# of spells in a 1st level Wizard's Book

[buchw001]

So the PHB is slightly confusing in its wording here.

(page 54)
A wizard begins play with a spellbook containing all 0-level wizard spells, plus three 1st-level spells of the player's choice. For each point of Intelligence bonus the wizard has, the spell book holds one additional 1st-level spell.

I have always believed that the word "holds" implies the character can choose those extra 1st-level spells.

EXAMPLE: If the INT score is 16, the the wizard will choose 3+3=6 1st-level spells for the book to begin play.

Has anyone ever ruled this differently? The word "holds" came into question with my group the other day.

 

[melkoriii]

You are correct.

The word "Hold" in this case means contains.

a 1st lvl wizard with Int 16 would have 6 first lvl spells in his/her spell book.

 

[Christian]

No. 'Hold' can be used to mean 'is able to contain' or 'actually contains'; but there's nothing in the description of the class that implies the former meaning. Also, the size of a spellbook is standardized at 100 pages, meaning it can hold all of the core zero-level spells and 42 1st-level spells, regardless of the owner's intelligence. It seems clear that the intent of the class feature is that the character owns a standard spellbook which contains 3+Int bonus 1st level spells therein.