Here is an idea for giving wizards the option to cast a spell that they otherwise have not prepared. I think it makes them more versatile in their spell selection without overpowering them, and could enhance the overall experience of playing a wizard (by possibly not having to wait a day to prepare the right spell). I also don't think that it will step on the toes of the Sorcerer as that class seems to be moving in a different direction. It is also backwards compatible and and easy rule to use.
Bear in mind that the rule could apply to any spell caster who prepares spells.
A wizard may elect to lose a spell that he has prepared to cast a spell he knows, but does not have prepared, provided that the spell to be cast is at least 2 levels lower than the spell to be lost.
For instance, a wizard could choose to lose Dismissal (5th level) which he has prepared, to cast a much needed Dispel Magic (3rd level) which he knows but has not prepared or otherwise used up that particular day.
One could take it a step further and say that the wizard needs to make a Spell craft check to successfully cast the spell unprepared (to represent is "unreadiness," if you will) at DC 10 + spell level.
I wouldn't give it as a free ability, but it sounds like a great idea for a feat.
I'm not a big fan of this. Wizards already get one spontaneous spell with their arcane bond. Adding the ability for them to do this with any spell slot even at a 2 level cost is IMO really stepping on the sorcerer's toes. In particular if you consider that on odd numbered levels the penalty is really only 1 level (versus the sorcerer).
What about the flip side, let a sorcerer memorize a few spells per day at a 2 spell level penalty?
Adding the ability for them to do this with any spell slot even at a 2 level cost is IMO really stepping on the sorcerer's toes. In particular if you consider that on odd numbered levels the penalty is really only 1 level (versus the sorcerer).
After mulling it over a little more, I have come to realize this myself. I was thinking -2 or -3 level before posting, but just to get the idea out, I went with -2 level.
So, to revise, what about losing a spell to cast a spell you know, but don't have prepared as long as the spell is at least 3 levels lower than the spell lost? The ability really wouldn't begin to kick in until level 7.
One of my original intentions with this idea was to get away from the "let's rest for a day so I can prepare the proper spell..." I know there will still be some of that, but this has the potential to eliminate a lot of the trivial instances that occur.
Another take on the idea is that it looks at the wizard as not really "forgetting" a spell once cast, but that more powerful spells really need to be studied beforehand each time they are used whereas lesser spells can be cast without studying them thoroughly each time, but at a cost (the loss of a more powerful prepared spell).
Also, I disagree that it steps on the sorcerer's toes, especially if the wizard is giving up a spell slot 3+ levels higher than the spell he wishes to cast.
Making this as a feat would be less "world changing" as far as rules go.
What about the flip side, let a sorcerer memorize a few spells per day at a 2 spell level penalty?
I can't get around this, myself. Although a sorcerer is limited in the number of spells known, he can use the spells he knows as often as he wants within the limits of his spell progression. He can already burn any higher level slot to cast a lower level spell as he so chooses.
What might be more appropriate is if he could break his higher level slots to cast more lower level spells. Right now, he can use a third level slot to cast one first level spell. What if he could use that third level slot to cast 3 1st level spells? Might be too complicated...
I don't know if you are familiar with the fact that wizards can delay preparing some spells until later in the day.
This is from the SRD but I don't think it's changed:
When preparing spells for the day, a wizard can leave some of these spell slots open. Later during that day, she can repeat the preparation process as often as she likes, time and circumstances permitting. During these extra sessions of preparation, the wizard can fill these unused spell slots. She cannot, however, abandon a previously prepared spell to replace it with another one or fill a slot that is empty because she has cast a spell in the meantime. That sort of preparation requires a mind fresh from rest. Like the first session of the day, this preparation takes at least 15 minutes, and it takes longer if the wizard prepares more than one-quarter of her spells.
So based on what you are saying it would be easiest if a wizard just left a couple of spell slots open then he could avoid resting and just take a 15 minute break.
+3 wouldn't bother me much. I prefer the older mechanism of casting out of the spellbook better though. It's sort of a self limiting mechanism.
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One of my original intentions with this idea was to get away from the "let's rest for a day so I can prepare the proper spell..." I know there will still be some of that, but this has the potential to eliminate a lot of the trivial instances that occur.
