Shawn Wilson
2008-05-02 01:20:31 UTC
So, what is the word on what Practiced Spellcaster and the Warlock?
Spell Penetration and Practiced Spellcaster *do* increase the caster
level for spell penetration checks-
"An eldritch blast is subject to spell resistance, although the
Spell Penetration feat and other effects that improve caster
level checks to overcome spell resistance also apply to eldritch
blast."
PS improves caster level.
Saves aren't caster level dependent, so they don't matter.
So the issue is, does Practiced Spellcaster increase the damage from
Eldritch Blast?
The 'official' (but perhaps careless) word is 'no' if for no other
reason that Eldritch Blast damage is purely a function of Warlock
Level (X dice at level Y) Balance wise, there's no harm to PS aiding
Warlocks, if 4 dice added to wizard attacks isn't a problem, then 2
dice added for a Warlock shouldn't be.
My ruling, is that PS does aid Warlocks. Legalistically, the quoted
bit above says it does. (it doesn't say it increases the damage,
but...)
Other opinions?
Here's the text of the Feat-
PRACTICED SPELLCASTER
Choose a spellcasting class that you possess. Your spells cast
from that class are more powerful.
Prerequisite: Spellcraft 4 ranks.
Benefi t: Your caster level for the chosen spellcasting class
increases by 4. This benefi t can’t increase your caster level
to higher than your Hit Dice. However, even if you can’t
benefi t from the full bonus immediately, if you later gain
Hit Dice in levels of nonspellcasting classes, you might be
able to apply the rest of the bonus.
For example, a human 5th-level sorcerer/3rd-level fi ghter who
selects this feat would increase his sorcerer caster level from 5th
to 8th (since he has 8 Hit Dice). If he later gained a fi ghter level,
he would gain the remainder of the bonus and his sorcerer caster
level would become 9th (since he now has 9 Hit Dice).
A character with two or more spellcasting classes (such as
a bard/sorcerer or a ranger/druid) must choose which class
gains the feat’s effect.
This feat does not affect your spells per day or spells
known. It increases your caster level only, which would help
you penetrate spell resistance and increase the duration and
other effects of your spells.
Special: You may select this feat multiple times. Each time
you choose it, you must apply it to a different spellcasting
class. For instance, a 4th-level cleric/5th-level wizard who had
selected this feat twice would cast cleric spells as an 8th-level
caster and wizard spells as a 9th-level caster.
And here's the text on the Wartlock's invocations and Eldritch Blast-
Invocations: A warlock does not prepare or cast spells
as other wielders of arcane magic do. Instead, he possesses a
repertoire of attacks, defenses, and abilities known as invocations
that require him to focus the wild energy that suffuses
his soul. A warlock can use any invocation he knows at will,
with the following qualifi cations:
A warlock’s invocations are spell-like abilities; using an
invocation is therefore a standard action that provokes attacks
of opportunity. An invocation can be disrupted, just as a
spell can be ruined during casting. A warlock is entitled to a
Concentration check to successfully use an invocation if he
is hit by an attack while invoking, just as a spellcaster would
be. A warlock can choose to use an invocation defensively, by
making a successful Concentration check, to avoid provoking
attacks of opportunity. A warlock’s invocations are subject to
spell resistance unless an invocation’s description specifi cally
states otherwise. A warlock’s caster level with his invocations
is equal to his warlock level.
The save DC for an invocation (if it allows a save) is 10 +
equivalent spell level + the warlock’s Charisma modifi er.
Since spell-like abilities are not actually spells, a warlock
cannot benefi t from the Spell Focus feat. He can, however,
benefi t from the Ability Focus feat (see page 303 of the Monster
Manual), as well as from feats that emulate metamagic effects
for spell-like abilities, such as Quicken Spell-Like Ability
and Empower Spell-Like Ability (see pages 303 and 304 of
the Monster Manual).
The four grades of invocations, in order of their relative
power, are least, lesser, greater, and dark. A warlock begins
with knowledge of one invocation, which must be of the
lowest grade (least). As a warlock gains levels, he learns
new invocations, as summarized on Table 1–1 and described
below. A list of available invocations can be found following
this class description, and a complete description of each
invocation can be found in Chapter 4 of this book.
