Prestige Classes that advance Spells per Level

[RCanning]

I have a question about Prestige Classes that advance the level of spellcasting from a previous class. Specifically asking about the Archmage from the SRD (but a lot of other classes from other materials, either OGC or from WotC).

The classes all tend to state that they get new spells per day, and spells known (if applicable) as if they had progressed in the previous class; but in the case of the Archmage it says nothing about caster level advancement.

The Archmage states.

When a new archmage level is gained, the character gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if he had also gained a level in whatever arcane spellcasting class in which he could cast 7th-level spells before he added the prestige class level. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If a character had more than one arcane spellcasting class in which he could cast 7th-level spells before he became an archmage, he must decide to which class he adds each level of archmage for the purpose of determining spells per day.

Eldritch Knight, Loremaster, Mystic Theurge and Thaumaturgist all state something like "This essentially means that she adds the level of [whatever class] to the level of whatever other spellcasting class the character has, then determines spells per day and caster level accordingly." It specifically mentions caster level. Arcane Trickster does not state it this way, but does specifically mention "except for an increased effective level of spellcasting".

Reading through a lot of classes from various suppliments, most of them don't mention caster level as all. Does this mean that while you are getting new spells, even at potentially higher levels, you are still casting as a lower level caster?

As an example, the Contemplative from the Complete Divine says nothing about caster level, does this mean that a 10th level Cleric/10th level Contemplative is casting 9th level spells with a caster level of 10?

If so, this strikes me as odd.

Richard Canning

 

[Alzrius]

Reading through a lot of classes from various suppliments, most of them don't mention caster level as all. Does this mean that while you are getting new spells, even at potentially higher levels, you are still casting as a lower level caster?

As an example, the Contemplative from the Complete Divine says nothing about caster level, does this mean that a 10th level Cleric/10th level Contemplative is casting 9th level spells with a caster level of 10?

If so, this strikes me as odd.

I'm going to guess that this is some sort of oversight. If the PrC didn't advance caster level, that'd be a serious blow to spellcasting power. Many spells have damage, range, etc that is based on caster level...as are all SR checks. It seems like a no-brainer that classes that add "+1 existing spellcaster level" should increase caster level.

Unless some designer says otherwise (and has a good reason for it), I'd say give the character those caster levels.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Arcane Trickster does not state it this way, but does specifically mention "except for an increased effective level of spellcasting".

[blink]

Bloody hell! I never noticed that!

That's... disturbing...

EDIT - oops - misread. For some reason, I thought it said an Arcane Trickster's caster level didn't increase.

-Hyp.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Mind you, if this is deliberate, it might be why some of the PrC's in the complete divine look like they're giving up nothing for major advances.

 

[hong]

I have a question about Prestige Classes that advance the level of spellcasting from a previous class. Specifically asking about the Archmage from the SRD (but a lot of other classes from other materials, either OGC or from WotC).

The classes all tend to state that they get new spells per day, and spells known (if applicable) as if they had progressed in the previous class; but in the case of the Archmage it says nothing about caster level advancement.

...

You're reading way too much into minor quirks of the ability description. Notice, for example, that the archmage description explicitly mentions spells known, but the eldritch knight description doesn't. Taking your approach, this means a ftr/sor/EK wouldn't gain any new spells known, which is evidently ludicrous.

 

[Emirikol]

You can find a complete list of the power rankings of the prestige classes in my SIG below.

jh

 

[schnee]

If it's true, it would make the Heirophant's complete lack of spellcasting advanement make a heck of a lot more sense.