A matter of level trading and level 0

[Xuldarinar]

A simple question that is relevant in some circumstances.

While there are (potentially) other means of getting a situation like this, the first that comes to mind is as follows:

Lets say theres a character with levels in wizard who decides to advance as a shadowcaster. When all the wizard levels are traded, is wizard still a class of theres? For the purpose of writing it out. Let say they were wizard 4 before they decided to turn shadowcaster. At 8th level, would they be written as: Shadowcaster 8, or Wizard 0/Shadowcaster 8? Same goes for sorcerers becoming shadowcasters, or other similar circumstances.


Some points where this could be relevant, specific to the circumstances discussed above:

If all levels in wizard are traded away, and they were a specialist wizard, could they later take levels as wizard under a different specialization?

In circumstances that require a spell to be on a class spell list, but not need to be able to be cast. For instance, after that last wizard level was traded away, do we still count the wizard class spell list being relevant for meeting prerequisites, like with qualifying for effigy master?

[Chronos]

A wizard is a character with at least one level in the wizard class.

[Psyren]

Note that you can't trade levels that are being used to qualify for a feat or prestige class, even if this means you can't take advantage of the Creeping Darkness feature. So giving up your last Wizard level would mean you no longer have simulacrum on the spell list of any of your classes and thus be ineligible for Effigy Master - if you're already an EM, you are stuck with that last Wizard level.

[Spore]

A wizard is a character with at least one level in the wizard class.

For forum discussionthe first connotation is better to understand. But you're still right.