I don't know what the RAW on this says.
Errata:
Magic Initiate (p. 168). The feat’s limit on casting the 1st-level spell applies only to the casting given by the feat
Sage Advice compendium:
Magic Initiate
If you’re a spellcaster, can you pick your own class when you gain the Magic Initiate feat?
- Yes, the feat doesn’t say you can’t. For example, if you’re a wizard and gain the Magic Initiate feat, you can choose wizard and thereby learn two more wizard cantrips and another 1st-level wizard spell.
If you have spell slots, can you use them to cast the 1st level spell you learn with the Magic Initiate feat?
- Yes, but only if the class you pick for the feat is one of your classes. For example, if you pick sorcerer and you are a sorcerer, the Spellcasting feature for that class tells you that you can use your spell slots to cast the sorcerer spells you know, so you can use your spell slots to cast the 1st-level sorcerer spell you learn from Magic Initiate. Similarly, if you are a wizard and pick that class for the feat, you learn a 1st-level wizard spell, which you could add to your spellbook and subsequently prepare. In short, you must follow your character’s normal spellcasting rules, which determine whether you can expend spell slots on the 1st-level spell you learn from Magic Initiate.
So in other words, you have a once-per-day, slot-free casting of the spell due to the feat itself, and any-times-per-day casting of the spell using spell slots, if the spell is gained for one of your existing classes, subject to the limitations of your spellcasting.
You mean if the Bard selects the Bard spell list?
I don't see the uncertainty. The bard gains the 1st and 2nd level slots, and since they're all Bard spells, the character can just add them all together.
I guess some Sorcerers and Warlocks would be interested in taking this feat chiefly to gain CHA+3 extra known spells.
If you think this is too good, simply add that spells known doesn't stack.
You can of course also say you can't become a Magic Adept of your own class at all, just like you can't multiclass into your existing class.
I am not convinced this is a necessary limitation - not yet anyway, but feel free to argue for it.
I guess the level 12 Bard or Sorcerer who picked their own class for Magic Initiate would effectively have the number of spells of a level 16 Bard or Sorcerer? If that's the case, the number of first and second level slots wouldn't change, and you'd instead get more higher level slots. Or do they get a 'fake' level 4 Bard|Sorcerer worth of spell slots, in addition to their normal ones?