At any level when a warlock learns a new invocation,
he can also replace an invocation he already knows with
another invocation of the same or a lower grade. At 6th
level, a warlock can replace a least invocation he knows
with a different least invocation (in addition to learning a
new invocation, which could be either least or lesser). At
11th level, a warlock can replace a least or lesser invocation
he knows with another invocation of the same or a lower
grade (in addition to learning a new invocation, which
could be least, lesser, or greater). At 16th level, a warlock
can replace a least, lesser, or greater invocation he knows
with another invocation of the same or a lower grade (in
addition to learning a new invocation, which could be least,
lesser, greater, or dark).
Finally, unlike other spell-like abilities, invocations
are subject to arcane spell failure chance as described
under Weapon and Armor Profi ciency above. Warlocks
can qualify for some prestige classes usually intended for
spellcasters; see Warlocks and Prestige Classes, page 18,
for details.
Eldritch Blast (Sp): The fi rst ability a warlock learns is
eldritch blast. A warlock attacks his foes with eldritch power,
using baleful magical energy to deal damage and sometimes
impart other debilitating effects.
An eldritch blast is a ray with a range of 60 feet. It is a ranged
touch attack that affects a single target, allowing no saving
throw. An eldritch blast deals 1d6 points of damage at 1st
level and increases in power as the warlock rises in level. An
eldritch blast is the equivalent of a spell whose level is equal
to one-half the warlock’s class level (round down), with a
minimum spell level of 1st and a maximum of 9th when a
warlock reaches 18th level or higher.
An eldritch blast is subject to spell resistance, although the
Spell Penetration feat and other effects that improve caster
level checks to overcome spell resistance also apply to eldritch
blast. An eldritch blast deals half damage to objects. Metamagic
feats cannot improve a warlock’s eldritch blast (because it is a
spell-like ability, not a spell). However, the feat Ability Focus
(eldritch blast) increases the DC for all saving throws (if any)
associated with a warlock’s eldritch blast by 2. See page 303 of
the Monster Manual.
And the errata-
Page 7: Eldritch Blast
Second paragraph of the Eldritch Blast ability
description:
Change “An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a spell
whose level is equal to one-half the warlock’s class
level (round down), with a minimum spell level of 1st
and a maximum of 9th when the warlock reaches 18th
level or higher” to “An eldritch blast is the equivalent
of a 1st-level spell. If you apply a blast shape or eldritch
essence invocation to your eldritch blast (see page 130),
your eldritch blast uses the level equivalent of the shape
or essence.”
Any other references to eldritch blast being something
other than the equivalent of a 1st-level spell should be
disregarded.
Any other references claiming that eldritch blast is not
an invocation should be disregarded.
A warlock can use eldritch blast at will.
Page 8: Invocations and Eldritch Blast
Change this section as follows:
Invocations and Eldritch Blast: Eldritch blast is an
invocation. Other invocations provide a warlock with
the ability to modify his eldritch blast or add new
eldritch attacks.
And the text on Spells and invocations-
INVOCATIONS AND
SPELL-LIKE ABILITIES
Many feats useful for spellcasters are equally useful for
characters or creatures that employ invocations or spell-like
abilities instead of spells. Spell-like abilities represent an
innate magical talent that is part of a creature’s essential
nature, an expression of will or a mental action that
resembles a spell in almost all ways.
Learning to wield a spell-like ability requires the same
level of training or effort required to learn a physical task
such as swimming, and is easy enough that any character
or creature with a spell-like ability is assumed to have completely
mastered the skill as soon as the spell-like ability is
acquired. Using a spell-like ability requires concentration
(possibly provoking attacks of opportunity), and, in the case
of spell-like abilities that can be used only a certain number
of times per day, requires the user to tap into a reservoir of
magical power that must be replenished before it can used
again.
Invocations are also spell-like abilities. The only
difference between invocations and other spell-like
abilities is that invocations require somatic gestures
and are therefore subject to arcane spell failure (see
the warlock class in Chapter 1).
Warlocks and other creatures with spell-like abilities
might fi nd the following feats useful.
Combat Casting: This feat works equally well with
spells, invocations, or spell-like abilities.
Spell Penetration: Spell Penetration and Greater
Spell Penetration have the same effect on invocations
and spell-like abilities that they do on normal
spells.
Weaponlike Spell Feats: A character who uses
invocations or spell-like abilities might be able to
take advantage of feats such as Weapon Focus or
Precise Shot, as described under Feats and Weaponlike
Spells, below. (The warlock’s eldritch blast
is weaponlike.)
