CO Challenge: Break This Houserule #2: Spell Level Prereq = CL Prereq

[Amechra]

Same general rules as the CO Challenge #1

The suggested houserule:

Any Prestige Class that has a spell level requirement has a caster level requirement instead. The required caster level is equal to twice the spell level minus 1.

For example, any PrC that required 3rd level spells now requires CL 5.

[Power]

Duergars get a 1/day SLA at double their character levels in caster levels. That will qualify them for your PrC prereqs pretty easy.

[JaronK]

Create Magic Tattoo should help land early qualifications.  Sorcerers benefit the most as they now early qualify for everything (compared to how it was).

JaronK

[zook1shoe]

aNarchomancer requiring only CL 9 instead of 5th level illusion, plus full casting is awesome!

[sirpercival]

It depends on how early you can get CL shenanigans online. Changeling Spont Div Wiz 5/KotW 1 with Theurgic Specialist hits CL 11 on trans and conj spells at level 6... but I'm not sure what that really lets you do.  There aren't a lot of PrCs where high spell levels are the most restrictive requirement...

Really, I think it lets you do more multiclassing, and makes Practiced Spellcaster do wonders.

[Vorpal_Bunny]

Well Practiced Spellcaster (twice) makes getting into say...Mystic Theurge right at 4 with only 1 level in either the Arcane or Divine side.

It also means that spontaneous caster suck less for getting into Theurges

And that the shennanigans that are typically used for Ultimate Magus don't work as well if you try for early entry.

It might also mean that Ranger and Paladin are gimped even more if you try to get into a PRC with their casting (why would you?...) I mean, its CL-4, right?

-VB

[kitep]

Warlocks benefit greatly from this.  The qualify for PRCs that require CL, but not for PRCs that require spell level.

[awaken_D_M_golem]

Bunch of Domains get +X to CL for that small segment.
Stack them up C.O. style and it isn't hard to imagine a
whole pile of quirky level 1 builds early entry into PrCs.
Cleric 1 with CL boosters / PrC X / more of PrC Y


edit
Ranger or Paladin with Practiced Spellcaster feat, into normal
Druid/Wiz/Cleric PrC type builds = still comparatively gimped.
 

[Endarire]

Raising Caster Level.

For example, a Human with the Spellgifted trait and Reserves of Strength and a masterwork holy symbol can get +4 CL to one school (like Transmutation) at level 1.  Go go Ruathar (Races of the Wild)!

[Amechra]

Alright, so... consensus = Early Entry is easier.

Is that really a problem, per se? What if it was specified to CL for that kind of spell? (so, for example, if you required 4th level Transmutation spells, you'd need a CL 7 for Transmutation spells?)

[Maat Mons]

A sublime chord build would have more freedom in the first half.  One level of bard and the practiced spellcaster feat would meet all but the skill requirements.  Maybe bard 1 / crusader 8 / jade phoenix mage 1 / sublime chord 1 / jade phoenix mage +9.  Able learner and song of the white raven would probably be handy.