D&D 4E I am confused about 4e Spellcasting. Please help.

[edbonny]

Perhaps it is my aging and aged brain, but I am having a hard time understanding the shift in the game from spells to the various types of spell powers.

I will use a 9th level wizard as an example and explain the spellcasting as I understand it. Please correct/advise me of where I am going wrong.

My 4e 9th level wizard
As per the PH (p29), Total Known Powers for this wizard are:

- 2 At-Will Powers - I only know 2 at-will powers. This number of at-will powers never changes. These 2 powers are usable during any encounter, at will, any time, no limit.

- 3 Encounter Powers - While I know 6 Encounter powers (they're in my spellbook), I can only prepare 3 of them. Each one must be different. I can use any or all these 3 prepared powers once in any one encounter.

- 3 Daily Powers - While I know 6 Daily powers, I can only prepare 3 of them. Daily powers are also in my spellbook. Like Encounter powers, each one must be different. I can use any or all these 3 prepared powers once in any one encounter.

- 2 Utility Powers - While I know 4 Utility powers (they're also in my spellbook), I can only prepare 2 of them. Like Daily and Encounter powers, my prepared utility spells must be different. I can use either or both of these 2 prepared powers once in any one encounter.

My confusion lies with with term "Total Known Powers" vs. "powers known" (i.e. those in my spellbook). I believe "Total Known Powers" is a misleading term as my Wizard knows a lot more powers than he apparently can cast. A more appropriate term might be "Number & Type of Powers You Can Use in a Single Encounter".

Do I have this correct? Please let me know.

Now if only some young gamer out there is would write a 3.x -> 4.0 "Conversion Guide" or Transition Manual" for us old folk...

 

[Zaukrie]

I don't have my books here at work, but if your actual numbers are correct, then yes, you understand the rules. Wizards actually know more spells than they can use, and can prepare them after an extended rest.

It isn't just the old folks, my 12 year old was also confused at first.

I think that the PHB needs different language for spells in the spellbook, as the language (as you suggest) is too similar to the language for what a wizard (or any character) knows on any given day.

 

[ValhallaGH]

First off, Daily Powers can only be used once per day. That's more restrictive than once per encounter, since a single day could easily have six or more encounters.

Second, a Wizard's spellbook only contains extra Daily attack or Utility powers. Wizards know the same number of Encounter Attack Powers as any other class of their level.

Total Known Powers is a term used for all classes, not just Wizards. This is because all classes get powers. Wizards have two or three times the number of known Daily Attack and Utility powers but they have the same per-encounter -diem limits as the other classes. This is because Wizards are extremely versatile; and a good bit more complicated than the other classes.

Do you get it?

 

[GoodKingJayIII]

I don't believe Encounter powers go into your spellbook. I think it's Daily and Utility spells only. I could be misremembering that though.

 

[TimeOut]

I will use a 9th level wizard as an example and explain the spellcasting as I understand it. Please correct/advise me of where I am going wrong.

My 4e 9th level wizard
As per the PH (p29), Total Known Powers for this wizard are:

Sure.

- 2 At-Will Powers - I only know 2 at-will powers. This number of at-will powers never changes. These 2 powers are usable during any encounter, at will, any time, no limit.

Correct.

- 3 Encounter Powers - While I know 6 Encounter powers (they're in my spellbook), I can only prepare 3 of them. Each one must be different. I can use any or all these 3 prepared powers once in any one encounter.

Not correct. You know 3 encounter powers, because your spellbook only works for daily and utility spells (a quite confusing restriction).

- 3 Daily Powers - While I know 6 Daily powers, I can only prepare 3 of them. Daily powers are also in my spellbook. Like Encounter powers, each one must be different. I can use any or all these 3 prepared powers once in any one encounter.

Nearly correct. You can use them only once per day, but that looks like a copy&paste error.

