Well theres a lot of hubb-ub about the new mystic theurge prc, so I'll assume you know what Im talking about (its the newest prc destined for 3.5, and you can preview it at wizards.com).
Some peoples' problem with the class are that it addresses a problem (3.0e multiclassed spellcasters) but the fix is so narrow (limited combinations + it is a prc) that it really serves to point out the faults in multiclassing in general.
Hence, my idea is a feat to emulate a prc. How can I do this you ask? Does this destroy/negate/invalidate the new prc? Kind-of.
Mystic Theurgist [Feat]
You blend different magic styles together fluidly.
Prerequisites: Spellcasting Ability of Level 1 or higher in 2 different spell-casting classes.
Benefit: The next time you would gain a spell-casting level, you gain an additional +1 spellcasting level in another spell-casting class which you already have level(s) in. You dont gain any other special abilities of the spellcasting class except increased spells per day, caster level, and spells known.
Example: A drd2/rgr4 takes this feat as her 6th level feat, and for her 7th level chooses to advance as a ranger. She has access to 2nd level druid spells and her caster level becomes 3 for druid spells.
Arcane Theurgery [Feat]
You blend similair arcane magic easily.
Prerequisites: Arcane Spellcasting Ability of Level 1 or higher in 2 different arcane spell-casting classes.
Benefit: Your caster level for arcane spells stacks with any valid arcane spellcasting levels you have.
Special: This feat may only be taken once.
Example: A sorc10/wiz10 who has this feat has a caster level of 20 for any spell he casts.
Divine Theurgery [Feat]
You blend similar divine magic easily.
Prerequisites: Divine Spellcasting Ability of Level 1 or higher in 2 different divine spell-casting classes.
Benefit: Your caster level for divine spells stacks with any valid divine spellcasting levels you have.
Special: This feat may only be taken once.
Example: A pal4/clr3 who has this feat has a caster level of 5 for any spell she casts.
Greater Theurgery [Feat]
You blend arcane and divine magic easily.
Prerequisites: Spellcraft 5+, Spellcasting Ability of Level 1 or higher in 2 different spell-casting classes.
Benefit: All your caster levels stack with each other, but your maximum caster level is always 20 (non-epic feat).
Example: A rgr4/drd3/sor4 with this feat has a caster level of 9 for any spell he casts.
Ok. so how do the 3.0e multiclassers fare with these feats?
Clr10/Wiz10 as a non-human has access to a total of 9 feats (2 of which are metamagic/item creations from the wizard class). She spends 1 feat on Greater Theurgery, so her caster level stacks, and she spends 3 more on the Mystic Theurgist feat. This means that she is considered to be a 20th level caster when casting any spells, and she has access to 7th level cleric and 7th level wizard spells.
She also has 2 more feats which could be used for anything, and 2 which must be metamagic or item creation. Lets say she is really craving power, she spends both feats on the Mystic Theurgist feat. Her caster level is still 20, but she has access to 8th level cleric and wizard spells. She has 2 bonus wizard feats left over, which she will undoubtedly spend on Spell Penetration and Greater Spell Penetration, as she is a power craver. She still has 1 feat left over (her 1st level feat, which cannot be used on theurgery feats).
Even if she was human she wouldnt be able to get 9th level spells in both classes (as you dont meet the pre-req at level 1). Is this balanced? While the character has quite a bit of power, she sacraficed almost all of her feats in order to get it. Even if she hadnt chosen Greater Theurgery (which isnt really a necessity if you plan on taking many levels of Mystic Theurgist, but is probably more useful during early levels) she would only be able to get a few more 8th level spells.
What about his combination?
wiz17/clr3
Well, we start with the same number of feats (7). Even spending the 6 he can, this wizard will only make it to 5th level cleric spells. That leaves a 1st level feat and 3 wizard bonus feats left over.
Now, we essentially have a defined version of the mystic theurge's prc ability, but quantifying in terms of something the character receives 1 in 3 levels (feats) instead of every level (levels) makes it both a limiting factor and a more difficult decision.
The mystic theurgist would read as it does on the wizards webpage, but instead of gaining dual-spellcasting, she would gain 1 level of spellcasting in her choice of arcane or divine spellcasting, and the Mystic Theurgist feat. There would also be 2 "dry levels" (levels in which you did not gain anything in the prc) at levels 4 and 8. Additionally, I would make the feat Mystic Theurgist a prerequisite for taking levels in the class.
