Anyone try messing with the spell scribing rules?

[Barcode]

My wizard players are complaining a bit about the length of time and expense it takes to copy a spell from a scroll or borrowed/looted spellbook into their own. I have made the point about play balance and relative value of corresponding magic items, but it feels a bit weak as a justification.

Has anyone tried reducing either the cost or the time to scribe? What effect did it have on play balance?

-B-

 

[Petrosian]

i changed the time to 2 days per spell regardless of level.

cost remained the same.

REASON:

The money scaling up is Ok because a 10th level wiz will be making more money per level than a first so paying more to scribe a fifth level spell is OK.

However, in my game it is not true that a 10th level wiz will have any more spare time than a first level wiz, as such the increase in time based on spell level makes scribing higher level spells more and more onerous.

In my game, which is rather fast paced and plot driven, the players do not presume to have weeks at a time, so they squeeze in a spell here and there.

So far, this has worked fine balance wise.

 

[Crothian]

This takes both time and money. Both of these are controled by the DM. So, altering them to fit your game is perfectly fine.

I ran a game where the party was lucky to pull together 100gp at 10th level. So, I drastically reduced the cost of writing spells because I felt it would hurt the Wizard way to much to leave it at a price he could never afford. I kept the time the same because I always allow for down time for just this sort of thing.

 

[Grendel]

are you players in such a hurry that they can't wait for their wizard, likely the main damage dealer, to scribe some spells. Granted it might be a pain if you make you players wait real time 1 day per spell level to scribe, but in our game its more like:
Wizard: "I need to 10 days to prepare my notes, and complete my research"
Party: "ok"
DM: "10 days later"

as for cost
have the player try a sorcerer, who doesn't need or use a spell book. and see if the player thinks the costs of maintaing a spell book are worth the benefits.

 

[kreynolds]

Anyone try messing with the spell scribing rules?

I once threw them out the window, but the rules got angry and bit my thigh. It hurt bunches.

Seriously though, no, I've never messed with them. They work fine for me and my group. Like Crothian, I allow downtime for stuff like this, but I also allow downtime for character development. After all, if you've just been through a major ordeal with a blood-lusting demon, you might very well appreciate a little time for self reflection.

 

[kreynolds]

as for cost
have the player try a sorcerer, who doesn't need or use a spell book. and see if the player thinks the costs of maintaing a spell book are worth the benefits.

Absolutely. A wizard has no limit on how many spells he can "know". There are also cheap methods to protect your spellbooks. I think some of them are in Monte Cook's Book of Eldritch Might II. Can't remember exactly. Maybe they were in Magic of Faerun.

 

[Crothian]

Re: Re: Anyone try messing with the spell scribing rules?

I once threw them out the window, but the rules got angry and bit my thigh. It hurt bunches.

Seriously though, no, I've never messed with them. They work fine for me and my group. Like Crothian, I allow downtime for stuff like this, but I also allow downtime for character development. After all, if you've just been through a major ordeal with a blood-lusting demon, you might very well appreciate a little time for self reflection.

I'm always amazed that more adventurers don't take down time after an adventure. How else are you going to spend all that money? Beer, prostitutes, and everything else an adventurer needs is gotten in down time. You have to put the money into the economy somehow. Look at Conan. What did he do after hios adventurer? Get drunk, get women.

Of course others could spend the time donating it to non profit orginizations, help out the poor in soup kitchens, or go into a week long meditation.

 

[Limper]

Has anybody? Yes most people who wish to play a Wizard want them changed.

Grendal: You shouldn't speak such blasphemy. Play a sorcerer... (shudder) I get quezzy thinking of it.

 

[Barcode]

are you players in such a hurry that they can't wait for their wizard, likely the main damage dealer, to scribe some spells. Granted it might be a pain if you make you players wait real time 1 day per spell level to scribe, but in our game its more like:
Wizard: "I need to 10 days to prepare my notes, and complete my research"
Party: "ok"
DM: "10 days later"

Actually, the players are really constantly on the move, at least recently, which precipitated the complaint. However, I am beginning to think that this matches the "wizard way", so I am going to keep it the way it is...

Thanks!

 

[kreynolds]

Re: Re: Re: Anyone try messing with the spell scribing rules?

I'm always amazed that more adventurers don't take down time after an adventure. How else are you going to spend all that money? Beer, prostitutes, and everything else an adventurer needs is gotten in down time. You have to put the money into the economy somehow. Look at Conan. What did he do after hios adventurer? Get drunk, get women.

Of course others could spend the time donating it to non profit orginizations, help out the poor in soup kitchens, or go into a week long meditation.

I agree. But that doesn't mean that I believe you!