Keeping track of prepared spells...

[Asmor]

Anyone got some tips on keeping track of prepared spells? I'm playing a wizard/archivist at the moment, eventually going to be a mystic theurge, so I need a way to quickly, easily organize my spells prepared. Even now at level 1 in each, it's kind of a chore to pick out my spells each day (not helped by my lack of experience with a prepared spellcaster, so my spell selection is still fluctuating greatly while I try things out and find my groove).

What I've been doing is writing the spells down, seperated by level but not class, and then drawing circles next to each spell that I have prepared (or multiple circles for multiple preparations). Then I put Xs in the circles as I use them.

There's got to be a better way... I'm thinking about trying out some grid paper just to make it a bit more organized, but that's not really a big leap. What do you do?

 

[wedgeski]

My Loremaster has a printed list of spells in his spellbook and a series of check-boxes for components. Apart from that essential item, all I do is scribble down on a separate piece of paper what he's memorised whenever it changes.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

We use index cards for the spells per level per day and just make a note on each what spell is prepared with the slot. Usually shorthand is sufficient (e.g., MM = magic missile).

When a spell gets cast, it's tossed in a pile.

Very good for keeping accurate track of spells left and also very, very good for helping other players if they have to take over your character when you're away.

 

[WhatGravitas]

A *very* handy and good thing is Ema's Sheet. If you select class and sourcebooks for your class, you get a very good spelllist...

 

[Herremann the Wise]

Hi Asmor

Kind of the other end of the spectrum but I think this might help you.

Playing a high level caster who prepares spells can be a real pain. My paper solution (using excel initially and then adobe illustrator a couple of years ago) was to have a series of boxes for each spell level. You would then write in the spell for each box and tick it when you cast the spell. Now when you have nine levels of spells, you can imagine having over 70 slots to prepare can be a mighty chore.

As such I made up several templates depending upon what my caster was expecting:
- Heavy Duty Dungeon Combat
- Heavy Duty Open Air Combat
- Generic All Purpose
- Travel Focused
- Research
- Social Encounter Focused

These had all the slots filled out in advance. With multiple copies of each template printed out, I could make several changes to a copy in "preparation time" to suit an expected series of encounters (eg. we're hunting black dragon today so acid fog is off the menu).

However, sometimes you would need to prepare for a really weird day. In this case I made a "permanent" template which had maybe 12 spells chosen automatically. For example, when you get to high levels, Mind Blank, Moment of Prescience, Quickened Teleport/Gate become staples along with a few others (Phantom Steed is so under-rated). And so, I just put these automatic spells and left the rest blank.

In conjunction with spell cards that I made up for every spell that he knew, I found that even with several summonings/gatings to control (replete with fully statted monster cards) and a regular casting of two spells each round, I was not taking up too much time (which at high levels is all too easy to do). I would recommend this to any player caster who feels everyone falls asleep during their turn (and they do, don't deny it ).

As for your situation Asmor, it sounds more like a good dose of spell cards will fix you up. Seeing as you only have a 2nd level character and are just finding your groove, you just pick your spell cards for the day and leave the rest underneath your chair or out of the way. If you want to go a multiple number of the same spell, just have check boxes at the bottom of the card that you circle to select the number of at the start of the day, and then place a tick in when you cast them.

You can try making spell cards in word (4 spells to an A4/Letter page), or if you have the software, I've found that illustrator using a couple of generic layers (and the srd in rtf form for copying and pasting) is really good. Trust me when I say that the situation is only going to get worse (much worse in fact) at higher levels.

Hope this helps.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[Asmor]

A *very* handy and good thing is Ema's Sheet. If you select class and sourcebooks for your class, you get a very good spelllist...

You forgot to link to Ema's sheet. No worries, I found it. Not sure how useful it would be during a game, but it definitely looks like an excellent planning resource. Thanks!

Ironically, I've actually played a level 17-ish caster before, who actually started out as a wizard but I eventually chose sorcerer instead. I made up index cards of every one of her spells and... let's just say I never want to do that again, especially for a character who could know a potentially unlimited number of spells. >_> I actually just keep a text document with all my spells on it, including a brief description and page number.

Ideally I would like to have multiple sets of default prepared spells for general situations, but as I said I don't have much experience playing prepared casters (or casters at all, that sorcerer only lasted a couple sessions) so I'm still working through what works and what doesn't.

 

[Blue]

What I've been doing is writing the spells down, seperated by level but not class, and then drawing circles next to each spell that I have prepared (or multiple circles for multiple preparations). Then I put Xs in the circles as I use them.

I do something similar. However I separate by class, because for each class & level I have a number of spells to pick listed. I also do on spell per line with a quick summary of salient points. (A buff spall may note that it's touch, duration, and effects, an attack may have range, area of effect, saves, SR? and effect, etc.)

You've picked the two classes in the game with the most potential spells, you're really going to have to work out something. I was playing a very high level (17th-22nd) fighter/caster and ended up doing a spreadsheet that had a spellbook tab and a prepared spells tab. (It also had a summary tab that tracked various common spells (mirror image, haste, etc) and broke down the spells into two categories - normal and swift/immediate action ones.

Good luck,
=Blue(23)

 

[Glyfair]

I used to have a set of lists for my first d20 wizard character for "standard choices" for expected situations. For example I'd have an "every day" list, a "travelin" list, an "undead bashing" list, etc. I'd state which list was appropriate for the time, and sometimes tweak them based on what we knew (for example, add in Protection from Evil if I thought we'd be dealing with Mind Influencing creatures).

 

[Asmo]

You forgot to link to Ema's sheet. No worries, I found it.

That link doesn´t work; the link provided by Lord Tirian works well.

Asmo

 

[WhatGravitas]

That link doesn´t work; the link provided by Lord Tirian works well.

It hasn't worked, until I've read Asmor's comment and fixed it... so, it only works now.