Sudden Metamagic Feats: These metamagic
feats don’t require modifi ed spell slots, and so they
work as well with spell-like abilities or invocations
as they do with spells (though because spell-like
abilities don’t have verbal or somatic components,
Sudden Silent Spell doesn’t apply and Sudden Still Spell
applies only to invocations).
Creatures with spell-like abilities at a high enough level
will fi nd sudden metamagic feats less useful than the
dedicated feats Empower Spell-Like Ability and Quicken
Spell-Like Ability (see page 303 of the Monster Manual), as
well as the Maximize Spell-Like Ability feat introduced in
this chapter.
Other Metamagic Feats: Except as noted above,
metamagic feats can’t generally be used to modify spell-like
abilities or invocations.
CASTER LEVEL
In the context of a feat or a prestige class requirement, a caster
level prerequisite (such as “caster level 5th”) measures the
character’s ability to channel a minimum amount of magical
power. For feats or prestige classes requiring a minimum
caster level, creatures that use spell-like abilities or invocations
instead of spells use either their fi xed caster level
or their class level to determine qualifi cation.
For example, Craft Wondrous Item has
a requirement of caster level 3rd, so
both a 3rd-level warlock and a
nixie (caster level 4th for its charm
person spell-like ability) meet the
requirement.
SPELLCASTING
LEVEL
Beyond the limits of magical
power, a spellcasting level
requirement measures
the size and complexity
of the spells that can
be encompassed within
a character’s mind. As
spells increase in level,
they become exponentially
more complicated,
requiring a discipline of
thought and an understanding
of principles
impossible for low-level characters
to learn. Wizards master these
advanced principles through careful study; sorcerers and
other spontaneous arcane casters intuit what they need to
know as their spellcasting experience grows.
Characters or creatures that use spell-like abilities or
invocations never learn the arcane circumlocutions of logic
and mental training necessary for advanced spellcasting.
As such, requirements for feats and prestige classes based
on specifi c levels of spells cast (“Able to cast 3rd-level arcane
spells,” for example) cannot be met by spell-like abilities or
invocations—not even spell-like abilities or invocations
that allow a character to use a specifi c arcane spell of the
appropriate level or higher.
Spell Penetration and Practiced Spellcaster *do* increase the caster
level for spell penetration checks-
"An eldritch blast is subject to spell resistance, although the
Spell Penetration feat and other effects that improve caster
level checks to overcome spell resistance also apply to eldritch
blast."
PS improves caster level.
Saves aren't caster level dependent, so they don't matter.
So the issue is, does Practiced Spellcaster increase the damage from
Eldritch Blast?
The 'official' (but perhaps careless) word is 'no' if for no other
reason that Eldritch Blast damage is purely a function of Warlock
Level (X dice at level Y) Balance wise, there's no harm to PS aiding
Warlocks, if 4 dice added to wizard attacks isn't a problem, then 2
dice added for a Warlock shouldn't be.
My ruling, is that PS does aid Warlocks. Legalistically, the quoted
bit above says it does. (it doesn't say it increases the damage,
but...)
Other opinions?
Here's the text of the Feat-
PRACTICED SPELLCASTER
Choose a spellcasting class that you possess. Your spells cast
from that class are more powerful.
Prerequisite: Spellcraft 4 ranks.
Benefi t: Your caster level for the chosen spellcasting class
increases by 4. This benefi t can’t increase your caster level
to higher than your Hit Dice. However, even if you can’t
benefi t from the full bonus immediately, if you later gain
Hit Dice in levels of nonspellcasting classes, you might be
able to apply the rest of the bonus.
For example, a human 5th-level sorcerer/3rd-level fi ghter who
selects this feat would increase his sorcerer caster level from 5th
to 8th (since he has 8 Hit Dice). If he later gained a fi ghter level,
he would gain the remainder of the bonus and his sorcerer caster
level would become 9th (since he now has 9 Hit Dice).
A character with two or more spellcasting classes (such as
a bard/sorcerer or a ranger/druid) must choose which class
gains the feat’s effect.
This feat does not affect your spells per day or spells
known. It increases your caster level only, which would help
you penetrate spell resistance and increase the duration and
other effects of your spells.
