Q 18: Are there rules for training NPCs? I've recently acquired some elven archers(warrior class) and would like to get them some PC levels if possible.
A18: Only plot device level stuff like rebuilding AFAIK, and even then their stats will still suck. For something a little more accessible, you might be able to re-train them to accept 2 flaws. At that point they can have PBS, Rapid Shot, and Far Shot. Arrange them in ranks of 10 alongside someone that can reliably hit a DC 20 Int + BAB check and use the Concentrated Volley rules from Heroes of Battle to go to town.
Q19
Im building and optimizing a bard for use as an NPC in a campaign that Im running, but I have encountered trouble. The bard in question will be a half-elf, with all three half-elf bard substitution levels from Races of Destiny, and the last one at bard level 8, Secrets of the Diplomat, is bothering me. It states that I give up a 4th level bard spell known gained at that level, but bars doesn't gain 4th level spells before level 10. Do I miss something here?
A19: I'd say change Sending to 3rd-level and have the feat replace the 3rd-level spell gained. The official errata may have done something different.
Q21 "All Necromancy spells you cast are at +4 caster level..." Does this include an Animate Dead SLA?
A21: Actually, if the caster level of your SLA is based off your arcane/divine caster level then it becomes a check-with-your-DM kinda thing. For Animate Dead specifically, it *will* apply to the amount of undead you control, even through the SLA, if you can cast the spell (and possibly even if you can't), and that's really the important part. You only need a CL 5 Animate Dead and Desecrate to animate whatever undead you wanted aside from Dragons.