Can the #nonprofitcloudcasemanagement license be used as a standalone solution? Or does it require a CRM license like Sales or Service Cloud?

Dakota, yes, the license can be used standalone. However, with all due respect to your AE, the other information is not correct in my experience. Users with this license can definitely run reports and access data in up to 10 custom objects.

@Jon Mervis - part of the "restriction" of the Service Cloud RUL is that it's only to be used in conjunction with NCCM. In other words, while it gives access to some Service Cloud features, I believe it'd be a violation of the RUL if it was just used as a cheaper way to give users access to Service Cloud features. There are/were partner Q&A docs around this RUL which I'm guessing you should have access to.