Can Wizards Write Down Spells They Can't Cast?

[ptolemy18]

Hello everybody,

If a wizard finds a spellbook or scroll with a spell of a level higher than they can cast (like, say, if a 1st level wizard finds a scroll with a 2nd level spell), can they still copy it into their spellbook for future use? Or do they have to wait until they're high enough level to cast it?

Jason

 

[MerakSpielman]

From the SRD:

Spells Copied from Another’s Spellbook or a Scroll: A wizard can also add a spell to her book whenever she encounters one on a magic scroll or in another wizard’s spellbook. No matter what the spell’s source, the wizard must first decipher the magical writing (see Arcane Magical Writings, above). Next, she must spend a day studying the spell. At the end of the day, she must make a Spellcraft check (DC 15 + spell’s level). A wizard who has specialized in a school of spells gains a +2 bonus on the Spellcraft check if the new spell is from her specialty school. She cannot, however, learn any spells from her prohibited schools. If the check succeeds, the wizard understands the spell and can copy it into her spellbook (see Writing a New Spell into a Spellbook, below). The process leaves a spellbook that was copied from unharmed, but a spell successfully copied from a magic scroll disappears from the parchment.

If the check fails, the wizard cannot understand or copy the spell. She cannot attempt to learn or copy that spell again until she gains another rank in Spellcraft. A spell that was being copied from a scroll does not vanish from the scroll.

In most cases, wizards charge a fee for the privilege of copying spells from their spellbooks. This fee is usually equal to the spell’s level x 50 gp.

I see nothing preventing it. Which seems a bit strange. The spellcraft DC is tougher (because a lower level wizard hasn't put as many ranks into it as a higher level wizard), so a 1st level wizard trying to scribe a 9th level spell would have a hard time.

 

[Ranes]

The first thing the wizard has to do is decipher the spell. This is a spellcraft check (DC20+spell level). Assuming that is successful, the wizard must spend a day studying the spell. At the end of the day, the wiz has to make another spellcraft check (DC15+spell level). The wiz gains +2 to this check if he's a specialist and the spell comes from his specialist school. He cannot copy the spell if it comes from an opposed school.

If the spell is copied from a spellbook, the original spell is unaffected. If, however, it's copied from a scroll, the spell disappears from the scroll once it has been copied.

If the spellcraft check to copy the scroll is unsuccessful, the wizard cannot attempt to copy it again until he's gained another rank in spellcraft. If the wiz fails the initial attempt to decipher the spell, he can try again the following day.

Edit: beaten to it, as usual. Oh well.

 

[Liquidsabre]

They can copy it of course. Just a little harder than normal for them is all and they won't be able to actually make use of it until later naturally.