Are there "typical" spell lists available?

[Jdvn1]

I checked the PHB2. There is a section of "recommended" spells by spell level, but not completely filled out "prepared spells" lists.

That's because everyone disagrees on what spells to prepare. Different people play different casters differently.

 

[Nyaricus]

For the NPC Wiki idea in here, assume they only have the minimum Spellcasting attribute for each leve (level 1 spells for a Wizard, 11 Int; level 6 spells for wizard, 16 Int). Obviously, these would be extrapolated based on how high that attrivute is.

You would have to do it level-by-level with generalist, each type of specialist, and the sorcerer itself. That's 10 lists of 20 levels each so... 200 lists of spells, with modifications and suggestions for other spells to choose from (if they can get bonus spells).

You guys are gonna need help for this

 

[ColonelHardisson]

That's because everyone disagrees on what spells to prepare. Different people play different casters differently.

Yeah, I know. That's why I was asking about "typical" lists for NPCs. I figure it would be easy enough to compose such spell lists, just very tedious. I didn't want to start doing it and find some after the fact.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

You guys are gonna need help for this

Naw, because it'll never happen. Over the years, things like this get suggested, but never get followed through. That's understandable, as it takes a lot of time and effort. It's the kind of utilitarian thing that I'd like to see from one of the third party publishers. I'd pay a reasonable price for it.

 

[Plane Sailing]

By the way, I meant to put this in the Rules forum, but somehow wound up with it here. Sorry. If a mod wants to move it because it doesn't fit in General Discussion, please do.

It could go in either, I'm happy to move it to rules for you where thread longevity is a little higher.

Cheers

 

[Joshua Randall]

Hardisson, if you do some searched in the Rules Forum on something like 'sorcerer spell list' or 'sorcerer must have spells', you should find many many discussions where people argue back and forth about this very topic.

Also, a while back, someone (kreynolds perhaps?) was running a bunch of polls on "must-have wizard spells by level". So there was one poll for Level 1 spells, another for Level 2 spells, etc. They were multiple option polls so you could see percentages, e.g., 90% of people chose magic missile at Level 1, 80% chose mage armor, or whatever.

 

[Voadam]

I pulled out the old 3.0 DMG, and maybe I'm missing them, but I don't see spell lists in those NPC tables.

Its been over a year since I needed to pull it out but I remember the sorcerer having spells known listed.

 

[Voadam]

My mistake, the 3.0 DMG just has equipment done out and lists number of spells known, it doesn't provide sample lists.

 

[Nail]

Hardisson, if you do some searched in the Rules Forum on something like 'sorcerer spell list' or 'sorcerer must have spells', you should find many many discussions where people argue back and forth about this very topic.

Also, a while back, someone (kreynolds perhaps?) was running a bunch of polls on "must-have wizard spells by level". So there was one poll for Level 1 spells, another for Level 2 spells, etc. They were multiple option polls so you could see percentages, e.g., 90% of people chose magic missile at Level 1, 80% chose mage armor, or whatever.

Yep, those are some good threads.

Here's Thanee's sorcerer. It's a very good list.

And here's Thanee's compilation of the Poll dcollins did on the best Sor/Wiz spells.

That should be useful.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Yeah, I know. That's why I was asking about "typical" lists for NPCs. I figure it would be easy enough to compose such spell lists, just very tedious. I didn't want to start doing it and find some after the fact.

It's more complex than that. PCs and NPCs are or at least should be organic wholes rather than isolated components. That means that the character's spell list will differ not only by specialty (school) but also by statistics, feats, and preferred tactics. (And, to tell the truth, banned schools are more significant than specialty schools WRT lists). For instance, a 7th level conjurer might well take summon monster IV, evard's black tentacles, greater invisibility, summon monster III, empowered ray of enfeeblement, slow, and empowered magic missile as his 3rd and 4th level spells. That, however, is a list for a conjurer who has augment summoning and empower spell. (It's also a list for a conjurer who operates alone or with few allies). If the conjurer has point blank shot, empower spell, precise shot, and rapid spell instead and typically travels with a strong group of allies, he might instead take: Rapid Summon Monster III, empowered scorching ray, orb of fire, rapid summon monster II, empowered lesser orb of cold, empowered ray of enfeeblement, haste. Haste isn't particularly useful for a wizard with few allies but one with many allies will find it more effective than fireball in many situations.

Of course, in the case of wizards, typical spells prepared should also take their environment into account. Sophia, the diviner's apprentice who lives in the backwater town of Gunnar's Gulch is far more likely to have an identify and a detect thoughts prepped than is Vrennikar, the diviner's apprentice who lives in the undead besieged fortress of Castle Egremont. He is more likely to true strike than identify and see invisibility instead of detect thoughts.

If you want spell lists for combats on the fly, you're much better off just using or re-using an entire NPC than using a standard spell list. You could find them in old modules, old adventures, old PCs, the rogue's gallery, or you could take advantage of commercial offerings like the one I was involved in:
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=6757&SRC=rpgobjects

Whichever way you choose, however, I would expect better results than using a typical spell list.