Does Arcane Trickster gain Spell Levels?

[SotiCoto]

It says it raises effective caster level and gains spell slots... but... for instance, would a Level 4 Sorcerer / Level 10 Arcane Trickster have access to all the same spells up to the same level that a Level 14 Sorcerer would?

[Corridian]

You lose out some on caster level and number of spells because it is a hybrid.
If you compare them slot for slot you will see what I mean. Google it.

[SotiCoto]

Originally posted by Corridian:

You lose out some on caster level and number of spells because it is a hybrid.
If you compare them slot for slot you will see what I mean. Google it.

I can't compare them slot for slot because my character has only just unlocked the requirement for the prestige class. And I already tried searching it to no avail, as no site I checked said anything about the spell levels... so while I'm sure I won't ever be able to cast 9th level spells due to the requirement that I have Rogue levels, I just wanted to know whether I'd be able to cast the same level spells as a pure Sorcerer or Wizard of the equivalent spellcaster level.
Like I said though, absolutely none of the sources I checked clarified that. Heck, most of them were irrelevant as they referred to D&D instead of Pathfinder.

[Frostfeather]

Originally posted by SotiCoto:

I just wanted to know whether I'd be able to cast the same level spells as a pure Sorcerer or Wizard of the equivalent spellcaster level.

Yes you would.

Technically, you need to take at least 1 level in a class that gives you Sneak Attack to unlock AT. So a 1 Rogue or Vivi / 4 Sorcerer / 10 Arcane Trickster would be one caster level behind a level 15 Sorcerer of the same character level. But every level of AT does give you caster level progression, unlike, say Dragon Disciple.

[Corridian]

Originally posted by night4:

Originally posted by SotiCoto:

I just wanted to know whether I'd be able to cast the same level spells as a pure Sorcerer or Wizard of the equivalent spellcaster level.

Yes you would.

Technically, you need to take at least 1 level in a class that gives you Sneak Attack to unlock AT. So a 1 Rogue or Vivi / 4 Sorcerer / 10 Arcane Trickster would be one caster level behind a level 15 Sorcerer of the same character level. But every level of AT does give you caster level progression, unlike, say Dragon Disciple.

You are better off taking Vivisectionist than straight rogue.. plus it keeps you arcane focused... and nastier...

[Corridian]

Originally posted by SotiCoto:

Originally posted by Corridian:

You lose out some on caster level and number of spells because it is a hybrid.
If you compare them slot for slot you will see what I mean. Google it.

I can't compare them slot for slot because my character has only just unlocked the requirement for the prestige class. And I already tried searching it to no avail, as no site I checked said anything about the spell levels... so while I'm sure I won't ever be able to cast 9th level spells due to the requirement that I have Rogue levels, I just wanted to know whether I'd be able to cast the same level spells as a pure Sorcerer or Wizard of the equivalent spellcaster level.
Like I said though, absolutely none of the sources I checked clarified that. Heck, most of them were irrelevant as they referred to D&D instead of Pathfinder.

Paizo has the charts. I forget if you have to look at their Wiki or on their actual site, but comparisons can be done as they show the effect of multiclassing on casting ability. You are correct it will lock you out of the top level, but getting sneak attack is worth it.

[SotiCoto]

Originally posted by Corridian:

You are better off taking Vivisectionist than straight rogue.. plus it keeps you arcane focused... and nastier...

What is "Vivisectionist"? I didn't see anything like that in the class list.

[Corridian]

Originally posted by SotiCoto:

Originally posted by Corridian:

You are better off taking Vivisectionist than straight rogue.. plus it keeps you arcane focused... and nastier...

What is "Vivisectionist"? I didn't see anything like that in the class list.

alchemist sub class

[SotiCoto]

Originally posted by Corridian:

alchemist sub class

Don't those have to be chosen at character creation?

[Drake]

Originally posted by SotiCoto:

Originally posted by Corridian:

alchemist sub class

Don't those have to be chosen at character creation?

You can choose an archetype anytime you level up in new class.

So if you are lv 1 sorcerer and at lv 2 you pick alchemist, you can take vivisectionist.

Also, if you know how to read them, the detail chart in the class menu have all the infos, including the presige class spell progression. The game has the infos for those things.

[grognardgary]

Why not start as an eldritfch scoundrel and then switch to Arcane Trickster? it would seem the natural route?

[valium]

Eldritch Scoundrel doesnt get sneak attack until level 3. 1 level of Rogue + additional Sneak Attack feat qualifies you for Arcane Trickster. I think both Rogue and Vivi are good options, Rogue gives you a wider range of skills if you want this to be your skill monkey.

[ptirodaktill]

Originally posted by grognardgary:

Why not start as an eldritfch scoundrel and then switch to Arcane Trickster? it would seem the natural route?

Cause you run out of spell slots in no time and you`re also limited to circle 6 spells, so you can`t benefit from metamagic feats on high circle spells.

[Frostfeather]

It's not min/maxed, but for what it's worth, one of my all time favorite characters was an Eldritch Scoundrel / Arcane Trickster (Hard difficulty). Very versatile character able to melee regular enemies reliably while Sneak Attack raying tougher ones. It's definitely more than viable.

[Drake]

With how sneak attacks work with touch spells in the game. Eldritch scoundrel is actually better off staying single classed for 20 levels and benefit from advanced rogue talents to be a finesse melee/touch caster hybrid.

Arcane trickster is like eldritch knight and mystic theurge, relics of D&D3E that were there to create fighter/mage, mage/thief ang mage/cleric multiclasses from earlier versions of DnD.
With pathfinder hybrid classes and archetypes, you usually have more efficient options than picking basic classes with prestige classes.

[Frostfeather]

Originally posted by Drake:

With how sneak attacks work with touch spells in the game. Eldritch scoundrel is actually better off staying single classed for 20 levels and benefit from advanced rogue talents to be a finesse melee/touch caster hybrid.

Straight up ES is great, but ES/AT gets some tricks that can result in overall faster kill speed, depending on how you play. Death > debuffs, after all. And Surprise Spells gives you an area damage burst ES can't match.

You're probably thinking of it as a melee character primarily, when it was intended to evolve over time to be tailored to the group's needs.