The Paragnostic Apostle Lore ability--clarification

[Pazu]

The Paragnostic Apostle prestige class (Complete Champion p. 94) gains the following ability:

Lore (Ex): You can recall legends or information regarding various topics, just as a bard can with bardic knowledge. To use this ability, make a lore check (1d20 + twice your paragnostic apostle level + your Int modifier). Success grants you the same result as a bardic knowledge check would. If you have the bardic knowledge or lore ability from another class, your levels in those classes stack with your paragnostic apostle levels for the purpose of this check.

Bolding mine above.

So, just to be clear, is the modifier:

[(PA level + other class level) x 2] + Int modifier, or

(PA level x 2) + other class level + Int modifier?

Strict interpretation of the wording would favor the first option, which would lead potentially to (for instance) a bard15/PA5 having a base (15+5) x 2 = 40 + Int modifier lore check. High, but I suppose it's not necessarily gamebreaking for a 20th level character.

Thoughts?

 

[Vorput]

I'm relativly sure it's meant to be the second one... but I don't really have anything to back that up.

Paragnostic Apostle could be the coolest sounding prestige class ever though.

 

[Sound of Azure]

It's the second one, definitely.

 

[Mouseferatu]

So, just to be clear, is the modifier:

[(PA level + other class level) x 2] + Int modifier, or

(PA level x 2) + other class level + Int modifier?

Wow. It never even occurred to me that people would think I meant option 1.

Option 2, absolutely. The multiplier applies only to the PA class level.

 

[Mogus]

Paragnostic Apostle could be the coolest sounding prestige class ever though.

Accept no substitutes.

 

[Pazu]

Wow. It never even occurred to me that people would think I meant option 1.

Hey, be fair. I don't think that option 1 is that outlandish an interpretation of what's written.

Option 2, absolutely. The multiplier applies only to the PA class level.

Yeah, I figured option 2 was what was intended.

The Paragnostic Apostle does rock, regardless.

 

[The Souljourner]

By the way it's written, it's #1.

For the purposes of the check, your bard levels stack with your PA levels. The check is PA levels x 2 + int. If you're a bard 15, PA 5, your PA level for the purpose of that check is 20.

PA_Effective = PA_Levels + Bard_Levels
Check = PA_Effective x 2 + int
Check = (PA_Levels + Bard_Levels) x 2 + Int.

Is that what they meant? I dunno. Is it balanced? Meh. Bard Knowledge is SO DM-dependent that I don't really think it can be *un* balanced.

-Nate