Arcanist: "her spells are not expended when they’re cast", what?

[ngc7293]

So, I'm confused.
In the ACG in Arcanist, second sentence under spells it reads:

Quote:

An arcanist must prepare her spells ahead of time,
but unlike a wizard, her spells are not expended when they’re cast.

This reads like the Wizards Cantrip

Quote:

These spells are cast like any other spell, but
they are not expended when cast and may be used again

At this single point it sounds like the Arcanist is very powerful.

Then after the second sentence it goes on (as you probably know) how the spells consume spell slots.

Is this something else that was missed or am I reading this wrong. I think I understand the rest of the Arcanist but that one sentence always trips me up.

[darkwarriorkarg]

What's the confusion? Memerize like a wizard, cast like a sircerer

[Zhayne]

If I'm reading this right ... you have a sorcerer who can change his spell's known every day?

[darkwarriorkarg]

Basiically, although with less casting/day than the sorcerer

[ngc7293]

What I don't understand is the part about spells not being expended after being cast.
If that line were left out I wouldn't have a question.

[thejeff]

ngc7293 wrote:

What I don't understand is the part about spells not being expended after being cast.

If that line were left out I wouldn't have a question.

It means if you prepare "Sleep" and "Charm Person" and you have 2 spell slots, when you cast "Sleep", you still have "Sleep" and "Charm Person" prepared. You haven't "expended" your preparation of sleep, you've just used up one of the spell slots you have available. You've got one left, which you could use to cast either "Sleep" and "Charm Person".

Think of them as preparing your day's "Spells Known", if that helps.

[Squiggit]

The line is there to tell you that they cast like a sorcerer: A wizard has two first level spell slots and prepares color spray and grease. He casts color spray and he can't (normally) cast it again for the rest of the day.

An arcanist prepares color spray and grease with the same number of spell slots and if he casts color spray he can always cast it again with the second slot, like a sorcerer.

[Lord Mhoram]

ngc7293 wrote:

What I don't understand is the part about spells not being expended after being cast.

If that line were left out I wouldn't have a question.

Edit: ninja'd by thejeff while typing

Lets say you have 3 slots- you pick Fireball, Lightning Bolt and some other spell.

If you have 3 spells to cast, you could cast fireball 3 times (i.e. the spell is not "expended" - but the slots are used) or twice or none at all and do Lightning Bolt 3 times. Just like a sorcerer. You just get to prepare what spells you want each day from a book like a Wizard.

[KestrelZ]

Ninja'd, basically Zhayne, thejeff, and squiggit get it.

the arcanist is like a sorcerer that can change their entire spell selection within the limits of their spellbook.

[ngc7293]

I understand the Wizard and I understand the Sorcerer.

That line just made think 'what the...?!?'

But of coarse they had to use as few words as possible because they didn't have enough room.

This book didn't HAVE to have new equipment, etc.

Anyway, thanks.