Shadow Adept - How to calc total DC?

[sir_blacksoutalot]

I could use some help understanding how DC checks work for spells cast by Shadow Adepts. The relevant class feats are described on the BG Wiki as follows:

Shadow Weave User
Type of Feat: Spellcasting
Prerequisites: Magical Discovery or Shadow Adept 1
Specifics: From now on, your spells tap the Shadow Weave instead of the Weave. Add a +2 bonus to the DC for all saving throws of spells you cast from the schools of Enchantment, Illusion, and Necromancy, and spells with the darkness descriptor. You also get a +4 bonus on caster level checks for spells from these schools.

It would seem that the +4 bonus to caster level checks applies to the spell's range, duration, damage, and any other level-dependent variables the spell might have--but not to total caster levels for purposes of calculating DC bonus for epic levels (i.e., +1 DC for every 3 levels past 20). As I interpret it, the +2 DC bonus is all that applies from this feat. Is that correct?

Spell Power
Prerequisites: Shadow Adept 3
Specifics: Shadow Weave spells from the schools of Enchantment, Illusion, and Necromancy are empowered by + 1 at level 3, + 2 at level 7 and + 3 at level 10. Casterlevels gained in this manner can also increase the spell save DC and stack with casterlevel bonuses from other feats or classes.

If same as Hierophant's Spell Power feat, this special ability increases a Shadow Adept's effective caster level by 1 for purposes of determining dependent spell variables (such as damage and DC calculation). This ability can be selected more than once up to a maximum of 3 times, for a total casterlevel bonus of +3.

So my question is, how do these two feats work together? I'm guessing I first need to calc the total caster levels which inlcludes +1 DC for every three CLs past 20, plus the Spell Power bonus up to a possible +3. And then apply Ability bonus and finally the +2 DC from the Shadow Weave User feat. The math might look something like this:

30 CL + Spell Power 2 = 32 CL which yields a +4 to DC spell checks. Then would come any ability bonuses, and finally the +2 DC bonus for Shadow Weave.

Frankly, this stuff hurts my head. It's so easy to get confused between Caster Level vs. DCs vs. Spell Power. If anyone would care to straighten me out, that would be much appreciated.

Sir_Blacksoutalot needs more whiskey after that painful write-up.

[Zkenic]

You've got it dead right. The extra 4 CL from the first level ability does not effect DC, the other one does.

Epic DC bumps are every 3 levels. 23/26/29/32/35, so a 10cleric/10heirophant/10shadow adept would get +2DC on illusion, necromancy, and enchantment spells, and all spells would get +5 DC from CL 36.

A quick DC example of a 10/10/10 cleric with evil domain, epic spell focus illusion, and weird with 32wisdom and spell casting prodigy.

10base+9spell level+3ESF illusion+2shadow adept+11wisdom+1Spell casting prodigy+5CL (CL 36 with all 3 spellpower bumps) = DC 41