- 2 Utility Powers - While I know 4 Utility powers (they're also in my spellbook), I can only prepare 2 of them. Like Daily and Encounter powers, my prepared utility spells must be different. I can use either or both of these 2 prepared powers once in any one encounter.

Correct. But please beware: There are utility powers that are daily. You can use those only once per day, just as a daily attack power would work.

My confusion lies with with term "Total Known Powers" vs. "powers known" (i.e. those in my spellbook). I believe "Total Known Powers" is a misleading term as my Wizard knows a lot more powers than he apparently can cast. A more appropriate term might be "Number & Type of Powers You Can Use in a Single Encounter".

That term would be wrong, because you can use some powers only once per day, and some powers can recharge other powers.

"Total Known Powers" is only misleading for wizards unfortunatly. This is because of your spellbook rule, that replaces the normal rules for gaining powers. :/

 

[edbonny]

Thank you all for the replies. I believe I see where I was wrong.

Here is my new understanding of my 9th level wizard:

- 2 At-Will Powers - I only know 2 at-will powers. This number of at-will powers never changes. These 2 powers are usable during any encounter, at will, any time, no limit. (no change)

- 3 Encounter Powers - I know 3 Encounter powers and can prepare each of them after resting. I cannot prepare the same encounter power twice. I can use any or all these 3 prepared powers once in any one encounter.

- 3 Daily Powers - While I know 6 Daily powers, I can only prepare 3 of them. Daily powers are in my spellbook. I cannot prepare the same daily power twice. I can use any or all of these 3 prepared powers once a day.

- 2 Utility Powers - While I know 4 Utility powers (they're also in my spellbook), I can only prepare 2 of them. Like Daily powers, my prepared utility spells must each be different. I can use either or both of these 2 prepared powers once in any one encounter. Some Utility powers are also "daily" meaning I could not prepare/cast the same spent "daily" Utility power I used earlier the same day.

 

[Rechan]

I believe the spellbook also holds rituals.

So a spellbook only consists of Utility, Daily, and Ritual spells.

 

[TimeOut]

Correct.

Of course the numbers for daily and utility spells could change, if you acquire the feat "Extended Spellbook", but that is only a simple upgrade.

Another thing that is important: While you have 6 daily powers in your spellbook, those are grouped by level.

You should have 2 daily attack powers from 9th level, 2 from 5th level and 2 from 1st level. You must obey these "slots" while preparing your spells. So you can't choose to prepare both your 9th level spells and one 5th level spell.

The right way to prepare spells looks like that: For each "slot" (9th, 5th, 1st in your case) you look through the available powers in your spellbook (2 for you, 3 for wizards with the feat) and choose 1 until the next extended rest.

 

[Rechan]

3 Daily Powers - While I know 6 Daily powers, I can only prepare 3 of them. Daily powers are in my spellbook. I cannot prepare the same daily power twice. I can use any or all of these 3 prepared powers once a day.

Something else you should know:

While you can prepare 3 daily powers, you cannot prepare the same level of a daily more than once. You must choose a 1st level daily, a 5th level daily, and a 9th level daily, not a 5th level daily and two 9th level dailies.

Edit: Ninja'd!

 

[Pierson_Lowgal]

still wrong on some counts

- 3 Daily Powers - While I know 6 Daily powers, I can only prepare 3 of them. Daily powers are in my spellbook. I cannot prepare the same daily power twice. I can use any or all of these 3 prepared powers once a day.

You can only prepare one 1st level daily, one 5th level daily and one 9th level daily. You cannot prepare 2 9th level dailies and a 5th level daily.

- 2 Utility Powers - While I know 4 Utility powers (they're also in my spellbook), I can only prepare 2 of them. Like Daily powers, my prepared utility spells must each be different. I can use either or both of these 2 prepared powers once in any one encounter. Some Utility powers are also "daily" meaning I could not prepare/cast the same spent "daily" Utility power I used earlier the same day.

Just like the daily, you can only prepare one 2nd level utility and one 6th level utility. You cannot prepare both of your known 6th level after an extended rest.