Prestige Classes with '+1 Arcane caster level'?

[Dr. Confoundo]

Its our first time with a character taking a Prestige Class that ups his arcane caster level (the Mystic Theurge, so it actually ups his Divine caster level too), and I've got a question about usage. Since the +1 caster level only counts for spellcasting abilities, does the character get the usual two new spells per level to add into his spellbook? I can see the rules fitting both interpretations, so I decided to come here for a better answer.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Yes. And if I had the Search capability, I would point you to a similar question asked not long ago.

 

[Felix]

Spells: A wizard casts arcane spells which are drawn from the sorcerer/ wizard spell list. A wizard must choose and prepare her spells ahead of time (see below).
To learn, prepare, or cast a spell, the wizard must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a wizard’s spell is 10 + the spell level + the wizard’s Intelligence modifier.
Like other spellcasters, a wizard can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. Her base daily spell allotment is given on Table: The Wizard. In addition, she receives bonus spells per day if she has a high Intelligence score.
Unlike a bard or sorcerer, a wizard may know any number of spells. She must choose and prepare her spells ahead of time by getting a good night’s sleep and spending 1 hour studying her spellbook. While studying, the wizard decides which spells to prepare.

Spellbooks: A wizard must study her spellbook each day to prepare her spells. She cannot prepare any spell not recorded in her spellbook, except for read magic, which all wizards can prepare from memory.
A wizard begins play with a spellbook containing all 0-level wizard spells (except those from her prohibited school or schools, if any; see School Specialization, below) plus three 1st-level spells of your choice. For each point of Intelligence bonus the wizard has, the spellbook holds one additional 1st-level spell of your choice. At each new wizard level, she gains two new spells of any spell level or levels that she can cast (based on her new wizard level) for her spellbook. At any time, a wizard can also add spells found in other wizards’ spellbooks to her own.

Spells per Day: When a new mystic theurge level is gained, the character gains new spells per day as if he had also gained a level in any one arcane spellcasting class he belonged to before he added the prestige class and any one divine spellcasting class he belonged to previously. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. This essentially means that he adds the level of mystic theurge to the level of whatever other arcane spellcasting class and divine spellcasting class the character has, then determines spells per day and caster level accordingly. If a character had more than one arcane spellcasting class or more than one divine spellcasting class before he became a mystic theurge, he must decide to which class he adds each level of mystic theurge for the purpose of determining spells per day.

I would rule that no, the Mystic Theurge does not gain the 2 new spells because:

• The clause that says wizards gain 2 new spells is contained in the "Spellbook" section of the class description, and not the "Spells" section, which most PrCs reference when extending base class abilities.

• The "Spellbooks" section specifically says "at each new wizard level" 2 new spells are gained, and a Mystic Theurge level is not a Wizard level.

• The Mystic Theurge "Spells per day" class description says you gain an increase in caster level, and the spells per day that you would have gained had you taken a level in one of your base classes. Two new spells is not "spells per day".

 

[Thanee]

Can't give you a quote, but it has been verified, that you do get the 2 spells at each level (same with sorcerer spells known and spell swapping every other level). It only really makes sense that way, too (esp. with sorcerer spells known ).

Bye
Thanee

 

[mikebr99]

Can't give you a quote, but it has been verified, that you do get the 2 spells at each level (same with sorcerer spells known and spell swapping every other level). It only really makes sense that way, too (esp. with sorcerer spells known ).

Bye
Thanee

I'd have to agree with this also.


Mike

 

[duhtroll]

Of course you get them. Otherwise it kinda defeats the purpose of the pclass. If you had to find those spells on your own, you'd either have to be very lucky or very rich.

-A

 

[Arkhandus]

Yeah, have to agree with Thanee on that Felix. It would mean that EVERY spellcasting prestige class would suck, because you'd NEVER learn any new spells from taking the class. Wizards would be the only class to ever actually learn new spells then, because they could just research spells for their spellbook (and that would cost a lot of time and GOLD for the character to do). Other classes only get spells known based on their class level, PERIOD. (excluding the Extra Spell feat of course, and that's not even Core)

What would be the point of getting 9-10 caster levels from prestige classes such as Loremaster, Eldritch Knight, Mystic Theurge, Archmage, Heirophant, etc., if you NEVER learned any new spells? A fighter4/sorcerer6/Eldritch Knight 10 who casts spells of up to 7th-level but only actually KNOWS 2 spells of 3rd-level and nothing higher?

+1 level of spellcasting gives spells known as well as spells per day. It's probably in one of the FAQs anyway. Only designer/writer stupidity leaves out the explicit mention of spells known when writing up those prestige classes.

 

[Jhulae]

Yes. the '+1 spellcaster level' ability in PRCs adds to both spells known and spells per day for whichever spellcaster class is being boosted, just as if the character went up in that class.

Wizards get their two new spells, sorcerers add to their spells known, any of the other new base classes learn any new spells, even another PRC such as Assassin would learn new spells according to their guidelines if that was the '+1 Arcane caster level' chosen.

What the prestige classes that provide the '+1 spellcaster level' abilities don't give is anything else that the increased caster level would normally provide. If a cleric boosted her clerical spellcasting ability by 1 level, she would *not* get any bonus to turning undead. Nor would a druid add to wild shape or increase their companions. Nor would sorcerers or wizards increase their familiar's ability, etc.

 

[glass]

I would have agreed with the consensus, but apparently we were all wrong (assuming Felix's SRD quotes are accurate), at least in the case of the Mystic Theurge.

Prestige classes with +1 caster level generally say '...and spells known (if applicable)'. But the Mystic Theurge apparently lacks that clause. It's probably an oversite, but unless there is some errata, it says what it says.


glass.

 

[Joker]

I would have agreed with the consensus, but apparently we were all wrong (assuming Felix's SRD quotes are accurate), at least in the case of the Mystic Theurge.

It's not, he pulls this stuff out of his ass. And just when you're not looking he changes your copy of the PHB aswel.

Sneaky monkey.