Steel_Wind
Legend
Cost and Methods of Learning Wizard Spells in Pathfinder RPGThe changes in Pathfinder RPG vs. 3.5 are subtle, but sometimes, they are quite important and can dramatically affect the game.
One of the most important additions to Pathfinder is the new ability granted to all Wizards, the Arcane Bonded Item. This ability is in chosen in substitution to choosing to have a familiar. Instead of a familiar, the Wizard gets the ability to empower any item he chooses as his bonded item. This arcane bond grants to the wizard the ability to spontaneously cast any spell he or she knows, once per day, without preparing the spell. The arcane bond therefore confers on the Wizard the flexibility of the Sorceror’s spontaneous spell casting ability once per day, while retaining the Wizard class’ intrinsic ability to learn an unlimited number of spells.
In order to get this ability, the Wizard foregoes the option to take a familiar. The cost and time to replace either a bonded item or a familiar is the same (200 gp per level of the Wizard, after 1 week has passed since its loss). However, unlike a familiar, a bonded item is very difficult to destroy during combat. Moreover, if a GM is the sort to attempt a theft of a bonded item, the GM is equally likely to steal or destroy the Wizard’s spellbook – an act to which all Wizards are vulnerable. In the end, the familiar is far more likely to be slain during the course of normal play than a bonded item is likely to be destroyed during combat. One is alive, can be attacked and must save vs. area affect spells, while the bonded item never is attacked and rarely ever has to save vs any attack. When it does have to make a save, the roll required for the item to survive is very low.
The arcane bond cannot be used to cast a spell spontaneously if it is from an opposed school of magic. Accordingly, specialist Wizards sacrifice some of their spontaneous spellcasting ability for the bonuses they otherwise get from specializing. A Universalist Wizard, however, has the ability to cast every Wizard spell in the game spontaneously as long as he or she knows the spell.
There are also some subtle changes in the cost of learning spells from ver 3.5 of the game as well. In 3.5 of the game, the underlying mechanic of copying spells from a spellbook was that another wizard would charge 50 gp per spell level as the cost to copy a spell from one book into another. This resulted in the unintended mathematical consequence that a Wizard had to pay 50 gp to copy a first level spell from another book, but could instead pay only 25 gp to copy the spell from (and destroy) a scroll!
In ver. 3.5, the material cost of inscribing a spell into a spellbook was 100 gp x the level of the spell no matter how the spell was learned. This was a particularly burdensome cost for low level spellcasters.
Pathfinder RPG changed the underlying math by adding a new table to the game on page 219 of the Pathfinder Core Rulebook for the material cost of copying a spell. The math underlying this table is simple to remember: material cost = spell level squared x 10.
While there are comparative reductions in the cost of learning spells at every level of the game as between 3.5 and PFRPG, the reductions in the cost of learning new spells is especially pronounced in the early part of the game. In 3.5, it cost 150 gold pieces to copy an existing 1st level spell from one spellbook into your own, or 125 gp if you used (and destroyed) a scroll to learn and copy the spell, whereas, in Pathfinder RPG, it costs only 15 gold to do this (30 if you use a scroll).
The comparative costs of learning and copying spells into a Spellbook are noted below.
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[SIZE=3][FONT=Verdana][B]Method and Cost of Learning Spells – 3.5 vs. PFRPG[/B][/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Verdana] Sp. Cost (3.5/PF) Access to (3.5/PF) Material (3.5/PF) [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Verdana] Lvl. of Scroll Copy Spell Cost [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Verdana] 1 25 50/5 100/10[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Verdana] 2 150 100/20 200/40[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Verdana] 3 375 150/45 300/90[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Verdana] 4 700 200/80 400/160[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Verdana] 5 1125 250/125 500/250[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Verdana] 6 1650 300/180 600/360[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Verdana] 7 2275 350/245 700/490[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Verdana] 8 3000 400/320 800/640[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Verdana] 9 3825 450/405 900/810[/FONT][/SIZE]Unfortunately, the lesson that arcane casters learned early on in ver 3.5 was that spells were learned best by finding a scroll and copying it into their spellbook. While learning a spell via scroll was only cheaper at 1st level, it was a bad habit to learn in terms of the underlying mechanics of the game and -- worse – reinforced the rules used in 1E/2E which had, in fact, been changed in ver 3.xx. A lot of players and DMs continued to use learning spells via scroll as the presumptive mechanic throughout the game at all levels, making the cost of learning new spells especially burdensome for Wizards in 3.5 in many gaming groups. This was never the intent in ver 3.5, but as that was the method for learning spells in earlier incarnations of the game, many players and DMs kept using it. Anecdotal evidence from forums and message boards indicates that it is STILL being used in Pathfinder RPG, more than a decade after the rules for spell acquisition were changed in ver 3.xx. Old habits die hard.
