Questions about Geomancer PrC(Complete Divine)

[Theroc]

Okay, I was looking at the Geomancer PrC(Complete Divine) and the spell versatility and drift look really cool and pretty flavorful, and had a few questions about them.

Does spell versatility's ability to mix/match spellcasting parameters included "Caster level"? I ask because I am trying to figure out how best to mitigate the fact that the Geomancer only progresses one class's spellcasting each level.

Does this make one either choose to be mediocre at both casting types, or focus in one and let the other be very sub-par, or is there a trick to this?

Any other advice would be helpful regarding it.

 

[Starbuck_II]

Okay, I was looking at the Geomancer PrC(Complete Divine) and the spell versatility and drift look really cool and pretty flavorful, and had a few questions about them.

Does spell versatility's ability to mix/match spellcasting parameters included "Caster level"? I ask because I am trying to figure out how best to mitigate the fact that the Geomancer only progresses one class's spellcasting each level.

Does this make one either choose to be mediocre at both casting types, or focus in one and let the other be very sub-par, or is there a trick to this?

Any other advice would be helpful regarding it.

Basically, yeah it makes you be decent at one or okay at two.
The main benefit is it lets a Wizard casting armor, or a Lawful Cleric who can cast Choatic spells, etc.
You can ignore Arcane focuses (very useful for stuff like free Identify).
Environments increase Caster level (Ley lines).

You could go (10th level): Cleric 3, Wiz 1 (Precocious Appentice for a 2nd level arcane spell) Geomancer 6:
Options:
1) Improving Wizard by 6.
The weird thing is now you have higher spell versatility than you have spell levels.
2) Improving Cleric by 6:
You cast 5th level spells and spell versatility 5 means ignore alignment issues for Cleric spells (only divine have that issue).

Now, the class isn't powerful no matter what, but the side benefits could come in handy.

 

[Theroc]

I also have the option of improving each by three, don't I?

 

[Starbuck_II]

True, but then it is almost worst than Mystic Theurge. Although, you do get decent class features you would have low casting ability.

 

[Theroc]

That's been what I was wondering about, it seems very strange for the PrC to almost require you to give up one class of spellcasting in order to use it's benefits on the low level spells in the class you gave up.

I love the flavor of the drift, and the idea of leyline-based magic is really cool, but it seems very... counterintuitive to build an effective caster from it, unless you KNOW you're going to be casting in your good territory.

 

[pawsplay]

Apart from its use as an NPC class, the Geomancer does have some benefits. You can take advantage of favored environments. You do get some nice constant powers. You do get versatility. My suggestion is to put about 2/3 of your caster increases in one class, so you continue to advanced in both but still get some access to mid-range spells. Pimped out with Practiced Caster, Spell Penetration, Spell Focus, etc., the Geomancer can still pump out some effects, particularly in the buffs department. But it plays almost more like a cleric or a druid than like a MT or wizard.