Spontaneity from open slots

[DanMcS]

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?

Yes. The rule is not in any way vague. It says you can convert a prepared spell.

 

[Jdvn1]

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.

The RAW don't support this reasoning. If he has to pray for each spell, he could potentially leave some open. That also implies that the Cleric has "spell potential." I don't see why he couldn't spontaneously cast spells, other than an obtuse entry from a section that doesn't go into detail about this.

At the very least, he could spend some time later in the day, prepare the slot for something and then spontaneously cast. What's the difference?

 

[AuraSeer]

At the very least, he could spend some time later in the day, prepare the slot for something and then spontaneously cast. What's the difference?

No difference at all, if you have time to spend. But it's a pretty big deal if your prepared spells run dry in combat and you need one more cure right now.

 

[Mekabar]

The difference is, that the power of the spell has to be granted during the process of praying. Without praying (meaning preparing a spell slot) there is no spell power that can be converted, only spell potential that has to be filled by further praying.

 

[Saeviomagy]

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.

I go a step further - I usually have at least one slot free of every level except my highest casting level. I think it annoyed my DM no end when the party would stop do do something, and I'd tell him "I prepare these spells in the first 15 minutes of our wait..."

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.

I think it's perfectly possible for a cleric to leave slots open for later filling and use.

I also think that the POTENTIAL for a spell to be prepared is not the same as having the prepared energy of such spell available. As such, any of the "swap prepared spells for other spells" abilities require the loss of a prepared spell, not just the loss of a slot.

 

[Jdvn1]

Instead, the character chooses a particular part of the day to pray and receive spells. The time is usually associated with some daily event. If some event prevents a character from praying at the proper time, he must do so as soon as possible. If the character does not stop to pray for spells at the first opportunity, he must wait until the next day to prepare spells.

That implies he can't save slots for later.

 

[Someone]

That implies he can't save slots for later.

But you left out the parts that imply that he can do that:

A divine spellcaster chooses and prepares spells ahead of time, just as a wizard does

A divine spellcaster selects and prepares spells ahead of time through prayer and meditation at a particular time of day. The time required to prepare spells is the same as it is for a wizard (1 hour), as is the requirement for a relatively peaceful environment. A divine spellcaster does not have to prepare all his spells at once. However, the character’s mind is considered fresh only during his or her first daily spell preparation, so a divine spellcaster cannot fill a slot that is empty because he or she has cast a spell or abandoned a previously prepared spell.

The first part of the bolded section is important; it leaves clear that they don´t have to prepare all spells at once. It could refer to not having the obligation to prepare all spells, and instead throw several spell slots to the trashbin, but why anyone would do that? Sound a little idiotic. The reason it´s written that way is, I think, is because clerics don´t have to rest 8 hours like wizards do, so it would be possible for them to arbitrarily prepare spells at any point of the day. Instead, the preparing time is fixed, and they can´t refresh the spell slots ("slot that is empty because he or she has cast a spell or abandoned a previously prepared spell") at any other moment. But notice how the SRD doesn´t mention slots left open in that last sentence.