Spellbooks and high level characters

[Thurbane]

So bottom line is that a spell book containing only the "free" spells does not count towards the starting wealth of a wizard, regardless of starting level.

That's pretty much what I thought - thanks.

 

[airwalkrr]

Wizards get 2 free spells per level to add to their spellbooks. So if a Wizard has a spellbook filled with only the 2 free spells per level, this should not count against their starting wealth. If they want more spells, I would definitely make them pay for them.

Yup.

 

[Musrum]

But shouldn't any extra spells would be at full scribing costs plus the standard hire rates of a wizard of the appropriate level to study and scribe the spell?

This would allow the wizard to pay the time cost they would otherwise not be able to pay.

 

[irdeggman]

But shouldn't any extra spells would be at full scribing costs plus the standard hire rates of a wizard of the appropriate level to study and scribe the spell?

This would allow the wizard to pay the time cost they would otherwise not be able to pay.

I assume you are talking about those that aren't part of the initial spellbook and the 2 free per level ones?

That is any that are researched or learned from other sources (like scrolls or other spellbooks).

 

[Musrum]

I assume you are talking about those that aren't part of the initial spellbook and the 2 free per level ones?

That is any that are researched or learned from other sources (like scrolls or other spellbooks).

Yes.

 

[smootrk]

I personally grant characters sets of consumable magic items appropriate to their class and level - aside from the funds that they would get. This is done specifically to address and moderate the consumable nature of items that would have been bought/found/consumed or otherwise used during the time frame prior to the character beginning actual play. Not perfect, but works for us. Now if a wizard needed additional spell choices for a spellbook (beyond the freebies), they could sell these or use the funds that are included for their level at creation... but basically they have to spend.

Another method that I have used in the past to moderate the spellbook & consumable magical items that were assumed to be acquired over time, is to simply grant spellbooks a base set of spells (beyond the freebies) equivalent to the spells/day that the character gets (no bonus spells for high scores though)... for instance a 5th level wizard would get 4 free zero level spells (I only grant the PHB ones for 1st level - so these can be chosen from other sources), 3 free first level spells, 2 second level spells, and 1 free third level spell. These spells added to the 2 freebies per level makes a decent spellbook for character creation purposes.