If a spell is currently too high level to cast, can you still add it to spellbook?

[irdeggman]

[MENTION=16285]irdeggman[/MENTION] - correct, which is why it takes hours of concentrated effort to comprehend those notes before any given effect may be cast.

Its akin to having a 4th grader copy passages from a college-graduate text to practice their writing skill - not comprehending the words/formulas would not prevent him from making a legible copy, completely usable by someone who does. The skill check determines how accurate the resulting copy is.

Likewise, a wizard might copy a clerical/druid scroll knowing he cant use it directly but may encounter someone finding someone who understands what he's found and willing to trade for something he needs/wants.

But the wizard is not "copying" the spell he is translating it into a mechanic he can use to cast the spell.

There is a spell to copy pages (not magical writing - so no spellbooks). Amanuesis from the Spell Compendium (pg 9) which does pretty much what you are talking about.

Which is why the RC text talks about "if he can learn the spell" which at the very least eliminates spells not on his spell list.

Every wizard who looks at the spellbook must make a decipher check (Spellcraft DC 20 + spell level or a Read Magic spell) and then a learn check (Spellcraft DC 15 + spell level) in order to figure out if he understands what he has read enough to write it into his own notes such that he could cast it.

RC also states that "if the person who created the magical writing is on hand to help the reader, success is also guaranteed." But he still needs to "learn it" in order to be able to write it. You can't write what you don't know (as in a learned spell).

RC descriptive text

"Writers use the same system no matter what their native language or culture. However, each writer uses the system in an individualized way. Another person's magical writing remains incomprehensible until one takes time to study and decipher it."

 

[Sekhmet]

I really am torn about the issue of Red Wizards being able to cast spells they already knew of their soon-to-be prohibited school.
Delaying prohibiting a school until 10th level or so would allow enough wealth to accrue to have every spell of that school that you'll ever need in your book, which means the increased restriction isn't very restrictive at all.

I'm of the opinion that you should read the text thusly; "The Red Wizard must choose an additional prohibited school or schools [...] He can still use the prohibited spells he knew prior to becoming a Red Wizard, so long as he could cast them before becoming a Red Wizard."

What this means is that a 10Wiz that then became a 5RWiz could cast level 5 spells of his RWiz prohibited school, because he could cast them prior to becoming a RWiz.
Later, if he gains a Wizard level (11Wiz), he could not cast level 6 spells of his RWiz prohibited school.