Special: You may select this feat multiple times. Each time
you choose it, you must apply it to a different spellcasting
class. For instance, a 4th-level cleric/5th-level wizard who had
selected this feat twice would cast cleric spells as an 8th-level
caster and wizard spells as a 9th-level caster.
And here's the text on the Wartlock's invocations and Eldritch Blast-
Invocations: A warlock does not prepare or cast spells
as other wielders of arcane magic do. Instead, he possesses a
repertoire of attacks, defenses, and abilities known as invocations
that require him to focus the wild energy that suffuses
his soul. A warlock can use any invocation he knows at will,
with the following qualifi cations:
A warlock’s invocations are spell-like abilities; using an
invocation is therefore a standard action that provokes attacks
of opportunity. An invocation can be disrupted, just as a
spell can be ruined during casting. A warlock is entitled to a
Concentration check to successfully use an invocation if he
is hit by an attack while invoking, just as a spellcaster would
be. A warlock can choose to use an invocation defensively, by
making a successful Concentration check, to avoid provoking
attacks of opportunity. A warlock’s invocations are subject to
spell resistance unless an invocation’s description specifi cally
states otherwise. A warlock’s caster level with his invocations
is equal to his warlock level.
The save DC for an invocation (if it allows a save) is 10 +
equivalent spell level + the warlock’s Charisma modifi er.
Since spell-like abilities are not actually spells, a warlock
cannot benefi t from the Spell Focus feat. He can, however,
benefi t from the Ability Focus feat (see page 303 of the Monster
Manual), as well as from feats that emulate metamagic effects
for spell-like abilities, such as Quicken Spell-Like Ability
and Empower Spell-Like Ability (see pages 303 and 304 of
the Monster Manual).
The four grades of invocations, in order of their relative
power, are least, lesser, greater, and dark. A warlock begins
with knowledge of one invocation, which must be of the
lowest grade (least). As a warlock gains levels, he learns
new invocations, as summarized on Table 1–1 and described
below. A list of available invocations can be found following
this class description, and a complete description of each
invocation can be found in Chapter 4 of this book.
At any level when a warlock learns a new invocation,
he can also replace an invocation he already knows with
another invocation of the same or a lower grade. At 6th
level, a warlock can replace a least invocation he knows
with a different least invocation (in addition to learning a
new invocation, which could be either least or lesser). At
11th level, a warlock can replace a least or lesser invocation
he knows with another invocation of the same or a lower
grade (in addition to learning a new invocation, which
could be least, lesser, or greater). At 16th level, a warlock
can replace a least, lesser, or greater invocation he knows
with another invocation of the same or a lower grade (in
addition to learning a new invocation, which could be least,
lesser, greater, or dark).
Finally, unlike other spell-like abilities, invocations
are subject to arcane spell failure chance as described
under Weapon and Armor Profi ciency above. Warlocks
can qualify for some prestige classes usually intended for
spellcasters; see Warlocks and Prestige Classes, page 18,
for details.
Eldritch Blast (Sp): The fi rst ability a warlock learns is
eldritch blast. A warlock attacks his foes with eldritch power,
using baleful magical energy to deal damage and sometimes
impart other debilitating effects.
An eldritch blast is a ray with a range of 60 feet. It is a ranged
touch attack that affects a single target, allowing no saving
throw. An eldritch blast deals 1d6 points of damage at 1st
level and increases in power as the warlock rises in level. An
eldritch blast is the equivalent of a spell whose level is equal
to one-half the warlock’s class level (round down), with a
minimum spell level of 1st and a maximum of 9th when a
warlock reaches 18th level or higher.
An eldritch blast is subject to spell resistance, although the
Spell Penetration feat and other effects that improve caster
level checks to overcome spell resistance also apply to eldritch
blast. An eldritch blast deals half damage to objects. Metamagic
feats cannot improve a warlock’s eldritch blast (because it is a
spell-like ability, not a spell). However, the feat Ability Focus
(eldritch blast) increases the DC for all saving throws (if any)
associated with a warlock’s eldritch blast by 2. See page 303 of
the Monster Manual.
And the errata-
Page 7: Eldritch Blast
Second paragraph of the Eldritch Blast ability
description:
Change “An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a spell
whose level is equal to one-half the warlock’s class
level (round down), with a minimum spell level of 1st
and a maximum of 9th when the warlock reaches 18th
level or higher” to “An eldritch blast is the equivalent
of a 1st-level spell. If you apply a blast shape or eldritch
essence invocation to your eldritch blast (see page 130),
your eldritch blast uses the level equivalent of the shape
or essence.”
