D&D 5E (2014) what to do with a camptured spellbook when you have no wizard?

[evilbob]

Using CoS and the party has no wizard; what good is a captured spellbook (other than selling / trading to someone)? You can't make scrolls out of it, right? I'm thinking I may replace the spellbook with different treasure (probably some scrolls).

 

[pdzoch]

I always swap out treasure in printed adventure with treasure useful to the party. I try to keep it equivalent type and level or value. However, I also ensure the treasure makes thematic sense. Scrolls are more valuable to the party, so I would offer fewer than what a spellbook contained. But if they are in a wizards private library, I would leave the spellbook in place as it makes more thematic sense and leave the challenge to the players to determine what to do with it. (It could even be a hook for a side adventure).

 

[not-so-newguy]

My non-wizard group just picked a spellbook (DMing Night's Dark Terror). I let them know it's very valuable, but they haven't done much else with it. I would be open to creating a scroll out of the spells. It would require an Arcana check (DC 12 +level of spell) and destroy the spell in the process (regardless of success or failure). I plan to fill the spellbook with niche type spells (levitate, spider climb, etc). I'll throw this idea out there next session.

 

[Blue]

• Equivalent to art objects and the like in that it can be sold.
• Useful if anyone wants to multiclass or a new character gets brought in due to death or a new player.
• It's a spell (well, many) in written form for the Ritual Caster feat.
• Could likely be easily traded to a wizard NPC for favors and the like, perhaps even traded for a magic item.
• Plot hook: put an inscription on it and bringing it back can be a side quest.
• Firestarter and toilet paper. Make the wizards scream.

 

[flametitan]

You could always annoy the spellcaster community by releasing the book into public domain.

 

[Tony Vargas]

Using CoS and the party has no wizard; what good is a captured spellbook (other than selling / trading to someone)?

It's an object lesson to the players that they really should have a wizard? Seriously, they could sell it or trade it to a wizard in return for scrolls or some other item NPC wizards can make, or use it as a 'signing bonus' to attract a wizard as a henchman.

You can't make scrolls out of it, right?

You mean, like, tear out the page a spell is on, roll it up and use it later to cast the spell? There have been variants in the past to cast a spell directly from a spellbook at the cost of having the pages it's one burst into flames - still needed a wizard, though.

I'm thinking I may replace the spellbook with different treasure (probably some scrolls).

If they're fighting a wizard or looting a wizards condo, it only makes sense they might acquire his spellbook. Now if they were fighting a warlock or looting a sorcerer's studio, maybe it'd be something else.

Changing treasure is fine, of course, but it can also suggest other changes that might be interesting (or just make the treasure make more sense).

 

[discosoc]

Using CoS and the party has no wizard; what good is a captured spellbook (other than selling / trading to someone)? You can't make scrolls out of it, right? I'm thinking I may replace the spellbook with different treasure (probably some scrolls).

Just rip pages out and sell them as "scrolls" of magic.

 

[Awesome Adam]

Toilet paper
Kindling
Rolling Papers
Origami
Wrap fish and chips
Gift Wrap
Improvised Club/Shield

 

[evilbob]

Subbing some scrolls in is the easiest and most likely to "equate" to what they would have otherwise gained; it also makes sense story-wise in nearly any situation (wizards could have scrolls, too). I'm wondering if it might be more interesting to let them keep it and maybe trade it to another wizard (or witch) later, though.

To be fair they do have a sorcerer, but I am pretty sure it's useless to that character.

 

[Oofta]

Sung to the theme of drunken sailor ...

What do you do with a useless spellbook
What do you do with a useless spellbook
What do you do with a useless spellbook
Earl-eye in the mornin?

Use it to decoupage your shield
Use it to decoupage your shield
Use it to decoupage your shield
Earl-eye in the mornin

Make little boats 'n float 'em downriver
Make little boats 'n float 'em downriver
Make little boats 'n float 'em downriver
Earl-eye in the mornin

Crumple 'em up 'n use for insulation
Crumple 'em up 'n use for insulation
Crumple 'em up 'n use for insulation
Earl-eye in the mornin

Make spit balls to throw at the gnome
Make spit balls to throw at the gnome
Make spit balls to throw at the gnome
Earl-eye in the mornin

Piss off wizards who see what yer doin'
Piss off wizards who see what yer doin'
Piss off wizards who see what yer doin'
Earl-eye in the mornin