[CA] Practiced Spellcaster, Caster level x prereq, and PrC's

[Wolfix]

As described in the title, could one use the Practiced Spellcaster feat to qualify for Prestige Classes that require a caster level of x levels?

Take for example the Enlightened Fist PrC, since I've got a character working towards it. It lists among it's requirements that one needs to be an arcane caster level 3rd. My char is a wiz1/mnk2 with the PS feat, and I was planning on taking 2 more wiz levels after this before entering EF. Would it be possible, according to the rules, to take 2 levels of monk instead of wiz to become a wiz1/mnk4 and still qualify to enter EF?

Note that in the above example I wasn't planning on substituting the monk levels for the wizard levels, cause I want to be able to cast 2nd levels spells. But I was still wondering about it just know, never know when it might come in handy.

 

[Thanee]

Yep, that would work, I guess. There isn't a whole lot of PrC which has a caster level (as opposed to spell level) requirement, tho.

Bye
Thanee

 

[KarinsDad]

Yep, that would work, I guess. There isn't a whole lot of PrC which has a caster level (as opposed to spell level) requirement, tho.

Agreed.

If the PrC instead states "Able to cast second level arcane spells" (e.g. Cerebremancer), you can accomplish the same thing by taking the Precocious Apprentice feat twice (course, you would have to be human to do this). Precocious Apprentice gives you the ability to cast one second level spell, not multiple ones.

So, you technically would have to take one level of an arcane caster and Precocious Apprentice twice at first level in order to quality for the PrC.

For higher level arcane spell prerequisites, this trick doesn't work.

But, it is good to know these types of prerequisite tricks ahead of time, just in case.

 

[Hypersmurf]

If the PrC instead states "Able to cast second level arcane spells" (e.g. Cerebremancer), you can accomplish the same thing by taking the Precocious Apprentice feat twice (course, you would have to be human to do this). Precocious Apprentice gives you the ability to cast one second level spell, not multiple ones.

So do you allow a 4th level sorcerer to take Cerebremancer?

He only knows one second level spell...

-Hyp.

 

[Silveras]

Agreed.

If the PrC instead states "Able to cast second level arcane spells" (e.g. Cerebremancer), you can accomplish the same thing by taking the Precocious Apprentice feat twice (course, you would have to be human to do this). Precocious Apprentice gives you the ability to cast one second level spell, not multiple ones.

So, you technically would have to take one level of an arcane caster and Precocious Apprentice twice at first level in order to quality for the PrC.

For higher level arcane spell prerequisites, this trick doesn't work.

But, it is good to know these types of prerequisite tricks ahead of time, just in case.

Actually, I don't think this one works, either.

The general rule for feats is that, unless the feat has a "Special" line saying you can take it twice for different effects, taking it twice gives you the same benefit again, overlapping the pervious. In other words, the character would again gain the same spell slot for the same spell.

If a character has the same feat more than once, the benefits do not stack unless indicated otherwise in the description. In general, having a feat twice is the same as having it once.

 

[KarinsDad]

So do you allow a 4th level sorcerer to take Cerebremancer?

He only knows one second level spell...

Is he "able to cast second level arcane spells"?

 

[KarinsDad]

Actually, I don't think this one works, either.

The general rule for feats is that, unless the feat has a "Special" line saying you can take it twice for different effects, taking it twice gives you the same benefit again, overlapping the pervious. In other words, the character would again gain the same spell slot for the same spell.

Good point.

"Choose one 2nd-level spell from a school of magic you have access to. You gain an extra 2nd-level spell slot that must be used inititially to cast only the chosen spell."

So, if you choose a different spell each time you take the feat, what happens?

If a character has the same feat more than once, the benefits do not stack unless indicated otherwise in the description. In general, having a feat twice is the same as having it once.

Note the phrase "in general". One could argue that since these are different spells slots (because they can only be used for the specific spell) and since all other feats (tmk) that are picked for a different effect has that different effect stack (e.g Weapon Specialization), that this feat should work like all other feats that can allow for different effects.

Why is this a good argument?

DMG page 6 under DM Adjudication

Look to any similar situation that is covered in the rulebook. Try to extrapolate from what you see presented there and apply it to the current circumstance.

Now, the +2 bonus to Spellcraft checks should fall under the prohibition that you mentioned since it is the same benefit.


But, I can also see a DM ruling it your way as well.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Is he "able to cast second level arcane spells"?

That was my question to you.

Do you consider casting Invisibility twice "casting second level arcane spells"?

-Hyp.

 

[KarinsDad]

That was my question to you.

Do you consider casting Invisibility twice "casting second level arcane spells"?

I had not considered it that way.

Thanks.

The sentence can mean able to cast one spell multiple times, or able to cast more than one spell, or even both.

"Able to cast 2nd-level arcane spells."

Course, a given DM might not see it that way.

 

[Hypersmurf]

The sentence can mean able to cast one spell multiple times...

And even Precocious Apprentice allows you to cast one spell multiple times.

Just not on the same day.

-Hyp.