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<blockquote data-quote="ruleslawyer" data-source="post: 1655939" data-attributes="member: 1757"><p>Because arcane spellcasters are fragile things that lose a LOT by not being able to access highest-level spells and losing spell penetration ability. Moreover, in the case of the arcane trickster and EK, the non-spellcasting component (rogue or fighter) loses hp and BAB by taking spellcasting levels. Clerics, OTOH, excel at buffing rather than direct damage, thus making the 3-level spellcasting hit less critical, and contribute hp, BAB, and domain abilities to their non-spellcasting component, rather than subtracting class abilities. Unlike in the case of the wizard component in the MT, a rogue doesn't sacrifice very much by having levels of cleric, since a rogue doesn't have a critical dependence on spell access and caster level. Thus, the Divine Trickster wins out on all counts; it's a rogue with a good Will save, a better Fort save, domain powers, slightly improved hit points, kewl powers (sneak attacking undead, domain spontaneous casting, and Wis bonus to certain skill checks would all make MIGHTY &quot;signature&quot; PrC features on their own), and 13 levels of cleric spellcasting by 16th level, in exchange for +2d6 sneak attack damage (offset by the fact that the rogue can SA with touch spells and can use spells to create SA conditions), skill points, and some minor MAD.</p></blockquote><p></p>

[QUOTE="ruleslawyer, post: 1655939, member: 1757"] Because arcane spellcasters are fragile things that lose a LOT by not being able to access highest-level spells and losing spell penetration ability. Moreover, in the case of the arcane trickster and EK, the non-spellcasting component (rogue or fighter) loses hp and BAB by taking spellcasting levels. Clerics, OTOH, excel at buffing rather than direct damage, thus making the 3-level spellcasting hit less critical, and contribute hp, BAB, and domain abilities to their non-spellcasting component, rather than subtracting class abilities. Unlike in the case of the wizard component in the MT, a rogue doesn't sacrifice very much by having levels of cleric, since a rogue doesn't have a critical dependence on spell access and caster level. Thus, the Divine Trickster wins out on all counts; it's a rogue with a good Will save, a better Fort save, domain powers, slightly improved hit points, kewl powers (sneak attacking undead, domain spontaneous casting, and Wis bonus to certain skill checks would all make MIGHTY "signature" PrC features on their own), and 13 levels of cleric spellcasting by 16th level, in exchange for +2d6 sneak attack damage (offset by the fact that the rogue can SA with touch spells and can use spells to create SA conditions), skill points, and some minor MAD. [/QUOTE]

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