I have a question about some of the tricks used to optimize arcane spellcasters. Many seem to revolve around questionable interpretations of RAW. Take a build stub I saw on Giantitp recently:
Human Wizard:
Precocious Apprentice, Scorch
Reserve Feat, Fiery Burst
Allegedly this character can make 2d6 fiery bursts at will at 1st level. Not earthshaking, but does it work? The Precocious Apprentice feat gives a 1st level character a 2nd level spell slot that "must be used initially to cast only the chosen spell." The Fiery Burst reserve feat requires you to "have a fire spell of 2nd level or higher available to cast". As a prepared caster there is a defined meaning to having a spell available to cast (CM 37), and that is to have "an appropriate spell prepared and not yet cast that day". I don't think the character even knows Scorch; he certainly hasn't prepared it, and so it is not available for the purpose of the Fiery Burst feat.
Am I right so far? I was told not to be absurd when I raised this objection on Giantitp. But I may have misunderstood the build, since I had overlooked the fact that the character was a Domain Wizard (Fire).
Now the SRD says Domain Wizards gain a bonus spell per spell level, which must be filled with an appropriate domain spell. (I doubt that means they get a 9 level spell slot at first level; am I wrong?) If the SRD means 'a bonus spell per spell level they can cast' then I see the purpose for Precocious Apprentice: it provides a second level spell they can cast, in which case they get a bonus spell slot in which to prepare burning hands (one of the Fire domain spells they know). But even so the trick still doesn't work, since burning hands is still a 1st level spell even if it is prepared in a second level slot. What the character needs is to prepare a burning hands spell with Heighten so it counts as a 2nd level spell. Or 9th level, if the SRD really does mean a bonus spell of every level.
Unless... A Domain Wizard (Fire) adds scorching ray to his spells known as soon as he is able to cast it. Which I suppose is when he has a 2nd level spell slot. And he gets a bonus 2nd level spell slot when he can cast 2nd level spell spells. Precocious Apprentice, it could be argued, gives him the ability to cast second level spells, and so gives him the spell slot he needs.
Of course, Precocious Apprentice no longer gives him the ability to cast scorch if he can cast 2nd level spells, so we get the sort of self-undermining situation that happens with the 10th level of Dragon Disciple. Worse, since one can presume that no class (or feat) will undermine itself; but the undermining here is caused by the interaction between Precocious Apprentice and Domain Wizard.
(In other words, if feat A technically disqualifies its bearer from using feat A, it can be presumed to work anyway. But if feat A allows you to meet the prerequisites for feat B and taking feat B disqualifies you from using feat A, then the combo doesn't work. The same principle works for other combinations of game mechanics.)
Anyway, I still think that the build doesn't work (except possibly if a Heightened burning hands is used), but I am not confident that I understand the situation correctly. Your patience (or direction to the appropriate rules resource) is greatly appreciated.
