Odd treasure situation in The Moonscar

[Alex McGuire]

So, there's a room in The Moonscar that has tons of spellbooks in it. Here's the relevant text:

"Feel free to customize the specific arcane spells available
here to your campaign’s needs, but for the most part, the
PCs should be able to find any spell they seek out by name
with enough searching."

The party I'm planning to run this for tomorrow includes a Wizard and a Magus. At the end of the scenario, should I just tell them to choose as many spells as they want to learn and pay the normal cost for them (rather than the 1.5 cost wizards normally have to pay)?

[IronHelixx]

The relevant FAQ:

http://paizo.com/pathfinderSociety/faq#v5748eaic9q7s

The relevant rule:

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 one week has passed. If the spell was from a scroll, a failed Spellcraft check does not cause the spell to vanish.

http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/magic.html

I guess the question would be how long do they have contact with the spellbooks?

Otherwise, I am not aware of anything that would not allow them from finding spells in the spellbooks to attempt to scribe to their own spellbooks.

They also need the equipment to do the scribbling in their own books. :)

[Netopalis]

Given the level of The Moonscar, I think it's fair to let them copy down whatever they want.

[Malcolm Bookchild]

Just stick all the books in a bag of holding if you fail the check to learn them and try again later

[IronHelixx]

Unfortunately, since this is for PFS, you do not get multiple attempts unless the scenario/module explicitly says that a week passes between the first attempt and the end of the scenario/module.

How did it go today, Alex - you guys have fun?

This one has been one I have wanted to run for a while. :)

[Diego Rossi]

Take 10 on the spellcraft roll. I doubt there is any wizard or magus in the world that will fail the check with a spell he can cast as the DC is 15 + spell's level.

[CRobledo]

I agree with Netopalis. Assuming they have the materials to scribe with them, then I'd let them copy whatever spells they want. Maybe roll a 1d6 to see how many 10-minute increments it takes them to find a particular spell?

[Alex McGuire]

The game went well. Got my second ever pvp kill in it via a dominated greater invisible ninja. (zen archer with umd and a scroll breath of lifed the dead cleric). There were hard fights that had everyone a little worried. The library in question is removable, which is why I asked. I may offer this online at some point, though definitely via two slots.

[That Porter Kid]

That was a great scenario to run for my party! Though that good ol' clear Ioun Stone shut down most later combat options :/

[WalterGM]

That Porter Kid wrote:

That was a great scenario to run for my party! Though that good ol' clear Ioun Stone shut down most later combat options :/

Pssh, I didn't have that crap! Just a +24 will save :D

[That Porter Kid]

what only 24? that seems to low :D

[WalterGM]

That Porter Kid wrote:

what only 24? that seems to low :D

Well you know me, Porter, I don't optimize at all >.>

[IronHelixx]

Glad to hear it went well, Alex - it "reads" like it would be fun. :)

Even though the spellbooks are removable, in PFS you do not get time past the end of the scenario to keep reading the materials, and you can't keep them (unless they are on the Chronicle sheet) - hence the "one and done" on the attempt to learn the spells at the end of the scenario. Otherwise they should probably copy whatever they want, within the limits of their materials and gold, at the level required to play this one.

While most PCs at the level of this module tier can probably make the DC "taking 10" - other players playing lower level stuff may read this while searching, so for them - you do need to make the checks in these situations. :)

Look forward to seeing it hit online play.

[Diego Rossi]

Jesse Davis wrote:

While most PCs at the level of this module tier can probably make the DC "taking 10" - other players playing lower level stuff may read this while searching, so for them - you do need to make the checks in these situations. :)

?

If you put a skill point in spellcraft at each level a level 9 spellcaster with intelligence 14 can safely copy level 9 spells while taking 10.
Every 2 points in intelligence lower the level requirement by 1.
A "common" intelligence 18, level 7 wizard with maximized spellcraft can copy 9th level spells without a problem.
A magus probably will have a slightly lower intelligence, but the maximum level of his spells is 6, for a DC of 21. With 16 intelligence he need only 5 ranks in spellcraft to be capable to copy 6th level spells.

[kinevon]

And the static DC 20 to decipher it can be bypassed with a simple cantrip, "Read Magic".

Also, on the "once and done", since the time between adventures is indefinite, and you can (and sometimes have to) get two full Restorations cast, which can only be cast once per week, I think it would be possible to get a second roll on trying to decipher/scribe any spell.