Can a wizard learn and inscribe a spell in his spellbook (granted that it is a wizard spell) even if he/she cannot cast it (usually because the wizard doesn't have the proper spell slot to prepare it).
In other words, can a 1st level wizard inscribe a 3rd level spell in its spell book? He/she obviously won't be able to do much with it until level 5th, but are there any restriction against that?
Other than saving time and trouble the day the wizard turns 5th level, are there any use of knowing a spell without having to cast it?
'findel
While I could've sworn that you couldn't scribe spells you can't cast, nothing in the SRD forbids it.
I cannot think of any reason why knowing it while not being able to cast it would be of use. PrC's that specify specific spells all require being able to cast them. Only thing I could really think of is apprentices making copies of an archmage's spellbook.
It's just a little bit harder than learning a spell you can currently cast, but there's no restrictions from scribing a spell into your spellbook of a higher level.
Spells Copied from Another's Spellbook or a Scroll: A wizard can also add a spell to his book whenever he encounters one on a magic scroll or in another wizard's spellbook. No matter what the spell's source, the wizard must first decipher the magical writing (see Arcane Magical Writings). Next, he must spend 1 hour studying the spell. At the end of the hour, he must make a Spellcraft check (DC 15 + spell's level). A wizard who has specialized in a school of spells gains a +2 bonus on the Spellcraft check if the new spell is from his specialty school. If the check succeeds, the wizard understands the spell and can copy it into his spellbook (see Writing a New Spell into a Spellbook). The process leaves a spellbook that was copied from unharmed, but a spell successfully copied from a magic scroll disappears from the parchment.
If the check fails, the wizard cannot understand or copy the spell. He cannot attempt to learn or copy that spell again until he gains another rank in Spellcraft. If the spell was from a scroll, a failed Spellcraft check does not cause the spell to vanish.
In most cases, wizards charge a fee for the privilege of copying spells from their spellbooks. This fee is usually equal to half the cost to write the spell into a spellbook (see Writing a New Spell into a Spellbook). Rare and unique spells might cost significantly more.
I'd say its a good way for example, if you find a scroll of X. You will eventually be able to cast it, want to have it available, and tries to copy it, if you fail, you can try again your next level. Hopefully by the time you can cast that level of spell, you've passed your check to copy it.
Yep. Per RAW you can do it. There are no restrictions anywhere except for some difficult skill checks.
My transmuter in our Dragonlance campaign can only cast 5th-level spells, and yet he has a couple of 6th-level spells in his spellbook.
I never thought of this before, but yeah, it looks fine. Might be a handy way to start 5th-level with more than just the two "free" 3rd-level spells. Of course, you still can't prepare any more spells than normal, but if you have an arcane bond item, this early learning gives you more options for its 1/day "spontaneous" spell.
My adventures sometimes last a long time without the possibility of buying scrolls and/or visiting wizard college/master, but I don't want to deny one of the wizard's mains strengths (wide variety of spells).
But before suggesting that to our resident wizard, I just wanted to be sure that it was abuse-proof (not that my players are big abusers but you know, DM's paranoia and all).
thanks everyone
'findel
Yes, sure.
I never thought of this before, but yeah, it looks fine. Might be a handy way to start 5th-level with more than just the two "free" 3rd-level spells. Of course, you still can't prepare any more spells than normal, but if you have an arcane bond item, this early learning gives you more options for its 1/day "spontaneous" spell.
No you can't pull that trick (thank God), just because you have the spell in your spellbook doesn't mean that you get the one free casting from your arcane bonded item, you must be capable of casting it.
I never thought of this before, but yeah, it looks fine. Might be a handy way to start 5th-level with more than just the two "free" 3rd-level spells. Of course, you still can't prepare any more spells than normal, but if you have an arcane bond item, this early learning gives you more options for its 1/day "spontaneous" spell.
The arcane bond spell is still limited to what you could normally cast, or else you'd potentially end up with a 1st level wizard that could cast a 9th level spell 1/day.
Ok
I am sorry.
Yep. Per RAW you can do it. There are no restrictions anywhere except for some difficult skill checks.
In the case of a wizard, blowing the skill check just means a bit of time wasted. But in the case of a witch, blowing the check wastes the scroll. As a result, my wife's witch has waited to convert scrolls into familiar chow until she's already able to cast the spells so her spellcraft check is as high as she can get it. No sense wasting a scroll to put a spell into her familiar that she can't cast yet...
This is a very useful trick, particularly if your cash/spare time and XP don't mesh up. If you come back from an adventure a few hundred XP shy of your next level, but the party is going to spend a month selling/repairing/resting/crafting you can prep your spellbook for when you go out again. When you do hit the road, after your first encounter (and subsequent level up) you will be able to memorize all the new spells you worked on.
It's also good for if you make a pilgrimage back to your alama mater, and have access to libraries, master wizards, and other resources of the academic scene. You can exchange spells with your peers, rather then just scribing from whatever random scrolls you pull out of dungeons. but only when in town. Once you head back out into the boonies, the opportunity is gone. So it can be worth it to plan ahead.
In the case of a wizard, blowing the skill check just means a bit of time wasted. But in the case of a witch, blowing the check wastes the scroll. As a result, my wife's witch has waited to convert scrolls into familiar chow until she's already able to cast the spells so her spellcraft check is as high as she can get it. No sense wasting a scroll to put a spell into her familiar that she can't cast yet...
Why worry? Assuming +2 INT modifier and ranks in spellcraft (not even maxed out) the check is always an auto success unless someone is making funny faces or points a sword at the witch's throat.
