Does a Wizard's Spellbook Count Towards Standard Wealth?

[Olaf the Stout]

In working out the starting equipment for my 8th level Wizard, I costed his spells at 100gp/spell level (excluding bonus spells) as this is how much it cost him to write these spells in his spellbook.

In doing so I found that it seems to take up a rather large proportion of a Wizard's wealth. In my case I spent over 7,000gp (after the bonus spells). I was wondering if this is correct? It seems to make sense as it stops a Wizard from just taking every spell out there. However, there are other ways around paying the cost, such as Boccob's Blessed Book.

So how does it work in your game? And what should it be if you go by the RAW?

Olaf the Stout

 

[Gerion of Mercadia]

Per RAW, You don't count 2 spells per level. The wizard gets 2 spells of the maximum level they can cast every level beyond the first for "free", unless they don't want them to be of the maximum level for some reason.

Boccob's Blessed book = 1000 pages of spells for "free", the cost of scribing is included in the magic item.

 

[sukael]

In working out the starting equipment for my 8th level Wizard, I costed his spells at 100gp/spell level (excluding bonus spells) as this is how much it cost him to write these spells in his spellbook.

Actually, the cost should probably be higher, given that he'd need to have scrolls in the first place to copy most of those spells from.

 

[Gerion of Mercadia]

Of necessity - no.

It is possible to copy directly from one spellbook to another. Most wizards however, aren't exactly going to let you read something that they regard as intimate as a diary.

The FIRST time you EVER lose a spellbook and you play a wizard... believe me, you make backups...

 

[irdeggman]

As has been pointed out - the initial spellbook and "free" spells per level are not included since they are a class ability. Also it says so in the adding spells to a spellbook section of the PHB (pg 179)

From the SRD:

Writing a New Spell into a Spellbook

Once a wizard understands a new spell, she can record it into her spellbook.

Time: The process takes 24 hours, regardless of the spell’s level.

Space in the Spellbook: A spell takes up one page of the spellbook per spell level. Even a 0-level spell (cantrip) takes one page. A spellbook has one hundred pages.
Materials and Costs: Materials for writing the spell cost 100 gp per page.

Note that a wizard does not have to pay these costs in time or gold for the spells she gains for free at each new level.

Now the interesting thing is that the spellbook still has a "value" and could be "sold" if desired. But that would essentially cripple the wizard since he could no longer memorize spells (except for using spell mastery that is).

So a wizard does not spend resources to get his "free" spells thus his base book should not count towards his "character wealth" for the "equipment per level" comparison. All other classes need to "buy" their base equipment - which is whay they get more starting money than does a wizard.

 

[Plane Sailing]

In working out the starting equipment for my 8th level Wizard, I costed his spells at 100gp/spell level (excluding bonus spells) as this is how much it cost him to write these spells in his spellbook.

I'd say that is about right, except that I'd require you to purchase the additional spells on scrolls first too.

 

[gnfnrf]

I'd say that is about right, except that I'd require you to purchase the additional spells on scrolls first too.

That's a little harsh. In the SRD (and PHB), there is a price for copying spells from another wizard's spellbook.

"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 × 50 gp."

Now, just don't ask why it is more expensive at 1st level, or how much it costs to copy a cantrip.

--
gnfnrf

 

[Shades of Eternity]

0th level cost 0.5 * spell level

 

[Plane Sailing]

That's a little harsh. In the SRD (and PHB), there is a price for copying spells from another wizard's spellbook.

"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 × 50 gp."

I know, but in the campaigns I run (and play in) the wizards are greedy...

 

[Pyrex]

I'd say that is about right, except that I'd require you to purchase the additional spells on scrolls first too.

Do you also require new 8th level characters to pay for every potion they drank from 1st through 7th level?

How about used charges on wands?

100gp*SL is plenty expensive for new Wizard characters. Requiring them to pay for used scrolls is just mean.