Multi-classed clerics and spontaneous cures

[Felon]

I just checked the WotC FAQ's and didn't find what I was looking for, so I figured maybe someone here's knows where to find the clarification.

I know I've read somewhere that a cleric's ability spontaneously convert any spell to a cure only applies to spells gained from cleric levels. This deflates the multi-classing trick of a druid, healer, etc. taking one level of cleric.

Anyone know where this ruling can be found?

 

[Bront]

The ability is only for cleric spells. PrCs or classes that increase the effective cleric casting level and spell progression can continute to use it. If it's an alternate spell list (Druid, or Bard for example), it does not work for that spell list.

 

[the Jester]

It's a class ability; it applies only to that class' spellcasting ability.

 

[IndyPendant]

Hmm! Well well!

Spontaneous Casting: A good cleric (or a neutral cleric of a good deity) can channel stored spell energy into healing spells that the cleric did not prepare ahead of time. The cleric can “lose” any prepared spell that is not a domain spell in order to cast any cure spell of the same spell level or lower (a cure spell is any spell with “cure” in its name).

An evil cleric (or a neutral cleric of an evil deity), can’t convert prepared spells to cure spells but can convert them to inflict spells (an inflict spell is one with “inflict” in its name).

A cleric who is neither good nor evil and whose deity is neither good nor evil can convert spells to either cure spells or inflict spells (player’s choice). Once the player makes this choice, it cannot be reversed. This choice also determines whether the cleric turns or commands undead (see below).

The SRD doesn't say they must be cleric spells anywhere. Just that a cleric can channel Cure spells. Very interesting! --Sure, it's common sense that they can't channel druid spells, but...

What about the rogue's trapfinding ability? A 19th bard with even one single level of rogue can use trapfinding as well as a rogue (tho their skills are likely lower). It may not be cut-and-dried RAW that druids and bards can't use the cleric's spontaneous curing with one level of cleric...

Need some Patron or Smurfilicious help here...: )

 

[Bront]

But you can't cast a cross list spell, so you can't give up a first level wizard spell to cast cure light wounds, because it's a divine spell. Plus, it's described under the contect of the cleric spel casting, not listed as a special power like turn undead. So, my interpretation is that it only applies to cleric spells.

It's actualy a bit clearer in the PHB I believe.

 

[Felon]

Again, I'm looking for the official, specific reference to back this up. Personal interpretations aren't helpful (other than to provide bumps for the thread).

 

[dcollins]

Yes, the power is specific to the cleric, and so it's only applicable to the specific cleric spell list. Multiclassed spellcasters must always maintain separate and non-interchangeable spell lists. From the SRD:

Spells: The character gains spells from all of his or her spellcasting classes and keeps a separate spell list for each class. If a spell’s effect is based on the class level of the caster, the player must keep track of which class’s spell list the character is casting the spell from.

You're not going to find any language more explicit than that, I'm afraid.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

As dcollins said, special abilities that are class-specific only work within that class. Accordingly, there's no need to spell out that a cleric can only channel cleric spells into Cure X Wounds spells, because a cleric only has a single spell list.

The rogue's trapfinding ability is different. It says, "Rogues can use the Search skill to find traps with DCs higher than 20," etc.

Given that you're a 1st-level Rogue, at least, you're a Rogue and can use the Search skill to find traps with DCs higher than 20, etc.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Given that you're a 1st-level Rogue, at least, you're a Rogue and can use the Search skill to find traps with DCs higher than 20, etc.

Yup. And that's also why a Rog1/Ftr10 can't use a Ring of Evasion in heavy armor, but a Ftr11 arguably can...

-Hyp.

 

[IndyPendant]

Heh. I was thinking about prepping a whole long post about how from a strictly RAW viewpoint, it really isn't all that clear that it only applies to cleric spells.

But I'm working on installing Baldur's Gate Trilogy, the Big Picture, Ascension, Darkest Day, Dark Side, Bonehill, Weimar's (sp?) and tons of other mods, for a nostalgic run thru a *huge*, great version of one of the best RPGs ever made--even if it is (mostly) 2nd ed.

I've...kind of lost interest. And besides, I've lost every RAW debate I've had with Patryn and Hypersmurf. I'm probably missing something here...: )