Sorcerer Spell Research

[Merlion]

I am in the process of trying to get a campaign together and I am thinking about how I am going to handle certain things.

I already know I am going to make spell research much easier for most classes, requiring only time and no money or anything.

But theres the big question of handling spontaneous casters (sorcerers and bards) and spell research.

Its pretty vague as it is, but one assumes that they have to wait till they gain a level at which they gain another spell known of the level the want to research a spell at, and have the new spell fill that slot.

Or now I suppose they could also do it at a spell-swap level.

But I am curious as to people thoughts if there would be a balanced way to allow sorcerers and bards to just research new spells, and actually have it just be an additional spell they know. I was thinking along the lines of an XP cost or something similiar but I wanted to see what others thought about it.


I am already of the school of thought that sorcerers dont get enough known spells anyway (I will be using Monte's variant sorcerer), but I'd also like to come up with a way to allow them to research more normally.

 

[Stormborn]

Spontaneous casters don't really "research" spells, at least sorcerers don't. Their spells come from with in, not from research. Consider each level of spells known as a greater understanding of their own nature and their ability to effect the world of magic. This is one of the reasons I think it is best to have sorcerers develop "themed" spell lists. So that the spells chosen make more sense as an evolving power.

I relaize that the PHB does talk about sorcerers being able to research or learn spells from scrolls or spell books, but that it cannot increase the number of spells they already know. I tend to ignore that, it makes the Sorcerer just another kind of wizard, when it has the potential to be so much more.

Adding additonal spells known to a sorcerers list is a really big advantage, more so than for a wizard. If it is a matter of learning spells not on his list in place of the spells he would know already, then just let the sorcerer do that. If it is a matter of adding spells known then it needs to be more difficult than just reasearch. I suggest allowing sorcerers who tap into some new aspect of their nature to gain feats when they would normally be able to do so. Let these feats be like a domain, granting access to 9 levels of new spells known.
(Dragon 311 has an article on these kinds of feats, and Dragon 325 will as well, if I may immodestly suggest them)

If you are more interested in an ongoing, one at a time, system of spell aqusition then you could allow the sorcerer to pay for it like an item. Although perhaps actually adding an item, or a tattoo or something, to your game would be easier to balance.

 

[Merlion]

If you are more interested in an ongoing, one at a time, system of spell aqusition then you could allow the sorcerer to pay for it like an item. Although perhaps actually adding an item, or a tattoo or something, to your game would be easier to balance.

All I am interested in is allowing sorcerers to research/create new spells whenever they want and have the time, instead of having to wait for a certain level when they are able to learn a new one.


I am currently thinking I will probably have it be that they do it as normal for my world (that is to say, spend no money, just the 1 week/spell level in time in apropriate surroundings) plus, for a sorcerer or bard, 100 XP per level of the new spell. And its just added as an additional spell known.

 

[Bryin]

Whenever a sorcerer gains a new level, he can instead of choose from the normal list, he "develops" a new spell through training or something of the like. If a wizard creates a new spell a sorcerer can cast it if he practices it right? :\

 

[Merlion]

Whenever a sorcerer gains a new level, he can instead of choose from the normal list, he "develops" a new spell through training or something of the like

Yes, as it stands now, a Sorcerer (or bard) must wait to create a new spell until he hits a level at which he'd learn a new spell of that level. I know this. I just dont like it and plan to change it. Probably to, Sorcerers can do it at any time, and thereby add to spells known, but they have to spend XP.

If a wizard creates a new spell a sorcerer can cast it if he practices it right?

Not following you here.

 

[mirivor]

Can someone direct me to this alternate sorcerer by Monte? My curiousity is peaked.... Later!

 

[Bryin]

Ok im going to try to explain the best I can right now, cause im really tired*. A wizard has to spend time and money, sometimes XP, to create a new spell. A sorcerer can create a new spell, spend time and no money, sometimes XP, but has to practice with it and cant really learn it till the next level (Does this with the next spells he learns before the next level in ordinary life or adventures, kinda hard to explain). :\

 

[Merlion]

Can someone direct me to this alternate sorcerer by Monte? My curiousity is peaked.... Later!

Its in the Book of Eldritch Might 3

Ok im going to try to explain the best I can right now, cause im really tired*. A wizard has to spend time and money, sometimes XP, to create a new spell. A sorcerer can create a new spell, spend time and no money, sometimes XP, but has to practice with it and cant really learn it till the next level (Does this with the next spells he learns before the next level in ordinary life or adventures, kinda hard to explain).

In the Core rules, they research in exactly the same way, by spending time and money, never XP. Sorcerers have to wait to research until they hit a level at which they would learn a new spell of the level they are researching.

There is no "practicing" of spells. You just research it and its there.


I dont like the fact that a Sorcerer cant just research any time and is still bound by his limit on spells known, even for spells of his own creation. I also dont like that it costs 1000 gp per spell level, for anyone. So, I am doing away with the monetary cost, and probably going to allow sorcerers to research at any time, but at a small cost in XP.

I am just trying to get people's thoughts on the balance of that

 

[Laman Stahros]

Its in the Book of Eldritch Might 3

No, its in Book of Eldritch Might 2 or the Complete Book of Eldritch Might.

 

[Merlion]

Your right, its BOEM 2