Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 syserr Mar 28, 2011 14:32:32	I had one of my players ask me if he could take a level of mystic theurge, and then start taking Runesmith and increase his casting ability of Mystic Theurge with the Runesmiths spellcaster level increases (thus netting double the spells with his Runesmuth levels) He's thinking Fighter/Cleric/Wizard/Mystic Theurge/Runesmith I tentatively told him that it doesn't make sense to be able to continue getting the main benefit of mystic theurge without taking levels in it, but I figured I'd see what the community thought.
#2 Tempest_Stormwind Mar 28, 2011 15:18:24	I had one of my players ask me if he could take a level of mystic theurge, and then start taking Runesmith and increase his casting ability of Mystic Theurge with the Runesmiths spellcaster level increases (thus netting double the spells with his Runesmuth levels) He's thinking Fighter/Cleric/Wizard/Mystic Theurge/Runesmith I tentatively told him that it doesn't make sense to be able to continue getting the main benefit of mystic theurge without taking levels in it, but I figured I'd see what the community thought. You're right. He can't, because Mystic Theurge isn't a spellcasting class in and of itself: it advances other casting. If he's a Cleric 3 / Wizard 3 (horrible way to enter the class, but I just need some examples) and takes a level of mystic theurge, as far as his spellcasting's concerned, he's not treated as Cleric 3 / Wizard 3 / Theurge 1, but rather as Cleric 4 / Wizard 4. Thus, there's nothing there that "+1 level of existing class" could affect except cleric and wizard. Let's look at the boilerplate for spellcasting progression: When a new [PRESTIGE CLASS] level is gained, the character gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if she had also gained a level in a spellcasting class she belonged to before she added the prestige class. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. This essentially means that she adds the level of [PRESTIGE CLASS] to the level of some other spellcasting class the character has, then determines spells per day, spells known, and caster level accordingly.  Compare to Mystic Theurge: When a new mystic theurge level is gained, the character gains new spells per day as if he had also gained a level in any one arcane spellcasting class he belonged to before he added the prestige class and any one divine spellcasting class he belonged to previously. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. This essentially means that he adds the level of mystic theurge to the level of whatever other arcane spellcasting class and divine spellcasting class the character has, then determines spells per day and caster level accordingly. If a character had more than one arcane spellcasting class or more than one divine spellcasting class before he became a mystic theurge, he must decide to which class he adds each level of mystic theurge for the purpose of determining spells per day.  Mystic Theurge is not a spellcasting class, but rather added to existing spellcasting classes. Just like Runesmith.
#3 Krusk Mar 28, 2011 18:23:05	I've seen compelling arguements both ways. Honestly, I let it go especially in fairly simple builds like this one, but by and large agree that it shouldn't work that way based on what Tempest said.