orange prism ioun stone

rogueone

First Post
A wizard in our party has acquired a pale orange ioun stone (+1 caster level). The wizard (12th level) now can cast available spells at 13th level. However, our player also believes that his wizard now has access to all spells available to 13th level wizards. My understanding is that the ioun stone raises caster level, but not class level. What is correct?
 

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You are correct in this. Caster level only influences certain characteristics of spells as they are being cast (duration, range, damage, number of targets etc.). Simply spoken, your caster level is the power at which you can cast spells.

Which spells you can cast at all, and how many, is not determined by caster level, but by class level (in this case, Wizard level). Class level influences caster level (basically, caster level equals class level plus modifications, such as by an Orange Prism Ioun Stone), but not vice versa.


I believe the following logic may convince your fellow player:

1. What spells you can cast and how many is given in a table "Table: The Wizard", as part of the Wizard class writeup. All references to level in that table (i.e., the first column) necessarily refer to Wizard class level.

2. That table also lists BAB, base save bonuses, and other class features as a function of Wizard class level. Thus, clearly Wizard spells known and spells per day are a function of class level, not caster level. Otherwise, other class features, even your base attack bonus and saves would benefit from an Orange Prism Ioun Stone, which isn't the case.

3. Only in the Magic Overview, under "Casting Spells", is caster level referenced directly.

SRD said:
Caster Level

A spell’s power often depends on its caster level, which for most spellcasting characters is equal to your class level in the class you’re using to cast the spell.
You can cast a spell at a lower caster level than normal, but the caster level you choose must be high enough for you to cast the spell in question, and all level-dependent features must be based on the same caster level.
In the event that a class feature, domain granted power, or other special ability provides an adjustment to your caster level, that adjustment applies not only to effects based on caster level (such as range, duration, and damage dealt) but also to your caster level check to overcome your target’s spell resistance and to the caster level used in dispel checks (both the dispel check and the DC of the check).
Caster Level Checks

To make a caster level check, roll 1d20 and add your caster level (in the relevant class). If the result equals or exceeds the DC (or the spell resistance, in the case of caster level checks made for spell resistance), the check succeeds.


Caster level is equal to class level (in the spellcasting class) most of the time, but there are effects which change caster level, while leaving class levels untouched. One example would be the Good domain, which allows you to cast [Good] spells at +1 caster level. These effects change the power of your spells and alter your bonus on caster level checks. They do not, however, grant additional spells known or spells/day, nor do they let you access a higher levels of spells than you already have access to.
 


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