Wizard Spell Research

[Morrow]

Independent Research: A wizard also can research a spell independently, duplicating an existing spell or creating an entirely new one.

I've read the entire magic chapter in the PHB, but I've clearly overlooked something. Let's say my wizard has already selected his two new spells for leveling. Now he wants to research another existing spell, say, scorching ray. How long will that take? How much will it cost? Does it require a spellcraft roll or some other roll to determine success? The PHB sends you to the DMG for rules for researching spells, but the DMG only has guidelines for DMs adjudicating new spells. What am I missing?

Morrow

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

IIRC, the guidelines are something like "One week and 1,000gp per spell level for research," but don't quote me on that.

 

[irdeggman]

Pg 198 of the 3.5 DMG under "Researching New Spells" (it also listed in the index).


Basically 1000 gp/week and 1 week per level of the spell and a Spellcraft check with a DC of 10 + spell level.

 

[ARandomGod]

Pg 198 of the 3.5 DMG under "Researching New Spells" (it also listed in the index).


Basically 1000 gp/week and 1 week per level of the spell and a Spellcraft check with a DC of 10 + spell level.

How much will it cost? How long will it take? Well, either the above, which is WAY TOO MUCH, or around 50GP/spell level to copy it out of an existing magic tome, payable to the owner of the tome it's currently in. Or maybe if you're being really mean the price of a scroll of scorching ray.

 

[irdeggman]

How much will it cost? How long will it take? Well, either the above, which is WAY TOO MUCH, or around 50GP/spell level to copy it out of an existing magic tome, payable to the owner of the tome it's currently in. Or maybe if you're being really mean the price of a scroll of scorching ray.

Per the RAW (see DMG reference above) it is 1 week per spell level and it costs 1000 gp per week of research. So it all depends on the level of the spell.


From thePHB pg 179

Copying a spell from another's spell book costs 100 gp per page (1 page per spell level) plus the 50 gp "feee" that may or may not be charged. And the Spellcraft checkis 15 + spell level. Copying a spell takes 1 day regardless of the level of the spell.

Nothing is free except the bonus 2 spells a wizard gets every level.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Nothing is free except the bonus 2 spells a wizard gets every level.

And scribing into a boccob's blessed book/aureon's spellshard.

 

[ARandomGod]

Copying a spell from another's spell book costs 100 gp per page (1 page per spell level) plus the 50 gp "feee" that may or may not be charged. And the Spellcraft checkis 15 + spell level. Copying a spell takes 1 day regardless of the level of the spell.

Of course, plus that additional scribing cost if you don't have a blessed book. ^_^
I sort of took that as just understood. Which is often a mistake.

 

[Tarangil]

Basically 1000 gp/week and 1 week per level of the spell and a Spellcraft check with a DC of 10 + spell level, sounds good.

To make things interesting, have the DM roll the Spellcraft check, after all sometimes research may go wrong, you forgot to carry the Y and when you try it for the first time it may not work as well as it should...adds a bit of realism that way, as long as the DM isn't cruel.


Suddenly Hakims Scorching Ray burst forth from his hand not as a firey beam of light, but a barrage of puppies which yelped on contact whilest blugening the now surprised, but unburnt troll.

 

[frankthedm]

Basically 1000 gp/week and 1 week per level of the spell and a Spellcraft check with a DC of 10 + spell level, sounds good.

To make things interesting, have the DM roll the Spellcraft check, after all sometimes research may go wrong, you forgot to carry the Y and when you try it for the first time it may not work as well as it should...adds a bit of realism that way, as long as the DM isn't cruel.


Suddenly Hakims Scorching Ray burst forth from his hand not as a firey beam of light, but a barrage of puppies which yelped on contact whilest blugening the now surprised, but unburnt troll.

The DM should be encouraged to be as cruel as possible, the player chose not to take 10 on a roll they could pass when rolling a "5". [25 point buy wizard has +6 spellcraft at first level]


Do not forget, the player does not know if the spell will work until AFTER the costs are paid.