Spell Mastery?

[LazarusLong42]

I'm guessing that this topic's been done to death, but unfortunately I can't search, so...

Spell Mastery. To quote the SRD:

Benefit: Each time the wizard takes this feat, choose a number of spells equal to the wizard's Intelligence modifier (they must be spells that the wizard already knows). From that point on, the wizard can prepare those spells without referring to a spellbook.

I can see several ways of interpreting this, and can't find anything in the FAQ or Errata about it. Ways I can see to interpret this:

(1) The strictest and most literal interpretation: The Wizard gains the benefit of not having to prepare those spells using his spellbook. He still has to prepare them, though, which takes the same amount of time in the morning. (The feat becomes useless except in the very unlikely situation that you lose your spellbook.)

(2) A bit less literal and more liberal: The Wizard may leave a spell slot (or two or eight) open during morning preparation, and "prepare" the spell during the day at some point, after which he can immediately use it. The "preparation" time is the spell's level divided by the total spell levels in the Wizard's allotment for the day, times one hour. (The feat is useful, but only in non-combat situations.)

(3) The Wizard may leave a spell slot (or two or eight) open during morning preparation, and spontaneously cast any of the spells on his Spell Mastery list from one of the open slots.

(4) The most liberal: The Wizard may drop any of his prepared spells (same level or higher) and instead spontaneously cast one of the spells on his Spell Mastery list.

Has the Sage or anyone else with vague authority said anything with respect to this situation? Does anyone here have opinions? Am I nuts for thinking that (3) above was the original intent, but lost int he wording?

(And yes, I know the wording will probably change come 3.5e... but it's possible that it won't.)

 

[Hypersmurf]

(2) A bit less literal and more liberal: The Wizard may leave a spell slot (or two or eight) open during morning preparation, and "prepare" the spell during the day at some point, after which he can immediately use it. The "preparation" time is the spell's level divided by the total spell levels in the Wizard's allotment for the day, times one hour. (The feat is useful, but only in non-combat situations.)

That one, except that there's a minimum of 15 minutes preparation time.

And I think the fraction is based on number of slots, rather than number of spell levels.

PHB p155: "This preparation takes at least 15 minutes, and it takes longer if the wizard prepares more than one-quarter of her spells."

It's up to the DM, I guess, what constitutes "a quarter of her spells" - levels or simply number of slots.

Spell Mastery definitely doesn't allow spontaneous casting.

-Hyp.

 

[Hygric]

Shouldn't it be #1 instead of #2, as a wizard can leave a few slots open to be filled in as needed (with the time constraints) that can be filled with spells from either their spellbook or spell-mastery?

And as for #1 being useless, kinda. If you do ever have your spellbooks stolen or you are imprissoned or deprived of them for whatever other reason, you will appreciate having a teleport that you have mastered.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

It's #1.

Any wizard can leave slots open to be filled later in the day. As ordinary spell preparation takes one hour, you figure out the time it takes to prepare the spells later in the day by taken the fraction of your spells you are preparing, and use the same fraction of an hour to prepare. 1/2 spells being prepared, 1/2 hour, etc.

No wizard can spontaneously cast. Except (I think) if he's taken the Signature Spell feat. (Where's that feat from, btw?)

 

[Hypersmurf]

Yup. But the fact that he listed #2 as an option suggested that perhaps he didn't realise a wizard can leave open slots already...

Once the "time to prepare" clause in #2 is corrected, #1 and #2 are in fact the same, and are both the correct answer.

-Hyp.

 

[fba827]

Except (I think) if he's taken the Signature Spell feat. (Where's that feat from, btw?)

Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting book.

---
In a related topic, Spell Mastery does have other uses in my game as it is the prereq. for several house made feats. Fits rather nicely, really. Just mentioning this to open up the possibility to others that there are more uses for it besides "in case the spell book gets stolen" (yeah yeah, it's a house rule, but think of there are creative possibilities there )

 

[Sir Whiskers]

Concerning Spell Mastery, if a wizard does take this feat, I recommend spells with no focus or material component. Recently the party in my campaign was captured. They eventually escaped, but the wizard not only had no spellbook, but also no component pouch. Even with Spell Mastery, most of his spells would have been unusable. While it's rare that a wizard character loses his spellbook, it's even rarer that he'd lose the spellbook but not his component pouch.

Quick question concerning open slots: Can a wizard memorize a spell, then decide later that day to change it? During the normal memorization process, a wizard can choose to "forget" a spell harmlessly to replace it with another - can he do so in the same way he fills open slots (so long as he hasn't yet cast it that day)?

 

[Hypersmurf]

During the normal memorization process, a wizard can choose to "forget" a spell harmlessly to replace it with another - can he do so in the same way he fills open slots (so long as he hasn't yet cast it that day)?

"She cannot, however, abandon a previously prepared spell to replace it with another one." PHB p155.

-Hyp.

 

[Darklone]

Quick question concerning open slots: Can a wizard memorize a spell, then decide later that day to change it? During the normal memorization process, a wizard can choose to "forget" a spell harmlessly to replace it with another - can he do so in the same way he fills open slots (so long as he hasn't yet cast it that day)?

No.

 

[Sir Whiskers]

Thanks. That will settle a discussion that came up the last two sessions.