Defining the Rarity of Scrolls

[Indi523]

In line with some of the discussions brought up by others regarding spells and scrolls I have had a thought.

The Treasure Vault regarding scrolls as magic items classifies them by rank.

However, part of the value of a scroll cache found for Wizards at the very least is the individual spells found in the cases themselves.

Certain spells will appear to be more useful over others and others more powerful by virtue of what spells they were even compared to lower ranked spells in some cases.

Most GMs are intuitively aware of this which is why they make make finding mages who know certain spells harder to come by either because the spell is considered too esoteric or the mages who learn them are not keen on teaching them to just anyone.

Similar to a kung fu master who only teaches the more powerful techniques to a select few students he trusts so to might there be wizards that just will not teach powerful spells such as charms, teleports, cone of cold etc. to just anyone.

That being said how would be best create a scroll rarity system for designating how hard it is to find a scroll with certain spells over others.

If someone developed such a classification system or rules for making one that might be a useful tool for GMs and Players alike.

[Teridax]

I may be misinterpreting this, but isn't the rule already that a scroll's rarity matches the spell's rarity? At my table I just use that, and for me choosing which uncommon or rare scrolls to drop for the party is the same as choosing which spells to let the party learn, especially as one can lead to the other.

[Indi523]

Teridax wrote:

I may be misinterpreting this, but isn't the rule already that a scroll's rarity matches the spell's rarity?

I may be missing something. In the GM core they define scrolls by the rank of the spell.

Where is a spell's rarity defined? Forgive me still going through the remaster rules.

AS I see it the first level spell Gust of Wind would be very common. Certain guilds such as sailor's etc. might encourage knowledge of the spell to be shared among casters so that they can access the spell to provide possible wind to move by when the sea has dead air etc.

Other spells like Summon Undead might be restricted by the mage's guild because people summoning skeletons might freak out the mundane folk and the spell might be seen as unholy by some even though the spell does not have that tag. Therefore the normal guild authorities might require good reason for anyone to even know the spell and one might have to find unsavory necromancers to teach it too you and you may have to get their favor first.

Thus I could see certain spells being harder to find because of this.

I do not see anything that tells me Gust of Wind is common while Summon Undead is rare as an example.

I am thinking if someone came up with a classification on their own it might be useful as a tool for a GM.

[Teridax]

Based on the notes in AoN, the notes on scroll rarity should be in GM Core, page 262. The rarity of specific spells is defined in the spell itself based on which rarity trait it has, e.g. uncommon, rare, or unique. I do think you make a good point about certain common spells being found more commonly than others still, so you very well could make scrolls of certain frequently-used spells cheaper while restricting the sale of other scrolls based on your internal worldbuilding.