When does Mad Faith grant bonus spells?

[thorr-kan]

When does Mad Faith grant bonus spells?

Mad Faith (Heroes of Horror)
[Tainted]
Your depravity has twisted the connection between you and your patron deity. You suffer flashes of insight interrupted by flashes of madness.
Prerequisite: Ability to cast 1st-level divine spells, mild depravity.
Benefit: You gain a bonus 1st-level divine spell per day. If you have moderate depravity, then you also gain a 2nd-level divine spell per day. If you have severe depravity, then you also gain a 3rd-level divine spell per day. However, it takes twice as long for you to pray for your spells each day.

Does gaining the bonus spell require all three of: feat, depravity level, and ability to cast that level spell?

Or does gaining the requisite feat and depravity level let you cast a bonus spell above your normal spell level, like Precocious Apprentice?

[MisterKaws]

Don't use Taint. It destroys games. Nearly every single thing related to taint has some game-breaking potential.

[Venger]

Don't use Taint. It destroys games. Nearly every single thing related to taint has some game-breaking potential.

Well, first of all, this.

As to your actual question, precocious apprentice explains how it lets you break the cap and cast 2nds. This lacks such language. At, say, first level, you don't have 0 3rd level spell slots a day, you have - spell slots. 0+1 = 1, but - + 1 is still -. You can't get higher level slots by extreme depravity this way, unfortunately.

[thorr-kan]

Well, first of all, this.

As to your actual question, precocious apprentice explains how it lets you break the cap and cast 2nds. This lacks such language. At, say, first level, you don't have 0 3rd level spell slots a day, you have - spell slots. 0+1 = 1, but - + 1 is still -. You can't get higher level slots by extreme depravity this way, unfortunately.
I get the same result, but from a slightly different path.

The feat gives bonus spells. Normally, bonus spells can be used until you can cast that level of spell. Otherwise, a high Wis first-level cleric could be using that Commune spell...

Thanks for the logic check, folks.