(Request) Base Caster Level Rules
- Thread starter Kae'Yoss
- Start date
FireLance
Legend
Mine is adapted from the Magic Rating rules in Unearthed Arcana.
Every class has a base Magic Rating (MR) progression. MR from all classes stack. It is used to determine the caster level of all spells cast by the character. Hence, a character with MR of 7 from cleric levels and MR of 8 from wizard levels casts both cleric and wizard spells at a caster level of 15.
The following classes increase MR at the rate of 1/level (as fighter BAB): bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer, wizard.
The following classes increase MR at the rate of 3/4 levels (as cleric BAB): monk, paladin, ranger.
The following classes increase MR at the rate of 1/2 levels (as wizard BAB): barbarian, fighter, rogue.
Hence, a fighter 18/wizard 2 has a MR of 11 and casts wizard spells as a 11th-level spellcaster. However, he only has access to spells and spells per day as a 2nd-level wizard. He gets five missiles with magic missile, but can only cast two such spells per day (plus any bonus slots for high Intelligence).
A 20th-level paladin would cast his spells as a 15th-level spellcaster. A paladin 4/cleric 16 casts both his paladin and cleric spells as a 19th-level spellcaster. However, he is still limited to 1st-level spells as a paladin and 8th-level spells as a cleric.
Every class has a base Magic Rating (MR) progression. MR from all classes stack. It is used to determine the caster level of all spells cast by the character. Hence, a character with MR of 7 from cleric levels and MR of 8 from wizard levels casts both cleric and wizard spells at a caster level of 15.
The following classes increase MR at the rate of 1/level (as fighter BAB): bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer, wizard.
The following classes increase MR at the rate of 3/4 levels (as cleric BAB): monk, paladin, ranger.
The following classes increase MR at the rate of 1/2 levels (as wizard BAB): barbarian, fighter, rogue.
Hence, a fighter 18/wizard 2 has a MR of 11 and casts wizard spells as a 11th-level spellcaster. However, he only has access to spells and spells per day as a 2nd-level wizard. He gets five missiles with magic missile, but can only cast two such spells per day (plus any bonus slots for high Intelligence).
A 20th-level paladin would cast his spells as a 15th-level spellcaster. A paladin 4/cleric 16 casts both his paladin and cleric spells as a 19th-level spellcaster. However, he is still limited to 1st-level spells as a paladin and 8th-level spells as a cleric.
FireLance
Legend
The character that got the most use out of the MR system was a multi-classed druid/wizard. The MR system definitely increased his effectiveness (especially with produce flame), but even so, he seemed slightly less powerful than the other characters: a ranger, a bard, a barbarian and a fighter. The lack of access to higher level spells was a weakness that the ability to cast spells at a higher caster level didn't really make up for enough. As such, it didn't seem unbalanced, but the campaign where we tried that option stalled before we got to high levels. By the time we started the next campaign, WotC had introduced the Practised Spellcaster feat, and my group and I decided to try that out instead of using the MR system again.KaeYoss said:
I've used a caster level rule for several campaigns, and never had a problem with it. when first introduced it led to a flurry of multiclassed PCs, but the players soon discovered their characters weren't -more- effective than a base class character, they just weren't pathetic.
In one of those games, we also allow Practiced spellcaster. Again, even using both rules, we haven't found it to be unbalanced. While it's true that a 5th level fighter/1st level wizard with Practiced spellcast casts as a 6th level caster, he's still limited to just a few spells, deals with arcane spell failure, etc.
There's a multiclass bard/druid in one of those games (a very celtic PC). With caster level equaling his character level, she manages to remain competitive, but is hardly overwhelming. so far the most dangerous character we;ve using using these rules is a monk/sorcerer with practiced spellcaster. He gains good Ac and movement from his monk levels (as well as doing just as much damage as he would with any sorcerer weapon), and has spells to boost himself and overcome a monk's weaknesses. Even so the character is more about being self-suffient than overpowering, and the games wizard and fighter don't seem to feel outdone.
In one of those games, we also allow Practiced spellcaster. Again, even using both rules, we haven't found it to be unbalanced. While it's true that a 5th level fighter/1st level wizard with Practiced spellcast casts as a 6th level caster, he's still limited to just a few spells, deals with arcane spell failure, etc.
There's a multiclass bard/druid in one of those games (a very celtic PC). With caster level equaling his character level, she manages to remain competitive, but is hardly overwhelming. so far the most dangerous character we;ve using using these rules is a monk/sorcerer with practiced spellcaster. He gains good Ac and movement from his monk levels (as well as doing just as much damage as he would with any sorcerer weapon), and has spells to boost himself and overcome a monk's weaknesses. Even so the character is more about being self-suffient than overpowering, and the games wizard and fighter don't seem to feel outdone.
Kae'Yoss
First Post
rln said:
It's from the complete series (Divine has it, Arcane has it, Adventurer might have it, too). It adds +4 to the caster level of one spellcasting class, which cannot exceed your HD. So you cannot get a wiz 6 with caster level 10, but you can get a fighter 5/ Wizard 5 with caster level 9, or a fighter 2/wizard 3 with caster level 5.
It's for multiclassed spellcasters (including mystic theurges and the like), and those monsters that get caster levels as part of their monstrous package (like dragons).
KaeYoss is correct. The important thing to keep in mind if you're not familiar with the feat is that it only boosts the effective level at which you cast spells, -not- the level of spells you have access to.
For example, a 1st level wizard/4th level fighter can take Practiced Spellcaster to cast at 5th level. This means when doing a magic missile, he'll get three missiles. However, he still only has spells per day as a 1st level wizard (no 2nd or 3rd level spells and so on).
It makes a lot of multiclass combinations more competative without making them overpowered.
For example, a 1st level wizard/4th level fighter can take Practiced Spellcaster to cast at 5th level. This means when doing a magic missile, he'll get three missiles. However, he still only has spells per day as a 1st level wizard (no 2nd or 3rd level spells and so on).
It makes a lot of multiclass combinations more competative without making them overpowered.
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