Bypassing Level Requirements for Spells

[Quintain]

Is there any way for HL to allow a character to have a spell known (or power known for psionics) that they don't qualify for level-wise? As in getting a higher level spell prematurely, or getting a spell that is level 7-9 for a 6 spell level caster (like a magus getting limited wish, as an example)?

[Aaron]

I think that's possible. You'd have to add to the spells known/memorized arrays of the class, and possibly the maximum spell level field for the same.

[Quintain]

Ok, the spells known and memorized arrays I can see. But won't increasing the max spell level allow for the picking of more then just our hypothetical bonus spell upon level increase?

[Aaron]

If your whatever requires that the 1 extra slot be filled with spell X, give it an eval rule which complains if spell X is not present on that class. Once they are high enough level to get that level of spells normally you can be sure that the bonus slot remains devoted to the spell you want.

[ShadowChemosh]

Wondering if using a Configurable to allow these "Bonus Powers" would be easier in this case. Assuming this is some type of Thing being added to the character that the Configurable could be bootstrapped too.

[Aaron]

Yes, more details would help.

[Quintain]

Originally Posted by Aaron

If your whatever requires that the 1 extra slot be filled with spell X, give it an eval rule which complains if spell X is not present on that class. Once they are high enough level to get that level of spells normally you can be sure that the bonus slot remains devoted to the spell you want.

Aaron,

What happens if the class is never able to get the spells normally? Say something like a paladin being able to cast a raise dead spell, not as a spell like ability, but adding it to his spells known (without changing the level of the spell).

This is relatively uncommon but possible with prestige classes breaking the normal rules of spell progression.

[Aaron]

So this is a prestige class thing? I would think that if your prestige class said "Add Raise Dead to your spell list" at the same level as a cleric, but you couldn't cast 5th level spells with the selected class, the result would be a character who is SoL and can't cast the spell. Even having it as a spell known wouldn't let you cast it, because you don't have any slots of that level. Could you post the text of the ability?

[Quintain]

Originally Posted by Aaron

So this is a prestige class thing? I would think that if your prestige class said "Add Raise Dead to your spell list" at the same level as a cleric, but you couldn't cast 5th level spells with the selected class, the result would be a character who is SoL and can't cast the spell. Even having it as a spell known wouldn't let you cast it, because you don't have any slots of that level. Could you post the text of the ability?

Yes, you wouldn't normally be able to cast the spell unless the prestige class ability specifically calls out that you would be able to cast it even if you wouldn't be able to normally.

Body Thief (Ex): At 1st level, a body snatcher adds mind switch to her powers known. A body snatcher’s manifester level for mind switch is equal to her normal manifester level plus her class level, which may allow her to manifest it even if she could not normally do so. This improves its level-dependent parameters, including the limit on Hit Dice it can affect and the amount of power points that can be spent manifesting it. For example, Valis, a telepath 11 / body snatcher 4, has a manifester level of 14 normally, but manifests mind switch in all ways as if her manifester level were 18.

and

True Mind Switch: A 6th level body snatcher adds true mind switch to her powers known at 6th level, even if she is incapable of manifesting 9th level powers. She may apply all her body snatcher class features (except seal the host and rapid transfer) to any manifestation of true mind switch, even one made at the moment of death through the use of death is only the beginning.

Note that True Mind Switch is a 9th level power. There are several base classes that can qualify for Body Snatcher Prestige class that won't be able to reach 9th level powers, and at the time they qualify for the prestige class (10th level minimum given the requirements), they won't qualify for mind switch, either.

I think the most elegant solution for this would be a code change that would add tags to a spell or psionic power that would make the character automatically qualify for the power even if he would not be able to normally (basically bypass all requirements like some feats).

Also, we need a way to modify caster level for specific spells/psionic powers in a custom manner. -- there might be a way to do this already, not sure.