Ex-bards and +1 caster level PrCs

[Mr. Patient]

According to the PH, bards who change to a lawful alignment become
ex-bards, and may no longer gain levels as bards. OK, simple enough.
However, suppose an ex-bard (who remains lawful) takes a prestige class
that grants her +1 caster level in her existing spellcaster class. Does
she get the extra bard casting abilities?

 

[Murrdox]

Strictly speaking, she's no longer advancing as a Bard, she's only developing further the spellcasting ability that she began learning as a Bard. Thus, I'd say yes. She can't advance in any of her Bard abilities though, and she's still limited to the Bard spell list.

 

[Mr. Patient]

That was my inclination, too. I'm just curious to see if anyone has a strong dissenting opinion, or can cite a rule to the contrary.

 

[shilsen]

I'd say yes too. The PHB specifically says that the ex-bard does not lose access to any of his previously-obtained abilities (which would include spellcasting). So the PrC simply augments existing spellcasting ability, just as it would do if the character was still a bard, or any other type of spellcaster.

 

[Spatzimaus]

It seems pretty simple to me: if you wanted a PrC that DIDN'T let ex-Bards continue their spellcasting, those classes would simply have the same alignment restrictions Bards do. So, in this case, yes, the ex-Bard is fine raising his spellcasting IMO.