a class to determine their spells per day as if they leveled up in that class, in which determines the spells per day by advancing a level in another class, some interesting combos could be done. From what's said here doesn't seem like thats viable since the pointed to class does not advance in spells as a wizard or cleric, but the text does not draw that clear a line IMHO. Some interesting combos could be worked out if it did work from using the Mystic Theurge class if that was used at the top of the chain with Ultimate Magus and some others down under it, but thats another discussion.
The_Shaman 03-19-07, 09:20 PM	Aww, man.. that's as slick as using MT for a sublime chord/ur-priest. It smells.
ZeroHour85 03-19-07, 09:28 PM	Aww, man.. that's as slick as using MT for a sublime chord/ur-priest. It smells. LOL, wish it was legit, I'd make an NPC for my group to fight out of it... Of course I am the DM but then I would be setting standards.... Some line to cross.