How many of use the "delayed preparation" option?

[Qualidar]

I have been burned by leaving slots open...my party was ambushed by a juvenile red dragon

Nice

I literally missed that you could do this until last month. I DM 99% of the time, so it really doesn't come up, but I intend to start using it now.

~Qualidar~

 

[Mercule]

We're currently using UA spellpoints.

Prior to that, though, I don't think anyone in the group has ever done this. If so, it was only once and unremarkable.

 

[Joshua Randall]

The whole thorny issue of spell preparation was covered in one of the www.wizards.com/dnd/ "Rules of the Game" articles. Before this turns into a rules debate....

 

[Sagiro]

The whole thorny issue of spell preparation was covered in one of the www.wizards.com/dnd/ "Rules of the Game" articles. Before this turns into a rules debate....

Thanks! For those who don't want to go search, the relevant bit from that is:

"When a cleric prepares spells for the day, the cleric has the option to leave some spell slots open, just as a wizard does. Later in the day, the cleric can stop and repeat her spell preparation to place spells in the empty slots.

In effect, the cleric stops, prays, and meditates at the usual time, and those actions make the cleric's spell slots available for the day. The cleric can fill those slots immediately or she can wait until later. See page 178 in the Player's Handbook for details on repeating the spell preparation.

And to address the actual OP, I play a high level cleric and I always leave a few slots open. In the game which I DM, the main party cleric leaves tons of slots open, and often fills them to good effect during lulls in the action. It's a great strategy -- the added flexibility outweighs the occasional downside of "dang, I wish I had another flame strike RIGHT NOW" moments. Of course, I could imagine more combat-heavy campaigns where filling empty slots isn't as valuable, but in the games in which I'm involved, it's great.

-Sagiro

 

[Li Shenron]

Well guys, I am very surprised to find out that 2/3 of the people use this option at all. Of the players I game with, not a single one except myself have used it, and IMO it was because they just never remember that this possibility exist.

In fact I was expecting that only 10-20% would have voted that they have used it, given also how many people on this board have before expressed their idea that the rule applies only to Wizards, but eventually I must have been wrong...

 

[Fieari]

I almost exclusively DM, but if I were to play, I'd use this option quite a bit. My players use it occasionaly, so I voted the middle option. The times that they use it are generally quite effective, which is why I suspect I'd use it more often then they do.

 

[MonsterMash]

When I DM I do allow players to use it, but IMC the PCs at the moment are a Druid, Sorceror and a Bard.

My DM for the game I play in uses houserules for divine spellcasters with spontaneous casting of any spell known, but the spells known are the total number of spells per level (excluding any bonuses), so a Clr1 has 4 Level 0 and 1 level 1 + a domain spell and Cure/Cause Light Wounds.

 

[diaglo]

The whole thorny issue of spell preparation was covered in one of the www.wizards.com/dnd/ "Rules of the Game" articles. Before this turns into a rules debate....

thanks.


i suck at the rulz.

 

[Starglim]

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

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

I read it again:

Divine spellcasters prepare their spells in largely the same manner as wizards do .. A divine spellcaster does not have to prepare all his spells at once.

It seems explicit that divine casters can use this option. You're quite right that divine casters need not rest at all provided that they pray at the proper time or as soon as possible after.

My 5th level ranger gets one spell and always leaves it open. My wizard has two 0-level slots open.