Granted, I only just thought of this system, but to the best of my memory it hasnt been attempted before.
Technik
Edited for clarity.
Some peoples' problem with the class are that it addresses a problem (3.0e multiclassed spellcasters) but the fix is so narrow (limited combinations + it is a prc) that it really serves to point out the faults in multiclassing in general.
Hence, my idea is a feat to emulate a prc. How can I do this you ask? Does this destroy/negate/invalidate the new prc? Kind-of.
Mystic Theurgist [Feat]
You blend different magic styles together fluidly.
Prerequisites: Spellcasting Ability of Level 1 or higher in 2 different spell-casting classes.
Benefit: The next time you would gain a spell-casting level, you gain an additional +1 spellcasting level in another spell-casting class which you already have level(s) in. You dont gain any other special abilities of the spellcasting class except increased spells per day, caster level, and spells known.
Example: A drd2/rgr4 takes this feat as her 6th level feat, and for her 7th level chooses to advance as a ranger. She has access to 2nd level druid spells and her caster level becomes 3 for druid spells.
Arcane Theurgery [Feat]
You blend similair arcane magic easily.
Prerequisites: Arcane Spellcasting Ability of Level 1 or higher in 2 different arcane spell-casting classes.
Benefit: Your caster level for arcane spells stacks with any valid arcane spellcasting levels you have.
Special: This feat may only be taken once.
Example: A sorc10/wiz10 who has this feat has a caster level of 20 for any spell he casts.
Divine Theurgery [Feat]
You blend similar divine magic easily.
Prerequisites: Divine Spellcasting Ability of Level 1 or higher in 2 different divine spell-casting classes.
Benefit: Your caster level for divine spells stacks with any valid divine spellcasting levels you have.
Special: This feat may only be taken once.
Example: A pal4/clr3 who has this feat has a caster level of 5 for any spell she casts.
Greater Theurgery [Feat]
You blend arcane and divine magic easily.
Prerequisites: Spellcraft 5+, Spellcasting Ability of Level 1 or higher in 2 different spell-casting classes.
Benefit: All your caster levels stack with each other, but your maximum caster level is always 20 (non-epic feat).
Example: A rgr4/drd3/sor4 with this feat has a caster level of 9 for any spell he casts.
Ok. so how do the 3.0e multiclassers fare with these feats?
Clr10/Wiz10 as a non-human has access to a total of 9 feats (2 of which are metamagic/item creations from the wizard class). She spends 1 feat on Greater Theurgery, so her caster level stacks, and she spends 3 more on the Mystic Theurgist feat. This means that she is considered to be a 20th level caster when casting any spells, and she has access to 7th level cleric and 7th level wizard spells.
She also has 2 more feats which could be used for anything, and 2 which must be metamagic or item creation. Lets say she is really craving power, she spends both feats on the Mystic Theurgist feat. Her caster level is still 20, but she has access to 8th level cleric and wizard spells. She has 2 bonus wizard feats left over, which she will undoubtedly spend on Spell Penetration and Greater Spell Penetration, as she is a power craver. She still has 1 feat left over (her 1st level feat, which cannot be used on theurgery feats).
Even if she was human she wouldnt be able to get 9th level spells in both classes (as you dont meet the pre-req at level 1). Is this balanced? While the character has quite a bit of power, she sacraficed almost all of her feats in order to get it. Even if she hadnt chosen Greater Theurgery (which isnt really a necessity if you plan on taking many levels of Mystic Theurgist, but is probably more useful during early levels) she would only be able to get a few more 8th level spells.
What about his combination?
wiz17/clr3
Well, we start with the same number of feats (7). Even spending the 6 he can, this wizard will only make it to 5th level cleric spells. That leaves a 1st level feat and 3 wizard bonus feats left over.
Now, we essentially have a defined version of the mystic theurge's prc ability, but quantifying in terms of something the character receives 1 in 3 levels (feats) instead of every level (levels) makes it both a limiting factor and a more difficult decision.
The mystic theurgist would read as it does on the wizards webpage, but instead of gaining dual-spellcasting, she would gain 1 level of spellcasting in her choice of arcane or divine spellcasting, and the Mystic Theurgist feat. There would also be 2 "dry levels" (levels in which you did not gain anything in the prc) at levels 4 and 8. Additionally, I would make the feat Mystic Theurgist a prerequisite for taking levels in the class.
Granted, I only just thought of this system, but to the best of my memory it hasnt been attempted before.
Technik
Edited for clarity.
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