Spells categorized by rarity?

[dreaded_beast]

I think I remembered seeing a list somewhere of the PHB arcane/divine spells categorized by rarity, such as: common, uncommon, rare, unique, etc.

Anyone care to point me in the right direction or share their list?

 

[Crothian]

Arcana Unearthed does this....

 

[Staffan]

I think Forgotten Realms Adventures had a list of spells (from the PHB and those included in that book) sorted by rarity, for generation of scrolls. That may or may not be all that useful in 3e, however.

 

[Pinotage]

I really like this idea, and I'd love to see a list such as this. Are Arcana Unearthed's spells similar to those of the PHB so that there is at least a starting point?

Pinotage

 

[Staffan]

I really like this idea, and I'd love to see a list such as this. Are Arcana Unearthed's spells similar to those of the PHB so that there is at least a starting point?

AU's spells aren't so much divided by "rarity" as they are "complexity". By the RAW, an AU caster automatically has access to all the spells he can cast - simple spells for any caster, complex spells for magisters, a limited set of complex spells for other casters depending on class and feats, and possibly a very limited set of exotic spells depending on class and feats.

The way to get access to spells of a certain type are:
Simple - Automatic.
Complex - Magisters get it automatically. You can expand the base selection with feats - there's one that gives you access to a full spell level of complex spells, and many that say "If you can normally only cast simple spells of a certain level, you can also cast complex spells with descriptor X. If you can normally cast all complex spells of a certain level, you can also cast exotic spells with that descriptor." Greenbonds and high-level witches have limited access to complex and exotic spells, based on descriptors (Greenbonds get all Plant and Positive Energy spells, Witches get one descriptor based on what type of witch they are).
Exotic - Greenbonds and Witches get limited access, as above. A magister who takes one of the descriptor-enhancing feats gets access to exotic spells of one descriptor. Otherwise, it's one feat for one spell.

 

[JoeGKushner]

I think Forgotten Realms Adventures had a list of spells (from the PHB and those included in that book) sorted by rarity, for generation of scrolls. That may or may not be all that useful in 3e, however.

I believe that you are correct and that it's an old old book at this point.

Solid idea though and useful for costing spells and handing out magic items.

 

[Voadam]

The 2e spell encyclopedias had rarity charts.

A basic guideline I use is PH spells are common, with named spells a little less so.

Then go by sourcebook so for FR the CS is the next most common one, followed by Magic of Faerun followed by individual sourcebook spells.

I generally have tome and blood at the level below PH and then other generic sourcebooks of spells (spells and magic, complete book of eldritch might, relics and rituals) at a level below that.

Named spells I always consider a little rarer.