I'm trying to find my bearings when it comes to the wizard.
If I specialize in a school, evocation for example, I gain an extra spell slot of that school. So max 4 spell slots per level? Or is it still max 3 spell slots + 1 focus spell?
I believe it states these are in the form of focus spells. So do I have to take the given school spell as a focus spell. For example, the evocation spell is Force Bolt. Do I have to take that as my 4th spell/focus spell?
And I believe after 10 mins of refocus I can cast this spell again.
Can anyone share with me how this works?
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At 3rd level you would have:
5 cantrips (as usual)
3 normal 1st level spell slots
1 school-specific spell slot
2 normal 2nd level spell slots
1 school-specific spell slot
You *cannot* prepare focus spells in spell slots. They are a different ability, with a different resource.
School-specific spell slots are an additional slot that can only be used to prepare spell from that school. They are chosen from your spellbook as normal.
By default, you have a pool with 1 Focus Point. You can rest for 10 minutes to get 1 Focus Point back. This point can't be used to cast spells from your spellbook, only to use the 1 power that you get with your Arcane School.
Feats may modify this system as you obtain them at higher levels, but you can figure that out as you go along. It's a long way to level 8.
Thanks for the detailed response!
I understand all of it except focus points.
At 1st level if I specialize in the abjuration school of magic, do I get the protective ward spell to spend my focus point on? If not, what do you get at 1st level?
What happens when I reach, say, level 5 with regards to the focus point/spell?
When you choose your Arcane School, you get an associated school spell, which is cast using your Focus point. It only ever costs 1 Focus to cast a Focus spell (in this case, called a 'school spell'). You can gain an additional Focus spell by taking the Advanced School Spell class feat at level 8. This feat also gives you an additional Focus point.
You can't both be right, pit wizard and Lord_B. Time to hit the rulebook....
If you specialize in abjuration, you may spend one Focus Point to cast protective ward.
At level 1 or 2, when you spend 1 Focus Point, it's a level 1 spell. At level 5 or 6, it's a level 3 spell. This may come up for the purposes of concentration, dispelling, but for most cases this spell is exactly the same.
At 8th level, if you're looking to do something more powerful with your focus point, you can pick up energy absorption with the Advanced School Spell feat. This will also increase the size of your Focus Points pool to 2.
I agree with what Pit Wizard said. Our statements are not mutually exclusive. The language is what's confusing. A School Spell is not a Wizard Spell, it's a Focus Spell available to Wizards.
Once I hit level 8 and have 2 focus points. Can I use both to cast my 8th level advanced school spell or do I have to get them to use 1 of each?
And does it take 10 mins or 20 mins to get 2 focus points back through refocus?
Lord_B wrote: I agree with what Pit Wizard said. Our statements are not mutually exclusive. The language is what's confusing. A School Spell is not a Wizard Spell, it's a Focus Spell available to Wizards. Exactly. I agree with the sentiment that Focus spells should have remained known as Powers. Especially with Wizards getting extra spell slots from their Arcane School, and 'School Spells' from their Arcane School, but those spells don't go in those slots. It's confusing.
Yes, I see it now. Boy, they could hardly confuse things worse. When you specialize you get an extra spell slot and an extra known spell in your school. This is not to be confused with a school spell, which is just another name for a focus spell, that you cast using your focus point pool. I sure wish they had stayed with the power terminology. This focus spell crap is confusing for those of us who grew up playing RPGs. It will really confuse someone new to RPGs.
Crexis wrote: Once I hit level 8 and have 2 focus points. Can I use both to cast my 8th level advanced school spell or do I have to get them to use 1 of each?
And does it take 10 mins or 20 mins to get 2 focus points back through refocus?
It costs 1 Focus point to cast either school spell, and you get 1 point back per 10 minutes you spend Refocusing.
*Edit: Refocusing, not Defocusing. Stupid phone.
**Double Edit: You can only use the Refocus action if you've spent at least 1 Focus point since the last time you Refocused.
Thanks guys all is clear!
Except one small thing. At level 8 you have 2 focus points. Can I use both of them on my higher level (8th) Focus spell slot?
You can use your pool of focus points however you want.
2 force bolts
1 force bolt, 1 elemental tempest
2 elemental tempests
You can spend 1 point, regain 1 point, spend 2 points consecutively, regain 1 point, spend 1 point, however you want. Your Focus Points pool is a number, nothing more.
You do not voluntarily heighten a focus spell. When you hit level 5, all your Focus Spells are cast at level 3. If that happens to be Force Bolt, your dart of force does 2d4+2 damage due to heightening, without any decision or cost on your part.
Force Bolt is not the same as Magic Missile. If you want multiple force darts, instead of 1 force dart that increases in size, you will need to prepare that spell in one of your spell slots.
Crexis wrote: Thanks guys all is clear!
Except one small thing. At level 8 you have 2 focus points. Can I use both of them on my higher level (8th) Focus spell slot?
Yep, you can spend the Focus on whichever Focus spell you want.
Lord_B wrote:
Force Bolt is not the same as Magic Missile. If you want multiple force darts, instead of 1 force dart that increases in size, you will need to prepare that spell in one of your spell slots. Force Bolt is the focus spell though. So it will automatically heighten once I've reached a certain level.
But I guess your saying that separately you can also memorize this as a spell and heighten to whatever is available if you have a spell slot available?
Crexis wrote: Lord_B wrote:
Force Bolt is not the same as Magic Missile. If you want multiple force darts, instead of 1 force dart that increases in size, you will need to prepare that spell in one of your spell slots. Force Bolt is the focus spell though. So it will automatically heighten once I've reached a certain level.
But I guess your saying that separately you can also memorize this as a spell and heighten to whatever is available if you have a spell slot available? They were talking about preparing magic missile, not force bolt
Pathfinder Maps Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
The trick to avoid confusion is to realize that focus spells, also known as school spells, are treated differently than other spells. They should've been called "innate powers" or something that doesn't use the word "spell" in it, to avoid confusion. There was talk about this on the boards for ages.
So as long as your pal Newbe Newplayer understands that focus spells are school spells and that they are treated differently from all other spells and don't use spell slots at all but are instead powered by focus points (that you can get back by resting for 10 minutes), then everything will be cool.
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