How many of use the "delayed preparation" option?

[Victim]

My cleric usually left several slots open each day once he got up to level 8 or so. My crazy evoker left around 2 slots open at the maximum, because leaving spells open means you can't kill as many people.

 

[delericho]

I voted 'never' on behalf of my group. I've mentioned to them a couple of times that wizards have that option, but they've declined to use it. Makes it fun whenever the wizard really needs a spell that he hasn't memorised that day

I also assumed that only wizards have that option, although I wouldn't swear to being correct.

 

[Joshua Randall]

I think it makes sense for a wizard to leave slots open at higher levels, when he has more slots than he normally uses in a day. (Unless you are maxed out for a big fight or something.)

However, I have been burned by leaving slots open -- for example when my party was ambushed by a juvenile red dragon and my wizard had seven open slots that could have been filled with useful things like protection from energy or fireball. But, that's the risk you take.

It somewhat depends upon the style of campaign, or individual adventure. If you have plenty of down-time and are moving at a leisurely pace, then leaving slots open is great. If you are constantly fighting or investigating under some sort of time constraint, then you don't have the luxury of leaving slots open.

 

[diaglo]

My cleric usually left several slots open each day once he got up to level 8 or so.

this was in prior editions, right?

 

[Klaus]

Quite often used by the wizard in the party (less often by the cleric).

Since it only takes 15 minutes to prepare a single spell, there is usually more than enough opportunities during the day for a character to sift through her spellbook and prepare a new spell.

And all spellcasters that prepare spells (which, in Core, means clerics, druids, paladins, rangers, wizards and specialists) can make use of open slots.

 

[Catavarie]

I never use the delay Prep option in games that I DM, because i do away with spell prep all together, least in the since that the characters don't need to prep individual spells, instead they spend that time reviewing their spell books/scrolls and I let them cast any spells they want to but it takes longer to cast, so insteady of casting a fireball in 1 round it will take 3 or 4 rounds to complete casting, my players like the freedom and understand the consequnces of such freedom

 

[diaglo]

And all spellcasters that prepare spells (which, in Core, means clerics, druids, paladins, rangers, wizards and specialists) can make use of open slots.

you'd better read that again. it changed between editions.

divine casters don't need to rest either to gain spells.

 

[JoeBlank]

I haven't played a preparing caster to high enough level for it to matter. I'm liking sorcerer so much I may never play a caster who prepares again.

Several have mentioned leaving too many slots open, such as one per level. Can't you just leave say one low level slot and one medium to high level slot? I'm thinking you can use a higher level slot to prepare a lower level spell, so that covers your bases pretty well. I'm right, aren't I?

 

[Klaus]

From the SRD, "Preparing Divine Spells":

"Spell Selection and Preparation: A divine spellcaster selects and prepares spells ahead of time through prayer and meditation at a particular time of day. The time required to prepare spells is the same as it is for a wizard (1 hour), as is the requirement for a relatively peaceful environment. A divine spellcaster does not have to prepare all his spells at once."

This seems to contradict the "Must pray at a certain time of the day" rule. Unless the character prays to reset his spell slots at a certain time of the day, with the option of leaving some of those open for later filling.

 

[Sagiro]

you'd better read that again. it changed between editions.

divine casters don't need to rest either to gain spells.

I just read the relevant section of the 3.5 SRD a few times, and while I admit the wording is not as clear as it should be, I disagree with your conclusion. I believe that divine casters can still leave slots empty during initial preparation, and fill them later.

Here's the section on divine preparation: I'll bold what I think are the parts that support my conclusion, and explain my interpretation:

Time of Day: A divine spellcaster chooses and prepares spells ahead of time, just as a wizard does. However, a divine spellcaster does not require a period of rest to prepare spells. Instead, the character chooses a particular part of the day to pray and receive spells. The time is usually associated with some daily event. If some event prevents a character from praying at the proper time, he must do so as soon as possible. If the character does not stop to pray for spells at the first opportunity, he must wait until the next day to prepare spells.

Spell Selection and Preparation: A divine spellcaster selects and prepares spells ahead of time through prayer and meditation at a particular time of day. The time required to prepare spells is the same as it is for a wizard (1 hour), as is the requirement for a relatively peaceful environment. A divine spellcaster does not have to prepare all his spells at once. However, the character’s mind is considered fresh only during his or her first daily spell preparation, so a divine spellcaster cannot fill a slot that is empty because he or she has cast a spell or abandoned a previously prepared spell.

Regarding the first bolded section: what else could this possibly mean, if not "a divine caster can prepare some spells at a later time."

Regarding the second bolded section: This is the part that most convinces me. The bolded clarifiying phrase outlines specific restrictions for divine casters filling empty slots. Why would they do that, if clerics could never leave slots empty?

-Sagiro