Can sorcerers learn cleric spells as new and unusual learned spells?


Advice


Question pretty much stated on title there lol

Scarab Sages

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If's it's a bloodline spell, yes. Otherwise, it's GM fiat.


Imbicatus wrote:
If's it's a bloodline spell, yes. Otherwise, it's GM fiat.

My friend is adamant on this so we need some clarification, as I'm running a game for myself and some friends. I point out in two sections of the book that it states they can learn new/unusual spells, ergo it would be unusual to learn that. He says that ONLY spells in the respective character classes can only be learned by their own classes unless custom made, and pointed out if going STRICTLY by the book it wouldn't be possible. But in counter argument wouldn't custom spells also be unusable? As they technically dont appear either?

Ex: I suggested a character could eventually unlock Slay living. Level 5 cleric spell. The characters adoptive parent was a fiend who raised him on dark magic.

Lastly we dont have a cleric in the group.


By the rules no only bloodline spells.

Not only would you have to KNOW the spell it has to be on your list, so even if you KNEW Slay Living it would not be on your list so you could not cast it. This was FAQ'd due to the reverse situation, Oracles using Eldritch Heritage Arcane to learn arcane spells.


There are no truly-defined rules for this, but it's basically houseruling. However, there is RAW and guidelines from the Core that can allow this sort of thing at a given table:

Independent Research wrote:

A wizard can also research a spell independently, duplicating an existing spell or creating an entirely new one. The cost to research a new spell, and the time required, are left up to GM discretion, but it should probably take at least 1 week and cost at least 1,000 gp per level of the spell to be researched. This should also require a number of Spellcraft and Knowledge (arcana) checks.

A divine spellcaster can also research a spell independently, much as an arcane spellcaster can. Only the creator of such a spell can prepare and cast it, unless she decides to share it with others.

All the book says is that Wizards can research spells for their Arcane casting, and that they can duplicate existing spells (or can be a completely homebrewed one).

However, this is only in regards to prepared spells. As for spontaneous spellcasters, unless you can give them the rights to learn the spell from a Wizard or Cleric (in the case of Oracles) who researched it (similar to how a Wizard would scribe it into his spellbook, or a Cleric would conform with his deity), they can't necessarily obtain the spell.

The only other alternative is Rings of Spell Knowledge, but are limited in their power, since you can only (mostly) carry 2 rings, and spells from opposite casting types are counted as a spell level higher for the purposes of the ring (meaning at best, you can learn up to 2 3rd level Cleric spells).

Normally, I'd suggest Pages of Spell Knowledge, but since the spells have to be on your class list in order to use them, it leads to the same gray area (some could argue that since Sorcerers and Wizards practically share the same list, the Wizard who researched the spell could put it on the page, and the Sorcerer could use it, but again, it's up for debate).

At the end of the day, it's GM FIAT. If the GM will allow the Sorcerer to obtain spells from the researched Wizard spell via Pages of Spell Knowledge, then he could technically learn Cleric spells. But as to how the Wizard manages to do that, it's up to GM FIAT. The only other alternative is quite limited in its power (and probably for good reason).

The Exchange

I concur with the others here: that clause exists so that the GM can choose to integrate home-brewed, third party or otherwise inaccessible spells - and therefore it's been left entirely up to individual GM judgement which spells may or may not be added. Do not interpret that rule as an opportunity to shoehorn more power into your class by throwing gold at it.

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