Question about caster level bumps and how they stack

[Greenfield]

In our game we have a player character with a racial trait that grants a +1 Caster Level to spells with the Water descriptor (aquatic race).

The PC also has the Practiced Spellcaster feat, which allows the PC to count up to four levels in non-caster classes towards the Caster Level. That feat has a caveat, however: Your Caster Level can't exceed actual total levels.

The character is primarily a Cleric, with some fighter levels. 8th level total.

When casting Water spells, the player wants to call it Caster Level nine. He counts it as Practiced Spellcaster taking him to 8 (his hit dice) and the Racial trait taking him to nine.

One of the group reads that differently, saying that the PS limit tops him at his hit dice, period, and that if something else tries to increase beyond that then the bump from PS is reduced to keep it at that limit.

I don't generally like this guy's character, but it seems kind of cold to say, "You gave up the Human edge in feats and skills for this class feature, but we're not going to let you use it."

That sentiment, however, is independent of the actual rules.

How would you judge this one?

 

[Ranes]

I think your player's interpretation (CL 9th for Water-based spells) is right. Consider this, from the FAQ:

Does the bonus to caster level from the Practiced Spellcaster feat (from CAr and CD) apply before or after other caster level bonuses (such as those from the Good or Healing domains)?

The bonus from Practiced Spellcaster applies whenever it would be most beneficial to the caster. A 4th-level cleric/4th- level fighter with the Healing domain and Practiced Spellcaster would cast Conjuration (Healing) spells as a 9th-level caster (base caster level 4th, +4 from Practiced Spellcaster, +1 from the Healing domain). A 4th-level cleric/4th-level rogue with Practiced Spellcaster who activates a bead of karma (from a strand of prayer beads) would cast her spells as a 12th-level caster (base 4, +4 from Practiced Spellcaster, +4 from bead of karma).

 

[Dandu]

I don't generally like this guy's character, but it seems kind of cold to say, "You gave up the Human edge in feats and skills for this class feature, but we're not going to let you use it."

That sentiment, however, is independent of the actual rules.

How would you judge this one?

I think playing a Cleric with Fighter levels is punishment enough.

Also, Ranes is correct.

 

[Greenfield]

Thanks. That's pretty definitive.

 

[delericho]

Yep, I agree with the others, although my reasoning is perhaps slightly different. I would say that when PS says:

The PC also has the Practiced Spellcaster feat, which allows the PC to count up to four levels in non-caster classes towards the Caster Level. That feat has a caveat, however: Your Caster Level can't exceed actual total levels.

that caveat applies to those non-caster levels that are being added by the feat. So they're independent of caster level bumps given by other sources (at which point my position dovetails with Ranes').

 

[Herobizkit]

lol this guy's character again... [MENTION=6669384]Greenfield[/MENTION] you have the patience of all the Saints.