Easy sorcerer spell knowledge house rule

[RangerWickett]

I'm considering in an upcoming game to use this rule:

Arcane spellcasters can cast spells that are written down by taking time to slowly cast them, even if they do not know the spell or have not prepared it. To cast a spell this way, the character must have a written document of the spell (usually from a spellbook or scroll). The casting time is the spell's normal casting time plus fifteen minutes. The character expends one spell slot of the appropriate level, even if the character had previously prepared a spell in that slot, then makes a Spellcraft check (DC 15 + spell level). If he succeeds, he casts the spell.

 

[bpkri]

Hmmm, wihtout using up the scroll?

I've also thought about casting spells from a book, but it gives wizards a certain advantage: You only need to prepare the spells you need quickly. The others you can cast from the book or from a scroll.

Again one less reason to use a Sorcerer.
But the question is: would the spontaneous caster also be able to do this? If not, you give the wizards quite (another) edge, if, however, they also can you mix the advantages and disatvantages of both classes (or caster-types) up a little, because then sorcerers suddenly have access to a larger number of spells than they'd usually have...

I'd not use such a rule.

 

[Blue Sky]

It sounds good. This would allow people to pick spells that get used alot, and need to get used now, and still be able to do more utility stuff if they need it.

If this applies to sorcerers as well as wizards, then I don't think there will be too much of a problem.

You might want to put in a note that you can't take 10, otherwise the roll quickly becomes meaningless. By fourth level, a sorcerer with no intelligence bonus can take 10 and hit the dc for any of their spells if they max out their ranks. A wizard should be able to hit it everytime.

This also gives more of a 2nd edition feel to bards.

Thematically, I like the feel of this. There would be a lot less difference in the eyes of the characters between sorcerers and wizards.

 

[Ilium]

I like it, too. Sorcerers with spell books is cool, any anything that makes Spellcraft more useful is OK in my book. If you make the DC 15 + (2*spell level) it scales with level better. A sorcerer will need at least a couple of bonuses (from INT or elsewhere) to succeed on his highest level spells while taking 10.