Read Magic, Prepared, or not prepared

[Seornep]

Hi, I have a player in a campaign that I am running that argues that the spell "Read Magic" should be a spell that does not need to be prepared in order to cast for the Wizard.

The rule book mentions; "He (the wizard) cannot prepare any spell not recorded in his spellbook, except for read magic, which all wizards can prepare from memory."

I assumed this to mean that they do need to prepare the item.

Does the wizard need to prepare read magic in order to use it?

[Cheburn]

He needs to prepare it. It just does not have to be recorded in his spellbook for him to do so.

[Under A Bleeding Sun]

RAW yes, though you could house rule that he doesn't without breaking the game.

[Rynjin]

Quote:

"all wizards can prepare from memory."

Enhance:

Quote:

"all wizards can prepare from memory."

Enhance:

Quote:

"all wizards can prepare from memory."

Enhance:

Quote:

"all wizards can prepare from memory."

ONE MORE TIME, ENHANCE:

Quote:

prepare

GREAT SCOTT! I think I found the answer to his question!

[Majuba]

Alternatively, most uses of read magic can be performed with a Spellcraft check (instead of automatically with the spell).

[Captain Zoom]

Majuba wrote:

Alternatively, most uses of read magic can be performed with a Spellcraft check (instead of automatically with the spell).

And this is why my Wizards never prepare Read Magic. I just use a Spellcraft check to read any scrolls, etc., that need reading.

[Rub-Eta]

I can't escape the feeling that Rynji is on to something! Don't stop now! We're so close!

And yes, they need to prepare it. Otherwise it would mention that wizards can spontaneously cast read magic.

The rule you quote means that a wizard can prepare that spell without a spell book. Otherwise, for every other spell, a wizard will need a spell book.

[LazarX]

Seornep wrote:

Hi, I have a player in a campaign that I am running that argues that the spell "Read Magic" should be a spell that does not need to be prepared in order to cast for the Wizard.

The rule book mentions; "He (the wizard) cannot prepare any spell not recorded in his spellbook, except for read magic, which all wizards can prepare from memory."

I assumed this to mean that they do need to prepare the item.

Does the wizard need to prepare read magic in order to use it?

Tell your player to show him the text where it states that Read Magic is handled differently than any other sorcerer/wizad spell. Spoiler Alert: He won't find any.

[Lifat]

Soooo... I can't be SURE what Rynjin was trying to say, but I'm guessing that he was saying that a wizard still needs to prepare read magic if he wants to cast it... I'm not really sure he got his point across though :P

In all seriousness... The general rule is that a wizard needs his spellbook to prepare spells from, and that any spell he wants to prepare needs to be in that(those) spellbook(s). Then the quoted sentences establishes a specific rule that states that Read Magic can be prepared without a spellbook. That doesn't mean he doesn't need to prepare the spell (See Rynjin's post if you are in doubt).