In Pathfinder RPG, because of the introduction of the arcane bond, there is an exceptionally strong incentive for all Wizards to learn as many spells as possible. In contrast, in version 3.5, all that learning a great number of spells did was to expand the possible choices a Wizard had to prepare in a given day (and it allowed the Wizard to make a scroll of that spell, too). However, in Pathfinder RPG, because of the Arcane Bond, any spell may be cast once a day even if not prepared as long as it is known. This new ability provides the Wizard with the ability to use rare and highly situational utility spells without having to prepare or pay the cost of creating a scroll to do so. That makes the bonded item an exceptionally powerful class ability – among the most powerful of all class abilities present in the entire game.
Can you Learn Every Wizard Spell in the GAME?
So, given that the benefit to learning a huge number of spells is now present within Pathfinder RPG in a way that wasn’t present in ver 3.5, is it possible for a Universalist Wizard to learn all of the spells in the game?
Well, if your GM refuses to use the default rules in Pathfinder and clings to the presumptions of 1E/2E by insisting that Wizards learn spells by copying the spell from a scroll (thereby destroying the scroll in the process) the answer is: it’s not really economically feasible.
Learning Spells From Scrolls is a BAD Idea The below chart indicates what the cost of learning all of the spells in the game are, based upon the books that are in use at your table. These tables show the cost of learning all of the Wizard spells in the game for the Core, Core + APG, Core + APG +Ultimate Magic, and finally, Core + APG + Ultimate Magic + Ultimate Combat. As a yardstick to measure how reasonable a strategy it is to learn all available spells, the suggested wealth by level is indicated in the final two columns.
As you will quickly see, to pursue a Universalist Wizard build which attempts to learn all spells in the game (depending on the books in use at your table) is highly impractical – if not impossible - if your GM insists upon Wizards learning spells via scroll. Under the Core Rules, the total cost to copy all of the available spells in the game into standard spell books when using scrolls as your copy source exceeds the suggested wealth by level of the Wizard after 8th level – and does so far earlier when additional hardcover rulebooks are in use.
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[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3][SIZE=2][COLOR=lemonchiffon][B] Cost of Learning all Spells (Core, 371 spells) [/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=3]
[B][SIZE=3][FONT=Verdana][COLOR=lemonchiffon]via Scroll Copied into Std Spell Books (18 vols.)[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B]
[/SIZE][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Sp # of Scroll+ Tot. # Cost Cum. Lvl Wealth[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]Lvl Spls Copy $ Pages Cost by Level[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]
[/SIZE][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]1 40 15 40 600 600 2 3000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]2 51 160 142 8160 8760 4 10500 [/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]3 43 415 271 17845 26605 6 33000[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]4 42 790 439 33180 59785 8 62000[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]5 47 1285 674 60395 120180 10 82000[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]6 47 1800 956 84600 204780 12 108000[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]7 40 2635 1236 105400 310180 14 185000[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]8 37 3490 1532 129130 439310 16 315000[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]9 24 4635 1748 111240 550550 18 888000 [/FONT][/SIZE]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][COLOR=lemonchiffon][B]Cost of Learning all Spells (Core/APG, 463 spells) [/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[B][SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana][COLOR=lemonchiffon]via Scroll Copied into Std Spell Books (22 vols.)