Silly Question: Cleric Domain Abilities

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Take, for example, the Chaos Domain's granted power:

Granted Power: You cast chaos spells at +1 caster level.

Take a multiclass Cleric / Wizard.

Does the Caster Level increase apply only to [Chaos] cleric spells, or to [Chaos] wizard spells as well?

 

[IcyCool]

Take, for example, the Chaos Domain's granted power:



Take a multiclass Cleric / Wizard.

Does the Caster Level increase apply only to [Chaos] cleric spells, or to [Chaos] wizard spells as well?

Wasn't there an arguement on here similar to this regarding Incense of Meditation?

 

[Camarath]

As far as I can tell there is not a rule which limits the bonus to caster level from Cleric Domains to Cleric spells. In the absence of such a rule I think the bonus should apply to all spells of the specified type regardless source (much like the bonus of Spell Focus).

 

[Mistwell]

This is the reason I was contemplating a level of cleric for my Gnome Illusionist. Gnome and Illusion domains each grant +1 caster level (and there is a FR diety that has both domains in his portfolio). With practiced spellcaster (which I was already thinking about to use with a level of Wild Mage), one level of cleric gets me +2 caster level for all my illusion spells, use of wands of cure light wounds, some turn attempts, and some low level useful spells.

 

[nittanytbone]

If a cleric domain power affects divine and arcane spells, then wouldn't a cleric-specialist wizard's forbidden schools keep him from using divine spells of that school?

 

[Coredump]

This is the reason I was contemplating a level of cleric for my Gnome Illusionist. Gnome and Illusion domains each grant +1 caster level (and there is a FR diety that has both domains in his portfolio). With practiced spellcaster (which I was already thinking about to use with a level of Wild Mage), one level of cleric gets me +2 caster level for all my illusion spells, use of wands of cure light wounds, some turn attempts, and some low level useful spells.

Isn't this a classic case of the mechanics driving the story? Your character wants to become e cleric, only because you read the rules and saw an advantage. He wants to be a cleric to this god, only because he will get a double bonus. Does not sound much like role-playing to me. Not that it isn't a valid way to approach the game, just seems like something besides role-playing the character.

 

[nittanytbone]

This is the reason I was contemplating a level of cleric for my Gnome Illusionist.

Wouldn't this screw you over as far as multiclassing XP goes? I thought the favored class for gnomes was bard.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Take, for example, the Chaos Domain's granted power:

You cast chaos spells at +1 caster level.

Take a multiclass Cleric / Wizard.
Does the Caster Level increase apply only to [Chaos] cleric spells, or to [Chaos] wizard spells as well?

This is kind of interesting. The wording in the chaos domain granted power is actually quite poor, as are many of the similar domains. The worst of all being healing. What, actually, is a "chaos spell"? You obviously assume it's a spell with the [Chaos] descriptor, but I think you really mean [Chaotic], which is the correct descriptor. It may seem very pedantic of me to point it out, but couldn't a "chaos spell" actually just be one of the nine spells listed in the Chaos Domain? For the healing domain, what are "healing" spells? Is polymorph a healing spell?

There's no clear rule on it, so I think any of the following three interpretations of "chaos spell" is valid.

1. Any spell with a [Chaotic] descriptor, no matter how it is cast.
2. Any of the nine spells in the Chaos Domain.
3. Any clerical spell with a [Chaotic] descriptor.

Personally, I've always used #3. I can't think anyone would actually use #2. #1 is the best for the character, but I would be interested in hearing about additional potential abuses to the one Mistwell suggested. I mean, a lot of changes in 3.5 were to try to prevent front-loading classes so whenever someone says, "just take a level in ..." my spidey-sense starts tingling.

 

[andargor]

Does the Caster Level increase apply only to [Chaos] cleric spells, or to [Chaos] wizard spells as well?

There are no silly questions, just silly haircuts (like yours).

As for the question, I can't see any indication in the following quote that the granted power applies only to the cleric class:

Deity, Domains, and Domain Spells: A cleric's deity influences his alignment, what magic he can perform, his values, and how others see him. A cleric chooses two domains from among those belonging to his deity. A cleric can select an alignment domain (Chaos, Evil, Good, or Law) only if his alignment matches that domain.

If a cleric is not devoted to a particular deity, he still selects two domains to represent his spiritual inclinations and abilities. The restriction on alignment domains still applies.

Each domain gives the cleric access to a domain spell at each spell level he can cast, from 1st on up, as well as a granted power. The cleric gets the granted powers of both the domains selected.

With access to two domain spells at a given spell level, a cleric prepares one or the other each day in his domain spell slot. If a domain spell is not on the cleric spell list, a cleric can prepare it only in his domain spell slot.

Cleric gets domain, domain grants power. End of story.

Andargor

 

[Dimwhit]

If a cleric domain power affects divine and arcane spells, then wouldn't a cleric-specialist wizard's forbidden schools keep him from using divine spells of that school?

I would say that's a fair trade. Can't do one without the other.