Spell preparation- arcane and divine...

[BlazeLeeDragon]

ok so here I've run into some confusion latly... sorcerers don't prepare spells, they just know some spells and are limited on how many they can cast each day...

wizards have to prepare spells...so what does this mean? a wizard prepares a certain number of spells and can cast any of them so many times perday? or does it mean he has to prepare each spell the number of times he wants to cast it?

as an example if he can cast 3 level one spells a day. does that mean he can prepare magic missle, sleep and mage armor, then cast any of the three as long as he doesn't go over three castings?

or does it mean if he prepares magic missle twice and sleep, he can only cast sleep once and magic missle twice that day?

now, rangers have access to divine spells...does that mean they have ot have a diety to get there spells? or are they like druids its' there faith in nature that grants them spells?

and another thing, since wizards can make there own spells, what is to stop them from crafting a healing spell? or a mending spell that works on flesh?

thank you in advance for those who take the time to descipher my ramblings and give me some input...

 

[Runestar]

or does it mean if he prepares magic missle twice and sleep, he can only cast sleep once and magic missle twice that day?

This.

now, rangers have access to divine spells...does that mean they have ot have a diety to get there spells? or are they like druids its' there faith in nature that grants them spells?

I believe this depends on your setting. The PHB allows for a divine spellcaster (even a cleric) to worship a belief instead of a deity, and this is enough to grant him his divine spells. So your ranger's faith in nature (or some other ideal) will suffice.

However, certain campaign settings, such as the Forgotten Realms, explicitly requires divine spellcasters to worship deities to receive their divine spells.

and another thing, since wizards can make there own spells, what is to stop them from crafting a healing spell? or a mending spell that works on flesh?

Nothing really. But I believe the DMG discourages this as it wants the various spellcasting classes to preserve their uniqueness. Divine spells excel in healing, and it is recommended that you keep it that way by limiting them to divine spellcasters. Sure, you could allow your wizard to research arcane versions of cure wounds (and bards can cast them as arcane spells already), but this may risk them encroaching on a cleric's speciality.

I mean - what then is to stop your cleric from researching divine versions of fireball or magic missile?

Go ahead if you are fine with it.

 

[risner]

1) sorcerers don't prepare spells, they just know some spells and are limited on how many they can cast each day...

2) Wizards has to prepare each spell the number of times he wants to cast it?

3) does it mean if he prepares magic missle twice and sleep, he can only cast sleep once and magic missle twice that day?

4) rangers have a diety to get there spells?

5) wizards can make there own spells, what is to stop them from crafting a healing spell? or a mending spell that works on flesh?

1) per level. If they can cast 5 level 1 spells, then they could cast a total of 5 level 1 spells selected from the list of level 1 spells he knows. He doesn't get 5 of each level 1 spell he knows.

2) Yes

3) Correct. He also needs roughly 24 hours between refreshing his spells including 8 hours of rest in there. So he has a certain number of spells he can cast in any given 24 hour period. The FAQ advises the DM to be somewhat free on the "days" so that every day doesn't need exactly 24 or more between the last, with the general goal being he doesn't abuse it.

4) Clerics don't need a god, they can also worship an idea. I'd be surprised if Rangers didn't have this option as well.

5) The DM. Researching new spells are costly and the DM is required to not tell you if it will ever work. So if they DM follows the DMG p36 rules and denies Heal to Wizards researching, that wizard could spend 1,000 gp every month for a hundred years research Wizard Heal and never succeed. In effect spending millions of gp without ever knowing if it will ever work.

 

[BlazeLeeDragon]

thank you all for you help and input this does help a bit, this is one of the things I love about DnD the books are for guidelines and DM gets final say. sometimes the books can get a little sketchy...

so thank you for clearing somthings up