[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Sp # of Scroll+ Tot. # Cost Cum. Lvl Wealth[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]Lvl Spls Copy $ Pages Cost by Level[/FONT][/SIZE]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]1 57 15 57 855 855 2 3000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]2 64 160 185 10240 11095 4 10500[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]3 58 415 359 24070 35165 6 33000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]4 54 790 575 42660 77825 8 62000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]5 56 1285 855 71960 149785 10 82000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]6 54 1800 1179 97200 246985 12 108000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]7 48 2635 1515 126480 373465 14 185000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]8 41 3490 1843 143090 516555 16 315000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]9 31 4635 2122 143685 660240 18 888000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][COLOR=lemonchiffon][B]Cost of Learning all Spells (Core/APG/UM, 622 spells) [/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[B][SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana][COLOR=lemonchiffon]via Scroll Copied into Std Spell Books (28 vols.)[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Sp # of Scroll+ Tot. # Cost Cum. Lvl Wealth[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]Lvl Spls Copy $ Pages Cost by Level[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]
[/SIZE][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]1 76 30 76 1140 1140 2 3000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]2 91 160 258 14560 15700 4 10500[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]3 82 415 504 34030 49730 6 33000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]4 77 790 812 60830 110560 8 62000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]5 76 1285 1192 97660 208220 10 82000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]6 69 1800 1606 124200 332420 12 108000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]7 64 2635 2054 168640 501060 14 185000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]8 46 3490 2422 160540 661600 16 315000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]9 41 4635 2791 190035 851635 18 888000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][COLOR=lemonchiffon][B]Cost of Learning all Spells, all books (717 spells) [/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[B][SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana][COLOR=lemonchiffon]via Scroll Copied into Std Spell Books (31 vols.)[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Sp # of Scroll+ Tot. # Cost Cum. Lvl Wealth[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]Lvl Spls Copy $ Pages Cost by Level[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]
[/SIZE][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]1 95 30 95 2850 2850 2 3000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]2 123 160 341 19680 22530 4 10500[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]3 99 415 638 41085 63615 6 33000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]4 88 790 990 69520 133135 8 62000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]5 83 1285 1405 106655 239790 10 82000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]6 72 1800 1837 129600 369390 12 108000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]7 67 2635 2306 176545 545935 14 185000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]8 47 3490 2682 164030 709965 16 315000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]9 43 4635 3069 199305 909270 18 888000[/SIZE][/FONT]Note: All of the tables in this article exclude: 1) the beneficial effect of spells that all Wizards get at the start of the game; and 2) also excludes the beneficial effect of learning 2 free new spells upon a Wizard attaining a new level.
Now, in fairness, it is highly irregular to include one of the fundamental assumptions of the game (wealth by level) for comparative purposes and to then ignore another fundamental assumption of the game (Wizards primarily learn spells by copying a spell from another spellbook, not by copying from and destroying a scroll). If a GM makes a change to the default assumption present in Pathfinder RPG by requiring new spells be learned from a scroll, that GM has made a fundamental change to Pathfinder RPG that cripples the intended power level of the Wizard Class.
Indeed, when viewed from the PC’s perspective, preferring to learn Wizard spells by scroll instead of copying them from an existing spell book can only be described as so sub-optimal a choice as to be insane.
