Spellbook Question

[wvpolarbear]

When playing PFS, do you have to buy scrolls as a wizard or other arcane to then read, spellcheck, and scribe into your book; or is it assumed that you can copy directly from an NPC wizards spellbook between scenarios? I have heard both interpretations from GM's now, and my reading of the FAQ on this is unclear, as it does specifically mention NPC wizards.
Either way, of course, you still pay the scribing cost.

With either method, the GM should sign off on the spells gained (after witnessing successful skill checks) on affected players' chronicle sheets. All other methods of gaining new spells (such as by gaining a level or purchasing access to an NPC's spellbook) function as described in the Core Rulebook and relevant class descriptions.

In the rare instance of a wizard charging a fee for the privilege of copying spells from their spellbooks, this fee is equal to half the cost to write the spell into a spellbook (see Writing a New Spell into a Spellbook). Rare and unique spells do not change the fee in PFS.

[Bbauzh ap Aghauzh]

The FAQ is quite clear, in my opinion, on what you can do.

What about the FAQ is unclear to you, and I'll try to clear it up.

[SCPRedMage]

You CAN buy scrolls to copy into your spellbook; in fact, this used to be the only method available (other than copying from other PC's spellbooks) in PFS organized play to learn new spells.

A recent (within the last month or so) update to the FAQ specifically introduced the ability to pay half the cost of scribing (5gp for a first level spell, 20gp for a second, etc) to borrow an unnamed NPC's spellbook in order to copy the spell.

Bottom line: the FAQ explicitly states you can purchase access to an NPC's spellbook, and establishes the price of said access as half the cost of the spell you wish to copy (in addition to the cost of actually copying said spell). Further, while I don't have a link handy, Michael Brock HAS clarified that you don't need a specific NPC; just pay the money between sessions, have the GM sign off on your chronicle, and you're good.

If a GM insists that you must purchase a scroll, they are operating under out-dated information, and they need to review the updated FAQ entry.

[Calybos1]

Ahh, so it's clearly explained in the FAQ. Awesome.

Now, where is this FAQ you're talking about? I don't see any subforum or thread with that title anywhere I've looked in the forums.

[Sniggevert]

Calybos1 wrote:

Ahh, so it's clearly explained in the FAQ. Awesome.

Now, where is this FAQ you're talking about? I don't see any subforum or thread with that title anywhere I've looked in the forums.

That's because it's not a subforum or thread...It's a group of pages linked from the Help/FAQ link at that top of every forum page.

From the generic FAQ you do have to go to the PFS specific FAQ, but it is one of the direct links from that page. There's also a FAQ for a number of the hardback rules books there as well with numerous clarifications.

[Bbauzh ap Aghauzh]

Here is the specific FAQ question

HERE