Practiced Spellcaster feat

[Autarch]

I'd like to propose this feat be added. I think it's cool, a lot of fun and opens up many interesting multiclass options. Maybe it would have to be adjusted to fit EfU but I think it'd be fine as is.

For those who are unfamiliar with the feat,
[hide]Choose a spellcasting class that you possess. Your spells cast from that class are more powerful.
Prerequisite: Spellcraft 4 ranks.
Benefit: Your caster level for the chosen spellcasting class increases by +4. This can't increase your caster level beyond your HD. However, even if you can't benefit from the full bonus immediately, if you later gain non-caster-level HD you maybe able to apply the rest of the bonus.
For example, a human 5th-level cleric/3rd-level fighter who selects this feat would increase his cleric caster level from 5th to 8th (since he has 8 HD). If he later gained a fighter level, he would gain the remainder of the bonus and his cleric caster level would become 9th (since he now has 9 HD).
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 does not affect your spells per day or spells known, it only increases your caster level, which would help you penetrate SR 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. [/hide]

[Bacon_Cheese_Burger]

This sounds real cool.

[TsunamiWombat]

Sounds cool but rife for abuse with multiclassing shenanigans, particularly cleric

[Sem]

The only thing I think might be a point of contention is that the increased Caster Level for multiclass builds would offset one of their disadvantages which is that their spells don't last as long and are easier to dispel.

Maybe for EFU it could just be up to +2 CL instead of +4, given the relatively lower level range of the server compared to regular D&D.

[Egon the Monkey]

I think it could work if locked to be Wizard/Sorcerer only. Because those classes are 100% dependent on their spells to be any use, but multiclassing means:

• Your spells are rubbish
• Your main class AB and abilities are weaker
• You lose out on skill points
• You can't use your multiclass's armour because Spell Fail screws you over unless you find a Mithril Shirt

Bards and Clerics are a strong multiclass pick anyway, because of their mid AB skills, wand/scroll access and non-spell powers. And the fact Clerics don't suffer spellfail, so can for example easily apply a 2nd buff when the first one runs out. Even then, they mostly only sit well with high AB primary classes. I played a decently effective Cleric/Rogue once, but he made heavy use of domain spells and powers to compensate for the lowered spells and overall AB. Charm Domain for Aura of Glory meant I could get nasty damage out of Divine Might, but a pure cleric would have even better short term tricks.

If you want some fighting and some arcane casting, you might as well play a Bard and enjoy having skills, perks and a few high level spells to cast at your full character level. Unless you do something like the Sorc 1 True Strike/Knockdown one-trick pony build and ruthlessly optimise to those few spells that ignore spell failure and/or caster level.  Even then, why not just take 1-3 levels in Luck Domain Priest and get a tasty bonus feat, better AB and Hits, cast iron excuses for faith RP,  and Relic access?

EfU does have the odd bit of Cleric/Arcane caster multiclass loot, but that doesn't compensate for the issue that you're mediocre at two things rather than good at one. Even if you try some crazy niche build like GSF Conjuration summon spamming. Having more weak stuff doesn't compare to the sheer power and entertainment factor of L3/4/5 Spells.

Similarly, Prestige Classes other than Pale Master look like a terrible idea for casters for this same reason. I have been tempted by a RDD or Master Scout concept on a bard, but losing out on spellslots means that a normal bard (or sorcerer for RDD) ends up with less cool stuff than they otherwise would.

I don't know how easy custom feats are to do, but this could be put on Arcane Defence. That would gate it behind a specialisation feat, and give something useful to a feat that's otherwise a bit pointless.