"Bonus Spells" for Dragon Disciple PrC?

[rowport]

This is a quickie; I read the "Bonus Spells" for Dragon Disciple PrC as being an additional spell up to the highest level the character can cast. Good so far. My questions are:
1. Is the Bonus Spell only an additional spell known, or additional spell slot per day, or both?
2. Does the character's caster level increase with Dragon Disciple levels that add bonus spells, or does the character keep the (lousy) caster level he has going into the prestige class?

Here is the description of the ability (this is OGL):
"Bonus Spells: Dragon disciples gain bonus spells as they gain levels in this prestige class, as if from having a high ability score, as given on Table: The Dragon Disciple. A bonus spell can be added to any level of spells the disciple already has the ability to cast.

If a character has more than one spellcasting class, he must decide to which class he adds each bonus spell as it is gained. Once a bonus spell has been applied, it cannot be shifted."

 

[Shin Okada]

1. Spells per day (only).
2. Dragon Disciple class do not provide caster level.

 

[mikebr99]

This is a quickie; I read the "Bonus Spells" for Dragon Disciple PrC as being an additional spell up to the highest level the character can cast. Good so far. My questions are:
1. Is the Bonus Spell only an additional spell known, or additional spell slot per day, or both?

Extra slots... .

2. Does the character's caster level increase with Dragon Disciple levels that add bonus spells, or does the character keep the (lousy) caster level he has going into the prestige class?

no... take Practiced Spellcaster

Mike

 

[rowport]

Thanks for the quick replies, guys!

So, I am clear on #2- no caster level increase- but I am baffled about #1; Shin says "Spells per day (only)" but Mike says "Only aditional spells known"!

Umm... ?

 

[mikebr99]

Thanks for the quick replies, guys!

So, I am clear on #2- no caster level increase- but I am baffled about #1; Shin says "Spells per day (only)" but Mike says "Only aditional spells known"!

Umm... ?

I'm wrong...


Mike

 

[Shin Okada]

I have been thinking it to be spells per day because someone who cast arcane spells without preparing (bard, sorcerer, hexblade, warmage, etc.) never get additional spells known from higher ability score.

 

[rowport]

Aha! That makes intuitive sense, Shin. Thanks for the mea culpa, Mike.

Thanks, guys.

 

[Thanee]

You must look at that PrC as a fighter-class, not as a spellcaster-class.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

You must look at that PrC as a fighter-class, not as a spellcaster-class.

Bye
Thanee

So each of those extra slots is a full power attack True Strike, then?

 

[rowport]

LOL

I think Al has it right. True Strike with Power Attack (or, even better, Leap Attack) would be pretty effective. But, I hate the idea of playing a one-trick pony character, especially suffering through many weak levels to realize the benefits of the prestige class.

I am intrigued by the class- it looks really cool at first glance. But, having looked more closely last night and with my follow-up questions this morning, I am really skeptical if it is not downright underpowered. I get that focusing on the melee abilities instead of spellcasting helps (in fact, it is utterly worthless as a caster class), but it is still pretty weak IMO. The problem is that the tactical advantages (i.e. flight) come so late in the class that it would be really suffering to get there. The dragon apothesis at level 10 is phenomenal, but again, it takes so long that your chance of survival is low to last that long (assuming a melee focused character, anyway). Adding sorcerer levels makes your hit points stink. Using hexblade levels makes your spell choices near-useless, since he has no useful 1st level buff spells.

*shrug*

Now I am thinking a monk taking Initiate of the Draconic Mysteries (from Dragonomicon) might give similar flavor, but in a more useful PrC. Hmm.