Can you prepare spells more than once a day?

[Infiniti2000]

It looks to me like, from a pedantic standpoint, a wizard can only cast a number of spells per day, but can prepare spells any time after they rest. So a wizard would be able to sleep for 8 hours in the middle of the day and prepare their spells again (allowing them to choose new spells) but wouldn't gain any extra slots for the day from doing so.

That actually sounds pretty balanced, too.

I'd agree that's balanced. Still, however, it says "daily spells". If you prepare them multiple times per day, that's not really daily anymore, is it? Pedantically-speaking, that is?

 

[Deset Gled]

I'd agree that's balanced. Still, however, it says "daily spells". If you prepare them multiple times per day, that's not really daily anymore, is it? Pedantically-speaking, that is?

As I read it, every reference I have found to "daily spells" or "spells per day" is in reference to casting, not to preparation. I you could provide some text that links the "daily" language to preparation, I agree entirely.

 

[Dross]

As I read it, every reference I have found to "daily spells" or "spells per day" is in reference to casting, not to preparation. I you could provide some text that links the "daily" language to preparation, I agree entirely.

Given the mention of wizards being able fill empty slots later in the day but nothing about swapping spells (or "refilling" used slots), the implication is that you can't prepare a slot that wasn't left open after the rest period.

 

[lin_fusan]

Debates

I posted a similar question on the Giant in the Playground forums and received a similarly split amount of answers.

I interpret that wizards can only cast those amount of spells once per day is the fact that their spell slots have the title "Spells Per Day."

From the SRD:

Like other spellcasters, a wizard can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day.

Also, every other character class has a "per day" cycle for their abilities, Rage, divine spells, Turning Attempts, etc.

No amount of rest or sleep can reset that "per day" (barring strange magical effects).

At least I'm not crazy for having run into this question and debate nearly every game I run.

 

[Deset Gled]

Given the mention of wizards being able fill empty slots later in the day but nothing about swapping spells (or "refilling" used slots), the implication is that you can't prepare a slot that wasn't left open after the rest period.

Actually, it does state something about swapping spells...

She cannot, however, abandon a previously prepared spell to replace it with another one or fill a slot that is empty because she has cast a spell in the meantime. That sort of preparation requires a mind fresh from rest. Like the first session of the day, this preparation takes at least 15 minutes, and it takes longer if the wizard prepares more than one-quarter of her spells.

Emphasis mine. IMO, the implication of this is that you can "refill" slots as long as you had rest, the exact opposite of what you claim. It is another example of the fact that preparation is tied to resting, while casting is tied to the per day limit.

 

[Infiniti2000]

As I read it, every reference I have found to "daily spells" or "spells per day" is in reference to casting, not to preparation. I you could provide some text that links the "daily" language to preparation, I agree entirely.

As I see it, you can only have one good night's sleep per day, unless the world has multiple nights (somehow). "She must choose and prepare her spells ahead of time by getting a good night’s sleep and spending 1 hour studying her spellbook." You could, of course, view that as fluff but then you might as well claim that "spells per day" is fluff.

 

[irdeggman]

Actually, it does state something about swapping spells...



Emphasis mine. IMO, the implication of this is that you can "refill" slots as long as you had rest, the exact opposite of what you claim. It is another example of the fact that preparation is tied to resting, while casting is tied to the per day limit.

Interesting take.

The section on "rest"

Says:

Rest: To prepare her daily spells, a wizard must first sleep for 8 hours. The wizard does not have to slumber for every minute of the time, but she must refrain from movement, combat, spellcasting, skill use, conversation, or any other fairly demanding physical or mental task during the rest period. If her rest is interrupted, each interruption adds 1 hour to the total amount of time she has to rest in order to clear her mind, and she must have at least 1 hour of uninterrupted rest immediately prior to preparing her spells. If the character does not need to sleep for some reason, she still must have 8 hours of restful calm before preparing any spells.

And then under spell slots (also referenced in the applicable text)

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.

So it really comes down to the definition of spells per day - and since every other reference to x/day is for a roughly 24 hr period. . . . .