Wizard's new spells each level

[Quidam]

Are there any arcane rules (FR or somesuch) that allow a wizard to, instead of getting two spells of whatever level they like when they level, get a number of spell levels equal to two times the highest level they know? I know this would be easy enough to house rule, but wondered if it'd been thought of before by a designer. Doesn't seem too imbalancing to me, but I don't recall seeing it anywhere before.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Are there any arcane rules (FR or somesuch) that allow a wizard to, instead of getting two spells of whatever level they like when they level, get a number of spell levels equal to two times the highest level they know? I know this would be easy enough to house rule, but wondered if it'd been thought of before by a designer. Doesn't seem too imbalancing to me, but I don't recall seeing it anywhere before.

I think it would be tremendously unbalancing - the wizards would be quickly able to develop immense spellbooks of 1st-3rd level spells in comparison to the situation they have now. They wouldn't be giving up anything to gain a tremendously greater amount of flexibility.

Don't forget, while low level spells don't have the combat bang for the buck of high level spells, there are some things that you *need* a low level spell for... see invisibility or detect thoughts? You've got to have the appropriate 2nd level spells. Featherfall? ditto for 1st level spell.

A 10th level wizard who could pick 10 levels of spells wouldn't be able to pick more than 2 5th level spells, sure... but he could get a 5th, two 2nd and a 1st.

One of the balancing factors for wizards is that they have tough choices about gaining spells.

 

[Quidam]

I see your point. The value of the spells (what it would cost to scribe them) would be the same, but it would afford a greater amount of fliexibility when wizards are flexible enough as it is...

 

[Kershek]

Don't forget that once you get a Blessed Book, 45 spells can be entered into the book freely (i.e. no scribing costs). Once you make one of these (probably around 8th level), and if you're in a wizard's guild, you'll probably have access to spells without having to purchase scrolls. Writing the spells would be free and the only opportunity cost is time.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Don't forget that once you get a Blessed Book, 45 spells can be entered into the book freely (i.e. no scribing costs).

Agh.

Monte - and the Sage? - have suggested there should be no scribing cost.

But please don't use "i.e." to connect "freely" with "no scribing costs", because that's not what the word means in English.

Spells can be entered freely, and according to Monte do not cost anything.

Two different things.

-Hyp.

 

[Kershek]

Er, how else would you view that sentence other than freely meaning "without cost"? What other benefit could it provide?

 

[Chacal]

Re: Re: Wizard's new spells each level

A 10th level wizard who could pick 10 levels of spells wouldn't be able to pick more than 2 5th level spells, sure... but he could get a 5th, two 2nd and a 1st.

One of the balancing factors for wizards is that they have tough choices about gaining spells.

I thought this was an important balancing factor for sorcerers, not wizards. If the wizard can't have at the very least twice the known spells of a sorcerer, I really think he might go sorcerer instead.
I agree this method empowers the wizards, but only slightly IMO, and it reflects better its flexibility. Its application in my campaign hasn't created major inbalance.



Chacal

 

[Hypersmurf]

"How much were your boots?"
"Nothing - I got them freely!"

It's just not how the word is used in English. For "at no cost", we use "for free". "Freely" is used with the other sense of "free" - unrestrained, without impediment, gratuitously.

"Should we stop him?"
"No, he can pass freely."

"With the spectre of war no longer hovering, the wine flowed freely that night."

"Once the bolt was loosened, the rope slid freely through the gap."

-Hyp.

 

[Kershek]

Wonderful quotes you have there.

Now please explain the benefit of spending 9,500 gold on a Boccob's Blessed Book.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Now please explain the benefit of spending 9,500 gold on a Boccob's Blessed Book.

Fitting 45 8th and 9th level spells in one inch of waterproof spellbook, instead of seven 3-inch volumes?

-Hyp.