Wizard, Learning Spells when gaining a level

[Centaur]

Straight by the rules, the wizard gains two (2) spells when he goes up in level for free. Assuming that you would allow it, what should be the cost of learning more than 2 spells.

I was thinking of doing some sort of experience (XP) cost for learning an additional spell or two. I was possibly thinking if it being 25 or 50 exp multiplied by the level of the spell to achive the "free" learning of it when the level was gained.

In addition, I was thinking of that being the cost of the first (1st) spell beyond the basic two (2). If the character wanted more than that, it would be x2 for the second, x3 for the third...

Anyway, I was wondering what people thought of this as an idea. I'm turning it into a poll with a yes/no result as to weather it should be possible or not and asking for input on what the cost should be if it were to be allowed or reasons as to why it shouldn't be allowed.

Thoughts?

 

[Sir Whiskers]

I see two issues with this:

1. Do wizard characters have adequate sources for gaining new spells over and above the free spells gained with a new level? If not, this would help make up for the lack. As an example, RttToEE had far too few wizard scrolls (as opposed to clerical scrolls) and the player of our party wizard was very frustrated at times.

2. Do you enforce the core rules for scribing spells into the wizard's spellbook? If so, the cost of adding new spells quickly mounts for the wizard characters. Again, the proposed rule would help with this problem.

In a campaign where wizards can easily gain new spells, at little cost, from a variety of sources, the proposed change might be unbalancing. It really depends how much a GM wants to control wizards by limiting spell choice. I'm of the opinion that a wizard with a spellbook containing 90% of the PH spells is not that much more powerful than one with just 4-5 spells per level. He would be somewhat more flexible, but still limited in the number he can memorize and cast each day. YMMV.

 

[Kalanyr]

At 50 XP per spell level you're probably better off paying the 150 GP per spell level for buying and scribing in a campaign where thats an option. The 25 XP per spell level seems okay to me.

 

[Eolin]

Heck, I might give them more for free. Seems to me that to distuingish from a sorcerer, the wizard needs a lot of spells known....

 

[Khaalis]

In a standard D&D game, this should be being controlled by the DM if they are doing their job correctly. If the DM's party includes a Wizard, then the DM needs to act accordingly and grant that player things to benefit the character's development and growth. This should be through access to a wizard's guild, or the accesss to acquire scrolls or even occasionally a spellbook find. From their it is up to the character to spend the money and time to scribe scrolls into their spellbook. If a DM is failing to this for his player, then this is something the players and DM need to sit down and discuss as the DM should not be placing undo restrictions on the growth of a class. Restricting a Wizard to only the 2 spells they gain for free each level would be similar to letting their be Fighters in the game but saying their is no armor to be had in the world and only simple weapons. Rather simplistic but you get the point.