Revisiting the spellbook (part one)

[Quickleaf]

Ever felt like you wanted to customize your wizard's spellbook? It's 100 pages, weighs 3 lbs, and costs 15 gold pieces so says the core rules. Well, not anymore! Here is the first installment in taking a closer look at the mechanics of spellbooks...

This 2-page pdf answers the question: Why not just have an 1000 page spellbook? Besides the weight consideration, the answer is easy: indexing. Preparing spells from such a spellbook takes longer. So it makes sense that wizard's keep their big tomes at home, where they can peruse them at will. It also makes even more sense when you think of archmage's with libraries full of spellbooks. By breaking down the size of their spellbooks and catalouging them into a library system, spell preparation time is greatly enhanced.
Also introduced is the concept of variant spellbooks (e.g lab text, thieves' spellbook, or tractatus). These mini-templates can be applied to spellbooks to customize them according to your character concept.

Cheers!

 

[jaker2003]

I very much like your spellbook revisions and can see their use in any magical world.

I do have a suggestion, though:

How about a magical spellbook that could absorb scrolls into it and change them into spells ready for preporation? I know this can be done manually, but that would require a spellcraft check. The spellbook would be treates as a magic item and it could use its caster level as its ranks in the spellcraft skill to automaticallly integrate the scroll for you. I can see it being useful for rogues. . . swipe a scroll, stuff it into the book, whisper a command word, and waltz out of the shop without being noticed.

 

[Psimancer]

Nice work Quickleaf.

A little off topic, but you could also think about adding in bonus spells (as per DMG Table 7-33, pg 285) to the spell book; cost is spell level squared x 1,000 gp. You could memorise one of these spells without it using up a spell slot.

 

[jaker2003]

How about an intelligent spellbook as an artifact or something for an adventuring party to come across?

 

[Quickleaf]

Jaker, thanks for looking it over! As for your idea about a "scroll-eating spellbook", check out my thread about the spellbook familiar or "true grimoire." At the bottom of thread (10th post) is a .pdf file. It's an alternative familiar - may not be what you're looking for, but check it out - there are some cool ideas. One of the abilities mimics exactly what you suggest.

Psimancer: I really like your idea. Seems a bit powerful! So, if I understand you right, a wizard could scribe a 6th level spell for 36,000gp and a 2nd level spell for 4,000gp and then be able to cast either one of them (not both) without using up a spell slot. I take it that you can't apply metamagic to these bonus spells, right? What is the rationale behind this? Is the gold going into buying magical inks or what?
I actually don't own the DMG (or any core books); I just use the SRDs and my imagination.

 

[Psimancer]

It’s in the SRD my friend; Magic Items I (Basics and Creation) – look for the table labelled ‘Estimating Magic Item Gold Piece Values’…

Metamagic? I don’t see why not. Just treat the spell level inclusive of the increase.

I don’t know if you use the Wizards SRD online or something third party, but I use the Andargor searchable html version ( http://www.andargor.com/ ) - highly recommended…

 

[Ferret]

This looks very cool. Aren't the times for the preperation very short? Isn't the core rule Time 8hrs? Or am I think of something else?

 

[Quickleaf]

Psimancer, thanks for the tip!
I guess the idea of applying metamagic works fine so long as the spell is scribed as a metamagic altered spell (so wizard would just pay more money). I always struggle to make sense out of that part of the SRD, so thanks!

Ferret: The wizard still needs to sleep before preparing. Actually, the "medium" sized spellbook follows the base SRD rules for spell prep times.

Check out my new post "Signs of Power" for a look at alternate familiars.

 

[VirgilCaine]

Lets see...stuff from previous threads on other boards...

Different types of storage: quipus, cloaks and robes that had intricate designs on them, ritual scarring, carved staves, burning reconsituting herb/mineral combinations for a specific spell.

Also, a Rubik's cube that brings up different spells with different combinations of squares. Might be an artifact.

Metal sheet + metal potion bottles. Pour contents of latter on former, spelling out on liquid form the spell.

Nice .pdf by the way. I like the spellbook templates.