What is the feat...

[IndyPendant]

...that everyone keeps talking about, apparently in an official WotC product, that allows a 1st-level arcane caster access to 2nd-level spells? I can't find it anywhere.

If it can't be posted in its entirety, just the name and source would suffice.

Thanks.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

It's called Precocious Apprentice, or something similar, and it can be found in a sidebar in Complete Arcane discussing variant rules that might be appropriate in a heavy-wizard game.

I think. I don't actually have CA, but that's what others have said about it.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Complete Arcane, sidebar, p181
By taking this feat at 1st level (and only first level) an arcane caster gets an extra 2nd level spell slot as a 1st level caster. That spell slot is dedicated to 1 particular spell. The PC can cast this spell after making a DC8 caster level check. When the PC can cast other 2nd level spells, he still retains the extra spell slot.

 

[dedicated]

It's for a type of training feat (collegiate wizard is more fun, twice as many spells each level )

It gives a 2nd level spell, and a 2nd level bonus spell slot, but until you can cast 2nd level spells you have to suceed at a DC 8 caster level check every time you try to cast the spell or it fizzles.Plus you gain plus 2 to spellcraft checks

The prereqs are Spellcasting abilit 15, arcane caster level first
and has a special req. of exactly 1st level character

 

[thorian]

Some use it to meet the prerequisites early for certain prestige classes. For instance, Mystic Theurge has a prerequisite of "Able to cast ... 2nd level arcane spells." which Precocious Apprentice feat takes care of at 1st level, saving you two levels of Wizard.

 

[IndyPendant]

Ah okay. Perfect thanks. Was bugging me. : )

 

[Cheiromancer]

Sometimes people refer to it as "Pernicious Apprentice." Whether it allows you (or should allow you) early access to the Mystic Theurge class is a topic of heated discussion.

(ducks and covers...)

 

[ARandomGod]

Sometimes people refer to it as "Pernicious Apprentice." Whether it allows you (or should allow you) early access to the Mystic Theurge class is a topic of heated discussion.

(ducks and covers...)

It is.

Basically the writers said that allowing this workaround was not intended, and that you "can't cast" second level spells with the feat, because there's a chance you'll fail.

Of course, there's always a chance you'll fail to cast any spell under the right circumstances, so that's silly.

Clearly the way it's written it WILL work. But the fact that it's not intended to work is a big factor. And there's the opinion that "it's not a real feat anyhow, but an example of a potential feat". Which statement also has some fact behind it.

 

[Veril]

Sometimes people refer to it as "Pernicious Apprentice." Whether it allows you (or should allow you) early access to the Mystic Theurge class is a topic of heated discussion.

(ducks and covers...)

Precocious Adept clearly does not let you qualify for Mystic Theurge by a reading of the rules.

Precocious Adept lets you cast one single (nominated) second level spell.
To qualify for Mystic Theurge you need the ability to cast second level spells.

Spells is the plural of Spell. The ability to cast a single spell is a subset of the ability to cast multiple spells.

 

[delericho]

Precocious Adept clearly does not let you qualify for Mystic Theurge by a reading of the rules.

Precocious Adept lets you cast one single (nominated) second level spell.
To qualify for Mystic Theurge you need the ability to cast second level spells.

Spells is the plural of Spell. The ability to cast a single spell is a subset of the ability to cast multiple spells.

If I were a munchkin, I would point out that a 2nd level spell slot entitles me to claim a bonus spell for high Int (for a Wizard). Having 2 2nd level slots counts as "the ability to cast second level spells", which then gives me access to the Mystic Theurge. Unless the DM wants to deny that option to a 4th level Sorcerer (who can only cast 1 2nd level spell, multiple times).

If I were a munchkin.