pre-determined spell lists

[Inara Red Cloak]

Okay,

Now I know that everyone's had this thought.

"That's a great class/prestige class, but the spell list too limited."
or "This is an older class, but these new spells fit the class perfectly."

So, here's my problem. I've built this caster with levels in Dread Necromancer out of the Heroes of Horror. He's been boosted with a Tome of Leadership (boosts Cha, fyi) and he wears a Belt of Magnificence. Personally, I think the Drd. Necro. class could greatly benefit from an upgrade. (namely the Spl Compendium and Complete Mage.)

So DMs, how would you deal with adding more spells to a pre-determined spell list?

[Drac]

When it comes to spells I allow my players combine list from different source books as long as the spells are for there class.

[Locke1520]

Drac wrote:

When it comes to spells I allow my players combine list from different source books as long as the spells are for there class.

Yup. WotC did expand some classes spell lists as new books came out and I for one like to stick to approved lists.

That said if a player was dying to add a specific spell I would look at the spell and maybe allow the player to research it and add it to his personal list. But that would be a serious exception and I would not do it lightly.

[Seldriss]

First, i ask the player to do some research with his character for the spells he is looking for. I expect him to justify his research with some objective roleplaying, to avoid metagaming.
Sometimes it can be some study in a library, a mage guild, an academy or a temple. But it can also a perfect reason for a quest in a dark dungeon or an expedition to far lands, to retrieve some scrolls or tomes from the past. Some contacts might be necessary, as well as some expenses, fees or bribery.
Then i give a modifier to the Spellcraft check to learn the spell, according to the rarity of the spell (PH/Common, Spell Compendium/Rare, other sources/Very Rare) and the class list (class spell list, other class, other type).
If the spell belongs to another class spell list, it is considered to be of the higher level.