How so you may ask? Well, take a look at the comparative cost of learning an arcane spell by paying for access to copy a spell from a spellbook to another Wizard (or more likely, an organization like the Arcanamirium) – and then paying the material cost to copy the spell into your spellbook:
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[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][B]Cost of Learning all Spells (Core, 371 spells) [/B][/SIZE][/FONT]
[B][SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]via Spellbook Copied into Std Spell Books (18 vols.)[/FONT][/SIZE][/B]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Sp # of Access Tot. # Cost Cum. Lvl Wealth[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]Lvl Spls +Copy$ Pages Cost by Level[/FONT][/SIZE]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]1 40 15 40 600 600 2 3000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]2 51 60 142 3050 3650 4 10500[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]3 43 135 271 5805 9455 6 33000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]4 42 240 439 10080 19535 8 62000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]5 47 375 674 17625 37160 10 82000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]6 47 540 956 25380 62540 12 108000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]7 40 735 1236 29400 91940 14 185000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]8 37 960 1532 35520 127460 16 315000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]9 24 1215 1748 29160 156620 18 888000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][B]Cost of Learning all Spells (Core/APG, 463 spells) [/B][/SIZE][/FONT]
[B][SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]via Spellbook Copied into Std Spell Books (22 vols.)[/FONT][/SIZE][/B]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Sp # of Access Tot. # Cost Cum. Lvl Wealth[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]Lvl Spls +Copy$ Pages Cost by Level[/FONT][/SIZE]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]1 57 15 57 855 855 2 3000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]2 64 60 185 3840 4695 4 10500[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]3 58 135 359 7830 12525 6 33000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]4 54 240 575 12960 25485 8 62000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]5 56 375 855 21000 46485 10 82000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]6 54 540 1179 29160 75645 12 108000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]7 48 735 1515 35280 110925 14 185000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]8 41 960 1843 39360 150285 16 315000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]9 31 1215 2122 37665 194285 18 888000 [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][B]Cost of Learning all Spells (Core/APG/UM, 622 sp) [/B][/SIZE][/FONT]
[B][SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]via Spellbook Copied into Std Spell Books (28 vols.)[/FONT][/SIZE][/B]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Sp # of Access Tot. # Cost Cum. Lvl Wealth[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]Lvl Spls +Copy$ Pages Cost by Level[/FONT][/SIZE]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]1 76 15 76 1140 1140 2 3000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]2 91 60 258 5460 6600 4 10500[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]3 82 135 504 11070 17670 6 33000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]4 77 240 812 18480 38015 8 62000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]5 76 375 1192 28500 66515 10 82000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]6 69 540 1606 37260 103775 12 108000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]7 64 735 2054 47040 150815 14 185000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]8 46 960 2422 44160 194975 16 315000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3][SIZE=2]9 41 1215 2791 49815 244790 18 888000[/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=3]
[/SIZE][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3][SIZE=2][B]Cost of Learning all Spells, all books (717 spells) [/B][/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=3]
[B][SIZE=3][FONT=Verdana]via Spellbook Copied into Std Spell Books (31 vols.)[/FONT][/SIZE][/B]
[/SIZE]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Sp # of Access Tot. # Cost Cum. Lvl Wealth[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]Lvl Spls +Copy$ Pages Cost by Level[/FONT][/SIZE]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]1 95 15 95 1425 1425 2 3000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]2 123 60 341 7380 8805 4 10500[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]3 99 135 638 13365 22170 6 33000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]4 88 240 990 21120 43290 8 62000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]5 83 375 1405 31125 74415 10 82000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]6 72 540 1837 38880 113295 12 108000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]7 67 735 2306 49245 162540 14 185000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]8 47 960 2682 45120 207660 16 315000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3][SIZE=2]9 43 1215 3069 52245 259905 18 888000[/SIZE] [/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=3]
[/SIZE]As you will note, once the default assumption for Arcane spell acquisition by a Wizard is applied, there is no point in time where the Wizard’s investment into learning spells exceeds the suggested Wealth by Level in the game. In most instances the Wizard has a comfortable margin left to spend on crafting magical gear if the Wizard pursues a “learn all spells” build.
Where can a Wizard go to learn all of these spells from existing spellbooks? In the world of Golarion, while there are many sources for spells across the world, one known source of spellbooks to copy are the Arcane Scriptoriums found within the Wise Quarter of Absalom. Between the tomes contained in the Arcanamirium and, to a lesser extent, the Forae Logos, access to all of the known arcane spells for copying may be had upon paying the above-noted fees. (This is exactly how it is presumed to work within the RAW which governs Pathfinder Society Organized Play. See, Pathfinder Chronicles: Guide to Absalom for more on the Arcanamirium and the Forae Logos).
Still, it’s admittedly quite expensive to do this. Isn’t there a better way?
The Blessed Book Will Lead The Way...Yes, there is. The below chart reflects the impact of what as this analysis demonstrates, is the second most important spell in the game – namely, Secret Page. Why is Secret Page so important? Because this spell is the pre-requisite for creating the Wondrous item, Blessed Book.
