Epic level spell progression question

[Shadowkiller]

Alright I just got the ELH and I'm still a little confused about a lot of how the leveling works for spells. Basically it comes down to this:

I've got a character that is say a Wizard 18 / Archmage 2 what happens to my spell progression when I level up again (say in Archmage, but it could apply the same if I level up in Wizard)?

As I understand it I would gain all of the class abilities of an Archmage 3 (+1d4 hp, +2+int skill points, +one archmage ability, etc), but I'd gain a fixed bonus to BAB (+1 at 21st level) and saves (+0 at 21st level). I'd also receive a feat I could spend on a epic feat.

However, +1 spell level is also a class ability of Archmage 3, what am I suppose to do with it?

Normally if I level up in Archmage I get +1 spell level worth of spells, but of course I'm already a total 20th level caster because my archmage and wizard levels stack for caster level. So what happens to that +1 level of spell progression? Do I just lose it? Do I gain some sort of other benefit for being an epic level character now?

Hmmm....Maybe I should pick up a level of sorcerer instead so when I get to Archmage 3 I can apply the +1 caster level to my sorcerer spells instead so I don't lose it....


-Shadowkiller

 

[Buddha the DM]

The +1 Spellcasting Level stacks for the determination of your overall caster level. You gain no further spells unless your Int increases or you take the Epic Feat of Improved Spell Capacity. You could also take the Epic Spellcasting feat to gain access to epic spells provided you meet the prerequisites of the feat.

 

[Crothian]

All spoells cast will be cast as if you where 21st level. Increased duration, increased ranges. Spells that max dice is 25 will be 21 at that point. Take the feat that Increases Int to be on your way for more bonus spells.

 

[Grazzt]

Yeppers- Crothian and Buddha are both correct. Your caster level increases to 21st level but you don't gain any more spells/slots.

Once you reach 20th-level in a class, your ability to gain spells in that class stops unless you take the feats mentioned by Buddha or increase your Int score where you gain more bonus spells per day.

So- a 50th-level wizard with Int 20 (who hasnt taken Improved Spell Capacity or Epic Spellcasting) has just as many spells as a 20th-level wizard with Int 20.

 

[Shadowkiller]

Make sense....

Okay that makes sense, I just wasn't entirely sure.

Kinda sucks though that epic casters can only gain two new spell slots per three levels (assuming they devote all their feats to Increase Spell Capacity and nothing else).

-Shadowkiller

 

[GuardianLurker]

Shameless plug

Okay that makes sense, I just wasn't entirely sure.

Kinda sucks though that epic casters can only gain two new spell slots per three levels (assuming they devote all their feats to Increase Spell Capacity and nothing else).

-Shadowkiller

Yeah, it does - which is why I've got a thread dicussing a new Epic feat over in house rules...
http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18275

 

[GuardianLurker]

On a different note...

Suppose I had a Wiz 14/Rog 6.

I gain a level (21st, I'm epic now!) an apply it to Wiz.

I now have the spellcasting progression of a 15th level Wizard, right?

 

[Grazzt]

Re: On a different note...

Suppose I had a Wiz 14/Rog 6.

I gain a level (21st, I'm epic now!) an apply it to Wiz.

I now have the spellcasting progression of a 15th level Wizard, right?

Yeppers. Your spellcasting progression continues until you hit 20th CLASS level.

 

[mikebr99]

Re: On a different note...

Suppose I had a Wiz 14/Rog 6.

I gain a level (21st, I'm epic now!) an apply it to Wiz.

I now have the spellcasting progression of a 15th level Wizard, right?

That is correct... You start gaining epic feats, based on the character level, but not any epic class stuff until you have a core class above 20th or a PrC above 10th.