Wizard questions

[Aelf]

Hails to all,

This is my understanding of RAW in 3.5. I respectfully request correction and advice.

1. Specialist wizards, when gaining a level of wizard (and learning two* new spells) are not required to pick spells of their chosen school.

Of course, it makes sense to pick at least one when gaining a new level of spells or you won't be able to fill the new slot with a level-appropriate spell.

2. A wizard can use a Nth level spell slot to prepare a spell of level 0 to N.

3. A wizard with a +intelligence item (A Headband of Intellect +2, for example) is able to prepare spells using his adjusted intelligence. In this case, he wouldn't need to rest wearing the headband, but would have to have it on to prepare or cast (or learn) it.

4. When adding levels of a prestige class that grants "+1 level of existing spellcasting class" (archmage, for example) a wizard does not pick up two more spells. A sorcerer, however, would gain additional spells known.

#4 is currently causing me the most grief, since some presitge classes indicate that a wizards gets 3 additional spells known per level.

* The elven racial substitution level (and perhaps other ASFs) grant 3 per new level, rather than 2.


Again, any correction or advice is appreciated.

Regards,
Aelf

 

[UltimaGabe]

1. Specialist wizards, when gaining a level of wizard (and learning two* new spells) are not required to pick spells of their chosen school.

I believe you are correct.

2. A wizard can use a Nth level spell slot to prepare a spell of level 0 to N.

Erm.... I don't think that's correct. Sorcerers are specifically mentioned as being able to do so, but I don't think Wizards can be default (though they're often houseruled as being able to do such). As usual, in any instance of doing that, the spell is still treated as its original level, even when it's prepared in a higher-level slot, unless the caster has Heighten Spell.

3. A wizard with a +intelligence item (A Headband of Intellect +2, for example) is able to prepare spells using his adjusted intelligence. In this case, he wouldn't need to rest wearing the headband, but would have to have it on to prepare or cast (or learn) it.

Correct. It would also add to his spell DCs while wearing it. Keep in mind, of course, that if it's taken off at any point during the day, he loses those bonus spells.

4. When adding levels of a prestige class that grants "+1 level of existing spellcasting class" (archmage, for example) a wizard does not pick up two more spells. A sorcerer, however, would gain additional spells known.

I disagree on this one. It's not entirely clear, but if you look, the +2 spells per level aren't a class ability- they're not mentioned anywhere in their class abilities or on the chart, you see. The +2 spells per level are simply part of how Wizards have spells- just like having a spellbook and using spell components. If the wizard gains +1 level of existing spellcasting class, they should still get the 2 spells in their spellbook, as it goes hand in hand.

It's not even that big of a power issue, either- at highest levels, it's only going to amount to a few thousand bonus gp.

 

[MrNexx]

Hails to all,

This is my understanding of RAW in 3.5. I respectfully request correction and advice.

My browser is being difficult. So...

1) Yes.

2) Yes. See page 178 of the PH, second column, under "Spell Slots"

3) I would require him to rest wearing the headband, but that may not be RAW.

4) Contentious, but I lean on the side of "No, they do not get it." The Spells class feature for Sorcerers and Bards talk about their Spells Known, whereas wizards talk about their additional spells known in the Spellbook class feature, and the text is firm that no other increases in ability that would go along with levelling up happen. The class features of the prestige classes are pretty clear that increases in Spells Known is an "if applicable" case. It's a very strict reading of the text, but it also makes people hesitate before diving into Prestige Classes for their wizards. Another thing to note, incidentally, is the Arcane Trickster; it doesn't carry a spells known note; technically, it does not increase them, because it specifically forbids doing anything outside of what it gives.

 

[Trouvere]

1. No, I'm afraid.

Adding Spells to a Wizard’s Spellbook

Wizards can add new spells to their spellbooks through several methods. If a wizard has chosen to specialize in a school of magic, she can learn spells only from schools whose spells she can cast.

Spells Gained at a New Level

Wizards perform a certain amount of spell research between adventures. Each time a character attains a new wizard level, she gains two spells of her choice to add to her spellbook. The two free spells must be of spell levels she can cast. If she has chosen to specialize in a school of magic, one of the two free spells must be from her specialty school.

 

[Owen K.C. Stephens]

Trouvere is quite right. The 3.5 PHB reference is page 178, bottom of the right-hand column, under "Spell Gained at a New Level."

 

[Vorput]

SRD quote to answer 2

Spell Slots
The various character class tables show how many spells of each level a character can cast per day. These openings for daily spells are called spell slots. A spellcaster always has the option to fill a higher-level spell slot with a lower-level spell. A spellcaster who lacks a high enough ability score to cast spells that would otherwise be his or her due still gets the slots but must fill them with spells of lower level.

1's been answered (No), and I also house ruled 3 to mean you need to wear the headband all day (though that's not raw unfortunatly)

4 is a very interesting question... but I'd lean toward No- simply as a balance to the prestige classes (at least in a world where scrolls can be bought... if high level scrolls are hard/impossible to come by, you're really hurting the wizard).

 

[Wolfwood2]

4. When adding levels of a prestige class that grants "+1 level of existing spellcasting class" (archmage, for example) a wizard does not pick up two more spells. A sorcerer, however, would gain additional spells known.

#4 is currently causing me the most grief, since some presitge classes indicate that a wizards gets 3 additional spells known per level.

No.

The purpose of the "two free spells per level" rule is so that a wizard always has a chance to productively use new spell slots when leveling up. Often leveling up occurs in the middle of an adventure, and it would sure suck if you had to go a few sessions without the opporuntity to fill those shiny new spell slots with level appropriate spells.

Nothing in this logic changes once you bring in spellcasting prestige classes. And no, it's not a 'balancing factor' against prestige classes.

As you can see from this thread, looking at it from the RAW results in a hair-splitting result so I prefer to go with intent.

I think I would prefer not to play under any DM who rules otherwise.

 

[ppz]

I always thought the new spells came from "research and tinkering" that's being done behind the scenes. When you first get 3rd level spells, it's assumed that you have been working on new and more powerful spells all the while, and that cool scorching ray attack you have been using has lead to the discovery of a new fireball attack, or however you want to rationalize it. In my DL campaign, my wizard gets 2 spells when he takes another level in wizard or ToHS or any other arcane casting prestige class that says +1 to existing arcane casting level.

 

[Falling Icicle]

4. When adding levels of a prestige class that grants "+1 level of existing spellcasting class" (archmage, for example) a wizard does not pick up two more spells. A sorcerer, however, would gain additional spells known.

As far as I know, the 2 free spells that Wizards get each level is a part of their spellcasting progression, and is included in "+1 level of existing spellcasting class."

 

[Glyfair]

As far as I know, the 2 free spells that Wizards get each level is a part of their spellcasting progression, and is included in "+1 level of existing spellcasting class."

I'm reasonably sure that one of the designers said that was the intent at some point (Monte, IIRC).