Arcane spell casters record the spells that they know in a spell book. Two different sets of rules for handling spell books are presented here—standard rules which limit the number of spells a character may have in their spell book and advanced rules which allow arcane spell casters a much wider range of spells. The referee should decide which rules to use.
A character’s spell book contains exactly the number of spells that the character is capable of memorizing (as determined by the character’s class and level).
Arcane spell casters begin play with as many spells in their spell book as they are able to memorize. The referee may choose these spells or may allow the player to select.
When the number of spells an arcane spell caster can memorize increases (e.g. by gaining an experience level), they can increase the selection of spells in their spell book. In this way, the number of spells in the spell book may be brought in line with the number of spells the character can memorize. This is possible in two ways:
▶ Mentoring: The character may consult an arcane guild or mentor to learn new spells. This process takes about a week of game time. The spells a character learns in this way are determined by the referee, who may decide to let the player choose.
▶ Research: It is also possible to add spells to a spell book by means of magical research.
There is no limit to the number of spells in the character’s spell book.
Arcane spell casters begin play with a number of spells in their spell book determined by their INT score (see the table below). The referee may choose these spells or may allow the player to select.
An arcane spell caster may attempt to add spells to their spell book at any time, as follows:
▶ Copying: Spells of a level which the character can cast may be copied from another source, for example scrolls or the spell books of another spell caster. The chance of success depends on the copying character’s INT score (see the table below). If the roll fails, the character can never learn the spell.
▶ Research: It is also possible to add spells to a spell book by means of magical research.
| Spell Books and Learning Spells | ||
|---|---|---|
| INT | Beginning Spells | Chance of Copying |
| 3 | 1 | 20% |
| 4–5 | 1 | 30% |
| 6–7 | 2 | 35% |
| 8–9 | 2 | 40% |
| 10–12 | 3 | 50% |
| 13–14 | 3 | 70% |
| 15–16 | 4 | 75% |
| 17 | 4 | 85% |
| 18 | 5 | 90% |
An arcane spell caster can rewrite the spells in a lost or destroyed spell book:
▶ Cost: The cost per spell to be recovered is 1 week of game time and 1,000gp per level of the spell. For instance, rewriting two first level spells and one 2nd level spell will take 4 weeks and 4,000gp.
▶ Sole activity: This activity requires complete concentration. The character may not engage in any other activity for the required period.
Each arcane spell caster’s spell books are written so that only the owner is able to read the spells without the use of magic.