Spells Known Rule of Thumb?

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Do you have a general rule of thumb for how many spells an NPC wizard (for example) knows, above and beyond the minimums as stated in the PH?

I realize NPCs can buy scrolls and scribe them into the spellbooks, but that requires a lot of bookkeeping (if you want to be accurate) so I'm looking for a good rule of thumb.

Thoughts?

 

[Asmor]

My rule of thumb: They know whatever spells I need them to know, and that's it. Generally, that means a combat spell, maybe a summoning spell, and perhaps some odd utility spell (like spider climb or invisibility) to make the combat a bit more interesting.

Of course, I'm also lucky in that none of my players play characters which would have anything to gain from searching a spell book. If they were to search it, I'd probably just pick a few random spells besides the ones from above, and say that the rest were overlap that the PC already knew. Basically, I'd figure the new spells they could get from the spellbook as treasure.

 

[Stalker0]

Agreed, statting every spell every time gets real old real fast. Give them the basics for what they need.

 

[sjmiller]

I created a couple fairly generic spellbooks, on the off chance anyone is looking through the spellbooks of NPC wizards. So far I needed one small one, and I had it ready instantly.

 

[Owen K.C. Stephens]

My quick rule is two more spells known for each level lower than their max. So a 7th level NPC wizard is going to have 2 4th level, 4 3rd level, 6 2nd level, 8 1st level, and 10 0-level spells known.

Now, that general guideline is for an adventuring wizard who's been out doing things. If the character is a court wizard sitting around all day I often bump up spells known. In fact, I've had NPC wizards who were much lower level than tjhe PCs they were supposed to interact with on a regular basis, but could do so because they knew lots and lots of spells.

 

[Plane Sailing]

For generic NPC wizards?

My rule of thumb is just 2 spells per level over 1st, assuming that they always pick the highest level spells available at any time. I assume that NPC wizards haven't bought scrolls or done anything else above and beyond the normal

For specific NPC wizards they just have what I want the players to gain as treasure...

 

[Remathilis]

I borrowed the RPGA rule for higher-level casters.

All 0-level.
3+ int of 1st level at first level.
2/wiz caster level after that.
A number of spell LEVELS equal to you RANKS in spellcraft (up to the max Spell level you can cast).

So A wizard5 with 8 ranks in spellcraft would have is starting spells, 8 additional from level, and 8 spell levels worth (8 1st OR 4 2nd OR 1 3rd, 2 2nd, 1 1st)

Alot easier for HL mages to handle.

 

[gamecat]

If you still have it, the D&D character generator demo makes for fairly easy gear distribuiton, including spellbooks.

 

[Mark CMG]

I've been giving this a lot of thought, lately, as a matter of fact, and I think I am leaning toward taking thier Intelligence score, adding 5, and then using the bonus spells from the Ability Modifiers and Bonus Spells table as the number of additional spells in an NPC wizard's spellbook (not allowing them to add spells above levels they can cast). They do, of course, get all 0-level spells, three 1st-level spells (plus their additional 1st-level spells based on Intelligence score bonus), and the ones they gain through leveling (I usually have pick from the highest available level). I have been feeling that, if for nothing else than versatility's sake, NPC wizards should be more well-rounded than just combat machines and with too limited a spell selection there's not much choice otherwise beyond first level spells. This way smarter ones add more spells at lower levels and continue to add them to higher levels, too.

 

[FnordBear]

When I need to populate a "generic" npc wizard's spellbook I just make sure it contains the spells used in the encounter and 1d4 additional spells per level that the wizard could cast and a 20% chance of a single spell in the book one level higher than they could cast.

That said I do keep a few premades in a file that I can whip out as needed. I also update these premades as I add new approved books to my collection.

The look on player's face is priceless when you give them a spellbook with a spell in it they have never heard of but once read find they will like.

Should also probably note I stay very familiar with all the spells my players have access too and when I believe they will be gaining a spellbook as treasure I make sure it has at least 1 spell per level they can cast that they do not already possess.