Wizards - getting caught with the wrong spells prepared

[Arkham]

The wizard in the game I run has Signature spell: Magic missile
for just such occassions.

 

[Three_Haligonians]

I think some great points have been made by Henry...(and kenobi65 too, of course!). I have been playing one particular wizard for several adventures and, over time, I think I've come up with a pretty good system for memorizing spells. Every level that I get to pick spells for my spellbook, I usually pick at least one big damage spell and one sneaky/fun spell. The beauty of spellcasting is that your useful both in and out of combat. I also apply that rule to preparing spells for the day. Usually I make sure I have at least one combative, and one non-combative spell per level memorized, even when we have made a specific plan...you never know when your going to need a non-combatative spell during heavy combat or when your going to need a big-ol-damage-doer when you've planed to sneak around (I have a penchant for rolling crap on a move silently check!).

Moreover, your wizard might want to be a bit more agressive when your party is making its plans. Make sure you say, "Ok, so I am memorizing THESE spells, so that we can...." a lot! The other players can't be held acountable for forgeting your character's weaknesses, so you sometimes have to remind them. Also, usually your spellcaster has a pretty decent intellegence, so use that to your advantage and take a more active role in the plan-making.

And finally, there is always going to be times when your plan goes ka-put, but thats no reason for you to give up on the spells you have memorized. Remember, you can get creative with your spells. Polymorph, for example, has great applications in combat as do a lot of other "sneaky" or "utility" spells.

Remember, Batman doesn't look at his batarangs and go...."Dang, these just have no use against the Joker, guess I'll sit this one out!"

Cheers!

T "Wizards are Like Batman" from Three Haligonians

 

[beaver1024]

No one in my group plays a wizard, mainly for that reason...

Yes same here. Also even if they did know exactly what is going to happen and prepared the best spell they could they're still mostly ineffective. Damage spells don't do enough damage and incapacitating spells has very low probability of suceeding due to nerfed save DCs.

 

[VirgilCaine]

The player may be forgetting the rule that says you can leave some slots unfilled, and then fill them with only 15 minutes of spellbook study. If the party can't take out 15 minutes to prepare for a plan, they're probably screwed anyway.

Also, a wizard has access to scribe scroll, one of the most powerful abilities in-game to me. As a result, wizards in our games tend to NEVER be caught without the right utility spell, unless there's just ZERO time to make ready.

If the DM allows you downtime in a settlement of any decent size, the Wizard should be scribing scrolls. I mean, what else is he going to do? Well, find new spells, and make items, but still--thats like the main thing for [my?] wizards to do when theres nothing to do.

 

[Psion]

Scrolls and open spell slots are your friends (optionally, action points.)

 

[Evilhalfling]

I had some of the same problem IMC everytime I prepared for demons we would face undead and vice versa. Mostly it was a matter of prepaing the wrong defensive spells cause I was a melee specialist. With 5 other players I could easily ransack most of my spells every day, just on defense and buffing.

I figure with an approprate wand (offense) and a pack of scrolls (misc) you should be fine.

 

[Legildur]

I haven't seen this problem much. It has happened at times but more with the Druids I have seen then Wizard or cleric. Preparing spells ahead of time does have its drawback, but has advantages to.

That's odd, because I would have said the opposite for Druids. I'm playing an elven Druid 10 at the moment with the Augment Summoning feat and it's a hoot. I memorise lots of utility spells (cures, freedom of movement, lesser restoration etc) knowing that I can spontaneously cast Summon Natures Ally (I-V) and hit hard that way - fear my Animal Growthed dire wolves - for almost any situation.

 

[IronWolf]

I'll just chime in with my thoughts, though they echo some of the tips already give. Scrolls. Use the scribe scroll feat often and get those utility spells on scrolls. If you are looking for secret doors there is generally plenty of time to read from a scroll. Even some of the buff spells are great off the scroll if you get any moderate warning at all that you are getting closer to combat or into a dangerous situation.

The other is the open spell slot. Fifteen minutes and you have that must have spell. It will really let you get a feel for how the scenario is progressing and make a closer to last minute decision (well at least a last 15 minute decision).

 

[Wormwood]

Scrolls.

I think it's been mentioned.

But seriously. Scrolls.

 

[TheYeti1775]

Play Wizards regularly...

I play Wizards all the time.
Yes I've been caught many times 'with the pants down' so to speak.
I have a couple of spell lists made up.
One for Traveling, One for Friendly City, One for Unsure City, One for Hostile City, and finally One for Laying the Smackdown.
They are my Standard Operating Procedure.
I alter them accordingly as neccessary.
And always scribe scrolls when you can, I have a list prepared ahead of time of ones I will be preparing. Every now and then I have the DM do a time check for me, on how many I could prepare. I mark those from the planned list onto my inventory. This lead to a major suprise to him when we prepped for major battle one time, and let it be known how many fireballs and other battle spells I could lay down on the battlefield.
You can read about it whenever Funeris gets to it in the Story Hour for the "In the Valus - Heroes of Marchford" thread.