Spontaneity from open slots

[DanMcS]

Is that correct? Checking the SRD, it says that Wizards can prepare spells at any time, leaving spell slots open to prepare later. But it only says that clerics don't have to prepare all their spells at once, and drops the issue. But it says specifically for clerics that they need to prepare their spells at a certain time each day...

So can clerics leave slots open, or is that a wizard-only thing?

The time of day is when they must stop and pray- this is in place of the 8 hours of rest requirement for wizards. They also prepare spells at that time, but can leave slots open as a wizard can. It isn't stated explicitly, but they can fill them later, too, just as a wizard can.

 

[ThirdWizard]

This is extremely good and often overlooked, especially with 4th level cleric spells. That 4th level list has a bunch of utility, but you never know if you're going to need a lesser restoration or an air walk or a divination, or a neutralize poison, etc etc. Sure, you could carry a scroll around of every spell, but try it out sometime and I guarantee you'll like the results. Or your money back*.

_{*money back gurantee not actually a money back gurantee}

 

[Jdvn1]

_{*money back gurantee not actually a money back gurantee}

Blast!

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

I agree. Unless you plan on waltzing into a dangerous dungeon that day, it is an extremely good idea to keep at least one high level slot open once you get past 6th level. Maybe not your highest slot, but one of them. There are a lot of specialized spells that you can never foresee needing (e.g. Water Breathing) and a lot of other non-combat spells that you cannot always have the right combination at the right time (Commune, Sending, 2xTeleport, etc.)

 

[ThirdWizard]

I agree. Unless you plan on waltzing into a dangerous dungeon that day, it is an extremely good idea to keep at least one high level slot open once you get past 6th level. Maybe not your highest slot, but one of them. There are a lot of specialized spells that you can never foresee needing (e.g. Water Breathing) and a lot of other non-combat spells that you cannot always have the right combination at the right time (Commune, Sending, 2xTeleport, etc.)

Agreed! In fact IMC many town-faring NPCs leave lots of slots free, espeically if they sell their spells as a service. You never know when some pesky adventurers will carry a slab of what used to be an adventurer into your temple asking to make it move again.

 

[Li Shenron]

When a cleric is preparing his spells for the day, he can leave one or more slots open to be filled later. Can one of those open slots be used for a spontaneous cure/inflict, or must the cleric fill it with an actual spell first?

I think it makes very sense that he can cast spontaneously from "open" slots.

It must be in place of a prepared spell.

Do you really really believe that the author had in mind the vastly uncommon option of keeping slots "open", when he wrote those exact words?

 

[Scharlata]

The time of day is when they must stop and pray - this is in place of the 8 hours of rest requirement for wizards. They also prepare spells at that time, but can leave slots open as a wizard can. It isn't stated explicitly, but they can fill them later, too, just as a wizard can.

Hi!

IMC we handle it exactly like this, in spite of the not-too-specifically defined text for clerics.

Kind regards

 

[Staffan]

I think by the RAW, you could not convert an empty slot to a cure. The SRD says "The cleric can 'lose' any prepared spell that is not a domain spell in order to cast any cure spell of the same spell level or lower" (emphasis mine). An empty slot is not a prepared spells, and thus could not be converted.

 

[iwatt]

I agree. Unless you plan on waltzing into a dangerous dungeon that day, it is an extremely good idea to keep at least one high level slot open once you get past 6th level. Maybe not your highest slot, but one of them. There are a lot of specialized spells that you can never foresee needing (e.g. Water Breathing) and a lot of other non-combat spells that you cannot always have the right combination at the right time (Commune, Sending, 2xTeleport, etc.)

I took this lesson to heart from the greatest wizard in the Story Boards....Mostin (Seps Story hour). Besides having my wizards wear flamboyant hats and lug around a useless weapon , I leave higher "valence" slots open for emergencies that a scroll justa can't cover.

But returning to the thread, I waa always under the impression that as a cleric I couldn't prepare any spells other than at the appointed time. Therefore as a cleric I always prepare all my slots or they'd necessarily be left unused.

 

[Mekabar]

I think it makes very sense that he can cast spontaneously from "open" slots.

Do you really really believe that the author had in mind the vastly uncommon option of keeping slots "open", when he wrote those exact words?

No it does not make sense. A Cleric is required to spend at least an hour of praying and contemplation to gain his divine spells. If he does not, he cannot transform 'potentially possible spells' into cure spells, he must have completed the preparation.