I have usually steered away from prepared casters, as I never seemed to accuratly anticipate encounters and prepare the correct spells, and end up feeling about as useful as a book end.
It was rescently brought to my attention that you can leave prepared spell slots open....and prepare spells later in the day when you have a better feel for what's going on ?
I can't find rules as to how you go about this though....
Can anyone either explain how this works, or point me to where it is covered in the rules ?
When preparing spells for the day, a wizard can leave some of these spell slots open. Later during that day, he can repeat the preparation process as often as he likes, time and circumstances permitting. During these extra sessions of preparation, the wizard can fill these unused spell slots. He cannot, however, abandon a previously prepared spell to replace it with another one or fill a slot that is empty because he 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 his spells.
It's in Magic section -> Arcane Spells -> Preparing Wizard spells. Second paragraph of "Spell Selection and Preparation" part.
When preparing spells for the day, a wizard can leave some of these spell slots open. Later during that day, he can repeat the preparation process as often as he likes, time and circumstances permitting. During these extra sessions of preparation, the wizard can fill these unused spell slots. He cannot, however, abandon a previously prepared spell to replace it with another one or fill a slot that is empty because he 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 his spells.
The above was taken from the Magic section, in the sub-section called "Spell Selection and Preparation". I copied/pasted from the online SRD here but it should also be in the CRB.
Essentially it takes about 15 minutes to fill an empty spell slot that hasn't been used for the day. For example, you might have a 1st level Wizard who prepares all his cantrips and then begins his day. While having lunch in the tavern his party learns of a lucrative ruin a few short miles away. He then decides while the party's rogue and fighter are gathering last minute supplies, he'll duck upstairs for some light reading to fill his spell slots with Burning Hands and Mage Armor instead of that Unseen Servant he HAD been planning on...
It's in Magic section -> Arcane Spells -> Preparing Wizard spells. Second paragraph of "Spell Selection and Preparation" part.
Magic
Many Thanks....
If I am reading correctly, it's the same for divine casters as well...
15 minutes prep time for up to one quarter of available empty slots prepared.
So level of the slot has no effect on prep time correct ?
It's in Magic section -> Arcane Spells -> Preparing Wizard spells. Second paragraph of "Spell Selection and Preparation" part.
MagicMany Thanks....
If I am reading correctly, it's the same for divine casters as well...
15 minutes prep time for up to one quarter of available empty slots prepared.So level of the slot has no effect on prep time correct ?
That is absolutely correct Nightee-night.