Arcana Unearthed and racial levels spellcasting

[Pielorinho]

Okay, so here's the sample situation:

At sixth level, a loresong faen Witch takes the feat that allows him to undergo the chrysalis and turn into a sprite. He can currently cast only second level spells.

At seventh level, he takes a level of sprite.

A seventh level of witch would give the character access to third level spells (assuming his wisdom is high enough).

According to the book, "Spryte levels stack with a spellcasting class level for purposes of determining caster level for spells."

Does this character gain access to third-level spells?

(I'm playing a bard whose race uses the stats for faen/sprytes, and I'm sixth level, having undergone the feat, and trying to figure out whether it's worth my time to take levels in spryte. If I progress as a spellcaster, then it's worth it to lose my bardic magic; otherwise, it's not worth it.)

Thanks!
Daniel

 

[GoodKingJayIII]

No. Racial levels only affect caster level for determining effects of spells. They do not affect spell slots per day or spells readied per day. Arcana Evolved may have changed this precedent. I haven't been able to fully examine the new book yet, but the new charts for racial levels and evolved levels say "+1 of existing class," just like a PrC chart. It's a little confusing, to be sure.

 

[Turjan]

No. Racial levels only affect caster level for determining effects of spells. They do not affect spell slots per day or spells readied per day. Arcana Evolved may have changed this precedent.

Yes, Arcana Evolved changed this. Here, the entry '+1 level of existing class' means that you get access to the new spell slots. However, a 6th level witch taking her first racial level in spryte does not get access to new spell slots, but the situation is indeed so that the spryte level only stacks with caster level. The second spryte racial level would give access to new spell slots in the existing class then, because this is the only racial level of spryte bearing the '+1 level of existing class' label, except for evolved levels .

The changes in AE are available for free in this document here . The racial levels of spryte are explained on the first page.

 

[Pielorinho]

Thanks for the link, Turjan!

After thinking about it further, it seems absolutely unworth it to me: I'd be giving up bardic music uses, bardic music advancement, 4 skill points, spells known, AND spells/day, in exchange for a couple spell-like abilities and an increase to a stat that I rarely use (I stay almost entirely out of combat, relying instead on spells and music). That's a very painful tradeoff, not one I think I can make.

Do y'all think there's a way to gain +1 spells/day as an ability with the racial levels, taking something else away, and keeping things balanced? What if I got rid of the +1 dexterity bonuses--would that be sufficient? I'd still be giving up all my bardic music stuff and my skill points in order to gain some SpLA and (eventually) perfect flight.

Daniel

 

[Varianor Abroad]

If I were your DM I'd probably offer to let you get the flight ability and Tiny size for a +1 Level Adjustment. There are definite drawbacks to size Tiny (like your weapons doing sucky damage and equipment costing more money) that offset it a lot.