The wizard has an excellent way to have the proper spell. Scribe Scroll. I always scribe the spells that I never seem to have memorized at the right time. I keep a magic weapon, a sleep (after 3rd or 4th level) a detect undead and many other useful but only in that one situation type spells.
Beyond that you don't have to memorize all your spells at the start of the day. It only takes 15 minutes to memorize 1/4 of your spells...
While this isn't much help in a fight, but for anything else 15 minutes isn't much.
I don't know if you are familiar with the fact that wizards can delay preparing some spells until later in the day.
This is from the SRD but I don't think it's changed:
When preparing spells for the day, a wizard can leave some of these spell slots open. Later during that day, she can repeat the preparation process as often as she likes, time and circumstances permitting. During these extra sessions of preparation, the wizard can fill these unused spell slots. She cannot, however, abandon a previously prepared spell to replace it with another one or fill a slot that is empty because she has cast a spell in the meantime. That sort of preparation requires a mind fresh from rest. Like the first session of the day, this preparation takes at least 15 minutes, and it takes longer if the wizard prepares more than one-quarter of her spells.So based on what you are saying it would be easiest if a wizard just left a couple of spell slots open then he could avoid resting and just take a 15 minute break.
+3 wouldn't bother me much. I prefer the older mechanism of casting out of the spellbook better though. It's sort of a self limiting mechanism.
I was not aware that a wizard could do that. Is this the case in 3.5 as well? I have not read the SRD, only the core 3.5 books and Pathfinder Beta. Also, I forgot about the casting out of a spellbook thing.
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Also, I forgot about the casting out of a spellbook thing.
Can anyone remind me if that burns the spell from the spellbook, requiring the wizard to obtain a new copy and re-scribe it? I think that a mechanism like that, with casting in that way being a full-round action, would be a great 'last resort' for wizards.
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Also, I forgot about the casting out of a spellbook thing.Can anyone remind me if that burns the spell from the spellbook, requiring the wizard to obtain a new copy and re-scribe it? I think that a mechanism like that, with casting in that way being a full-round action, would be a great 'last resort' for wizards.
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This is not legal under 3.5. It's a throwback to AD&D. If you cast a spell from your spellbook it erased it from your book and there was a small chance that it would erase adjoining pages.
You know I can't find where it says a wizard can do that anywhere, it would be nice to have a referance for this, if anyone has it.
edit: ninja'd by orge, thank you orge that was what I was thinking too.
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I was not aware that a wizard could do that. Is this the case in 3.5 as well? I have not read the SRD, only the core 3.5 books and Pathfinder Beta. Also, I forgot about the casting out of a spellbook thing.So based on what you are saying it would be easiest if a wizard just left a couple of spell slots open then he could avoid resting and just take a 15 minute break.
+3 wouldn't bother me much. I prefer the older mechanism of casting out of the spellbook better though. It's sort of a self limiting mechanism.
SRD is the system reference document, it's material wizards released from the PHB/ DMG and a few other books under an open license. If I had my players handbook handy I would have just given you a page number from it instead. Look under "Preparing Spells" in the Players Handbook.
I was not aware that a wizard could do that. Is this the case in 3.5 as well? I have not read the SRD, only the core 3.5 books and Pathfinder Beta. Also, I forgot about the casting out of a spellbook thing.So based on what you are saying it would be easiest if a wizard just left a couple of spell slots open then he could avoid resting and just take a 15 minute break.
+3 wouldn't bother me much. I prefer the older mechanism of casting out of the spellbook better though. It's sort of a self limiting mechanism.
SRD is the system reference document, it's material wizards released from the PHB/ DMG and a few other books under an open license. If I had my players handbook handy I would have just given you a page number from it instead. Look under "Preparing Spells" in the Players Handbook.
I will do that tonight when I have access to my books. However, since you mentioned the casting from the wizard's spell book, that might be a better way of trying to get to what I'm proposing which is the wizard being able to cast a spell he knows, but doesn't have prepared. (I do remember that from 2nd Ed. BTW). Getting out his spell book and casting on the spot would be a better solution than my original idea in my opinion. It wouldn't be very beneficial in combat as I can see the casting time being much longer, (nor do I think it should, in fact the wizard puts his spellbook in jeopardy whipping it out in combat), but could be a rule put to great effect in other situations, mostly of the utilitarian sort.