Blessed Books are fundamentally important to any Wizard amassing a collection of spells. The description of this standard Wondrous Item, (known as Boccob’s Blessed Book in ver 3.5) quickly indicates why:
Blessed Book
Aura moderate transmutation; CL 7th
Slot —; Price 12,500 gp; Weight 1 lb.
Description
This well-made tome is always of small size, typically no more than 12 inches tall, 8 inches wide, and 1 inch thick. All such books are durable, waterproof, bound with iron overlaid with silver, and locked.
A wizard can fill the 1,000 pages of a blessed book with spells without paying the material cost. This book is never found as randomly generated treasure with spells already inscribed in it.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, secret page; Cost 6,250 gp
The beneficial effect of a Blessed Book demonstrates that any PC Wizard who wants to learn a lot of spells should ensure the he or she can craft one. In order to do so, the Wizard should have an Int of 15 or higher, take Spellcraft every level until at least level 7 and should take Craft Wondrous Item as a feat by 7-8th level. Should a Wizard meet these pre-requisites (and almost all PC Wizards already have the Int stat and Spellcraft skill ranks by default, and most PC wizards will take Craft Wondrous Item at some point), there is no possibility of failure when constructing a Blessed Book over the course of a week while “taking ten”.
It is quickly evident that employing a Blessed Book as the default spellbook for all of one’s spells is vital to efficiently amassing any appreciable collection of spells in Pathfinder RPG. Not only does the material cost for copying a new spell get rolled into the blanket cost of creating a Blessed Book for the mere cost of 6,250 GP, but the number of pages in a Blessed Book (1,000 pages in a 1” thick volume) means that the Wizard’s spellbook library may be practically condensed into a 2, 3 or at most, a 4 volume collection that may be easily transported. (Note: employing Secret Chest to store one’s spellbooks -- and making a 2nd copy of each Blessed Book is still prudent and takes only half the time to copy it).
How much of a savings does the use of Blessed Books to record a spell library have on the Wizard class? It turns out, it has an enormous impact:
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[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][B]Core using 2 [I]Blessed Books[/I] (371 spells) = Savings of 85,610 gp vs Std Spell Book[/B][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Sp # of Access Tot. # Cost Cum. Lvl Wealth[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]Lvl Spls +Copy$ Pages Cost by Level[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]1 40 15 40 600 600 2 3000[/FONT][/SIZE]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]2 51 60 142 3050 3650 4 10500[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]3 43 135 271 5805 9455 6 33000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]4 42 80 439 9610* 19065 8 62000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]5 47 125 674 5875 24940 10 82000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]6 47 180 956 8460 33400 12 108000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]7 40 245 1236 16050* 49450 14 185000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]8 37 320 1532 11840 61290 16 315000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]9 24 405 1748 9720 71010 18 888000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]* includes the cost of 6,250 gp to create a new [I]Blessed Book[/I][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][B]Core + APG using 3 [I]Blessed Books[/I] (463 spells) [/B][/SIZE][/FONT]
[B][SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana] = Savings of 104,505 gp vs Std Spell Book[/FONT][/SIZE][/B]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Sp # of Access Tot. # Cost Cum. Lvl Wealth[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]Lvl Spls +Copy$ Pages Cost by Level[/FONT][/SIZE]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]1 57 15 57 855 855 2 3000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]2 64 60 185 3840 4695 4 10500[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]3 58 135 359 7830 12525 6 33000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]4 54 80 575 10570* 23095 8 62000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]5 56 125 855 7000 30095 10 82000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]6 54 180 1179 15970* 46065 12 108000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]7 48 245 1515 11760 57855 14 185000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]8 41 320 1843 13120 70975 16 315000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]9 31 405 2122 18805* 89780 18 888000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]* includes the cost of 6,250 gp to create a new [I]Blessed Book[/I][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][B]Core + APG + UM using 3 [I]Blessed Books[/I] (622 spells) [/B][/SIZE][/FONT]
