Non-spellcasters and spell research / creation

[Kai_G]

Looking at the rules in the core book and Ultimate Magic, the only requirements for spell research/creation are Knowledge (Arcana) and Spellcraft along with gp costs for research materials and equipment.

If this is so, would that mean that any character with these skills, including non-spellcasters, could become a theoretical magician, capable of translating and transcribing spells from one spellbook to another or creating spells he/she is incapable of casting, much like a wizard researching a spell he has not yet acquired the skill to cast?

[Sarcasmancer]

That's pretty funny. Armchair spell researchers.

Since the spell research rules are more along the lines of guidelines I think I would introduce a common-sense requirement that the researcher at least be able to cast read magic.

On the other hand, if they want to waste the money, why not.

Step 1.) Research broken 9th-level spell with non-spellcaster.
Step 2.) Multiclass to Wizard, gain 17 levels.
Step 3.) ???
Step 4.) Profit!

[blahpers]

Is the implication here that someone in the party with better Knowledge (arcana) and Spellcraft scores than the caster in question could research a spell and then provide the result to the caster?

Hmm. Not sure. How is this non-caster going to provide the spell to the caster? They can't scribe scrolls nor write spells into a spellbook.

[Cevah]

blahpers wrote:

Is the implication here that someone in the party with better Knowledge (arcana) and Spellcraft scores than the caster in question could research a spell and then provide the result to the caster?

Hmm. Not sure. How is this non-caster going to provide the spell to the caster? They can't scribe scrolls nor write spells into a spellbook.

How about:

Share Memory
Detect Thoughts
Seek Thoughts
Sequester Thoughts
Blood Transcription
Limited Wish
Wish

/cevah

[blahpers]

I'm not really sure you can pass knowledge using share memory or the various thoughts spells. I suppose blood transcription would work.

As for the wish spells, I'd let those serve to learn the spell outright without having to get it from someone else's mind, provided that the wish cost significantly more than the research would have. It's hardly an overpowered effect.