Ok. I think I need to re-ask my question, and add some of the information I know of that you are assuming I don't.1. Item creation is based on Caster Level. Each item has a minimum caster level the creator of that item has to have before creating the item. (Note that this is not necessarily the caster level of the spells required to create the item.. The spells may be cast by someone else assisting in the creation.)
2. Caster levels of different origin don't stack. if you have Cleric 2 and Wizard 2, your maximum caster level is 2.
3. Some prestige classes increase spellcasting and caster level.
4. increase in spellcasting gained by a prestige class does not increase familiar improvement, bardic music, bardic knowledge, turn undead, bonus spells gained, etc.
5. For the purpose of prestige class requirement and benefits, the Artificer, although technically not a spellcaster, may regard his infusions as 'spells'. In other words, if a prestige class requires caster level 5 and increases spellcasting and caster level of a non-distinct type (increasing arcane or divine specifically would do the artificer no good) than he would be able to take that prestige class at lvl 6 (assuming all other requirements fulfilled) and improve his infusion caster level and progression with each prestige class level.
As with other classes, he would no longer gain other class benefits, such as craft reserve, bonus feats, etc.
Now, to get into the specifics of the question.
1. According to the Artificer's Item Cration text, to be able to craft an item, an artificer may add 2 to his artificer level to fulfill the minimum caster level requirement.
This means that an item with a CL of 6 can be build by a 4th level artificer.
2. According to point 5 above, the artficer caster level improves if he takes levels in a prestige class that improves caster level.
3. According to the Renegade Mastermaker prestige class, at each level except first and 7th:
you gain new spells per day and an increase in casterlevel (and spells known, if applicable) as if you had
also gained a level in a spellcasting class to which you belonged before adding the prestige class level. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained.
Now, what is the caster level of an Artificer 5/Renegade MasterMaker 4 going to be able to create magic items? (NB: caster level for infusions is going to be 8):
- 7. Artificer level 5, +2 from the special class bonus when crafting items.
- 8. Identical to caster level, since it is now higher than Artificer level+2.
- 10. Referring to 'Artificer Level' in the item creation description of the artificer was a mistake, it should have been 'artificer caster level'. so caster level +2=8+2
Herzog
ps:
my comment about the strict interpretation was directed at this:
Most prestige classes that have the +1 to spellcasting level also state that it is only for the purposes of spells known and spells per day but other things (like familiar benefits) are not affected. So caster level for item creation would normally be considered an "other thing".
That's not RAW in my book.ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7prrWqKmlnF6kv6h706GpnpmUqHyivtOinaKblad6uLXToWSpqpNisLOtxa2gp59dmK60wMSrZKWdppq5b36RcHBycF8%3D