[B][SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]= Savings of 133,285 gp vs Std Spell Book[/FONT][/SIZE][/B]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Sp # of Access Tot. # Cost Cum. Lvl Wealth[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]Lvl Spls +Copy$ Pages Cost by Level[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]1 76 15 76 1140 1140 2 3000[/FONT][/SIZE]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]2 91 60 258 5460 6600 4 10500[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]3 82 135 504 11070 17670 6 33000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]4 77 80 812 12410* 30080 8 62000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]5 76 125 1192 15750* 45830 10 82000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]6 69 180 1606 12420 58250 12 108000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]7 64 245 2054 21930* 80180 14 185000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]8 46 320 2422 14720 94900 16 315000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]9 41 405 2791 16605 111505 18 888000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]* includes the cost of 6,250 gp to create a new [I]Blessed Book[/I][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][B]Core + APG + UM + UC using 4 [I]Blessed Books[/I] (717 spells) [/B][/SIZE][/FONT]
[B][SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]= Savings of 133,490 gp vs Std Spell Book[/FONT][/SIZE][/B]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Sp # of Access Tot. # Cost Cum. Lvl Wealth[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]Lvl Spls +Copy$ Pages Cost by Level[/FONT][/SIZE]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]1 95 15 95 1425 1425 2 3000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]2 123 60 341 7380 8805 4 10500[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]3 99 135 638 13365 22170 6 33000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]4 88 80 990 13290* 35460 8 62000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]5 83 125 1405 16625* 52085 10 82000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]6 72 180 1837 12960 65045 12 108000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]7 67 245 2306 22665* 87710 14 185000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]8 47 320 2682 15040 102750 16 315000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]9 43 405 3069 23665* 126415 18 888000[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3][SIZE=2]* includes the cost of 6,250 gp to create a new [I]Blessed Book[/I][/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=3]
[/SIZE](Note: in the cost calculations in the above Blessed Book tables, the cost of learning new spells of any level was calculated at the cost of Access + Material cost until the first Blessed Book was constructed, as denoted by an asterisk, thereafter, only the cost of access + the cost of creating a Blessed Book is accounted for.)
From the costs taken to learn all spells via spell acquisition by scroll (909,270 gp) the cost of doing so by copying spells from spellbooks into a blessed book is reduced to 126,415 gp – a difference of more than a factor of 7!
One of the conclusions which flows from the above is that when it comes to learning Arcane spells, a Wizard is always better off selling the scroll for half its value and using that gold to purchase access + material costs of copying a spell. It is never wise for a Wizard to use the scroll itself to actually learn the spell unless absolutely necessary under the circumstances. The comparative economic benefit, assuming a sale at one-half retail value, breaks down as follows:
Code:
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3][B]Sp. ½ Value Cost of Access Cost of Access Only [/B][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3][B]Lvl. of Scroll + Material Cost (Blessed Book) [/B][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3]1 12.5 15 5 [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3]2 75 60 20[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3]3 187.5 135 45[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3]4 350 240 80[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3]5 562.5 375 125[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3]6 825 540 180[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3]7 1137.5 735 245[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3]8 1500 960 320[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3]9 1912.5 1215 405[/SIZE][/FONT]Time... Ain't On Your Side (No it isn't)
So what’s the downside of all of this? The one factor which is not reflected above is time. It takes one hour to attempt to learn a new spell and one hour per spell level to copy a new spell into a spell book. In this case, the number of pages required to record all spells is also the number of hours required to copy all spells. If all four hardcover volumes of Pathfinder RPG spells are in use at your table, it will take an Archmage about three months to learn every spell from all four books. It will then take a little more than a year (3,069 /8 =383 days, broken into 8 hour blocks of time), flat out, to record all of the spells in all four hardcover books, if he or she does nothing else for eight hours a day and is always successful in learning a spell on the first roll. Admittedly, if duplicating an entire spell book without any changes at all, the material cost is half (if there is any) and the time is also halved.
For those who are running Adventure Paths with significant downtime built into the AP (as is present in the Kingmaker AP), learning and copying spells into the Wizard’s spellbooks is a very good use of that Wizard’s “downtime”. It also reduces the free time for a Wizard to create magic items for him or herself as well as the rest of the party.
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