Any other references to eldritch blast being something
other than the equivalent of a 1st-level spell should be
disregarded.
Any other references claiming that eldritch blast is not
an invocation should be disregarded.
A warlock can use eldritch blast at will.
Page 8: Invocations and Eldritch Blast
Change this section as follows:
Invocations and Eldritch Blast: Eldritch blast is an
invocation. Other invocations provide a warlock with
the ability to modify his eldritch blast or add new
eldritch attacks.
And the text on Spells and invocations-
INVOCATIONS AND
SPELL-LIKE ABILITIES
Many feats useful for spellcasters are equally useful for
characters or creatures that employ invocations or spell-like
abilities instead of spells. Spell-like abilities represent an
innate magical talent that is part of a creature’s essential
nature, an expression of will or a mental action that
resembles a spell in almost all ways.
Learning to wield a spell-like ability requires the same
level of training or effort required to learn a physical task
such as swimming, and is easy enough that any character
or creature with a spell-like ability is assumed to have completely
mastered the skill as soon as the spell-like ability is
acquired. Using a spell-like ability requires concentration
(possibly provoking attacks of opportunity), and, in the case
of spell-like abilities that can be used only a certain number
of times per day, requires the user to tap into a reservoir of
magical power that must be replenished before it can used
again.
Invocations are also spell-like abilities. The only
difference between invocations and other spell-like
abilities is that invocations require somatic gestures
and are therefore subject to arcane spell failure (see
the warlock class in Chapter 1).
Warlocks and other creatures with spell-like abilities
might fi nd the following feats useful.
Combat Casting: This feat works equally well with
spells, invocations, or spell-like abilities.
Spell Penetration: Spell Penetration and Greater
Spell Penetration have the same effect on invocations
and spell-like abilities that they do on normal
spells.
Weaponlike Spell Feats: A character who uses
invocations or spell-like abilities might be able to
take advantage of feats such as Weapon Focus or
Precise Shot, as described under Feats and Weaponlike
Spells, below. (The warlock’s eldritch blast
is weaponlike.)
Sudden Metamagic Feats: These metamagic
feats don’t require modifi ed spell slots, and so they
work as well with spell-like abilities or invocations
as they do with spells (though because spell-like
abilities don’t have verbal or somatic components,
Sudden Silent Spell doesn’t apply and Sudden Still Spell
applies only to invocations).
Creatures with spell-like abilities at a high enough level
will fi nd sudden metamagic feats less useful than the
dedicated feats Empower Spell-Like Ability and Quicken
Spell-Like Ability (see page 303 of the Monster Manual), as
well as the Maximize Spell-Like Ability feat introduced in
this chapter.
Other Metamagic Feats: Except as noted above,
metamagic feats can’t generally be used to modify spell-like
abilities or invocations.
CASTER LEVEL
In the context of a feat or a prestige class requirement, a caster
level prerequisite (such as “caster level 5th”) measures the
character’s ability to channel a minimum amount of magical
power. For feats or prestige classes requiring a minimum
caster level, creatures that use spell-like abilities or invocations
instead of spells use either their fi xed caster level
or their class level to determine qualifi cation.
For example, Craft Wondrous Item has
a requirement of caster level 3rd, so
both a 3rd-level warlock and a
nixie (caster level 4th for its charm
person spell-like ability) meet the
requirement.
SPELLCASTING
LEVEL
Beyond the limits of magical
power, a spellcasting level
requirement measures
the size and complexity
of the spells that can
be encompassed within
a character’s mind. As
spells increase in level,
they become exponentially
more complicated,
requiring a discipline of
thought and an understanding
of principles
impossible for low-level characters
to learn. Wizards master these
advanced principles through careful study; sorcerers and
other spontaneous arcane casters intuit what they need to
know as their spellcasting experience grows.
Characters or creatures that use spell-like abilities or
invocations never learn the arcane circumlocutions of logic
and mental training necessary for advanced spellcasting.
As such, requirements for feats and prestige classes based
on specifi c levels of spells cast (“Able to cast 3rd-level arcane
spells,” for example) cannot be met by spell-like abilities or
invocations—not even spell-like abilities or invocations
that allow a character to use a specifi c arcane spell of the
appropriate level or higher.