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22:10, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Spells, Spell Books & Scrolls etc.

Posted by Hand of DestinyFor group 0
Hand of Destiny
GM, 720 posts
Wed 1 Sep 2021
at 05:35
  • msg #1

Spells, Spell Books & Scrolls etc

The subject of learning, transcribing and copying spells seems to come up regularly so rather than keep answering individual inquiries I will spell everything out here (see what I did there?).  If you have further questions feel free to mail me but I will only answer once, here.  Once it is here it is Canon for this game.

My approach has always been to treat Spell Books as essentially a book of scrolls.  So if you found a spell book belonging to another M-U you have the option to use spells from their book like scrolls, so each time you use one, it disappears from their book.  Or you can write their spells (with Write spell) into your book.  There can only be one 'instance' of a spell.  As a result, this means if one of you were to copy a spell from another players spell book then the spell is actually moved from one book to another book, which obviously you don't want to do.  The only way around this is that one of you would need to be high enough level to make a 'scroll' and give it to the other player (7th level) as per the DMG.

I am fully aware that you guys did not get a good set of spells when you created your characters however the party now has a number of Magic-Users and two extra spell books so in actual fact you now have much greater access to a 'library' of spells than the vast majority of Magic-Users, especially at 1st level, would ever have.  The issues now seem to center around portability or individual access, all these issues can be resolved by earning enough treasure to pay for what you want/need.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:28, Wed 01 Sept 2021.
Hand of Destiny
GM, 721 posts
Wed 1 Sep 2021
at 06:32
  • msg #2

Spells, Spell Books & Scrolls etc

Given this interpretation of the rules, it means that each Magic-Users Spell Book is also a set of scrolls.  So in an emergency situation, a player could use his spell book to cast a spell if he had already used his full complement of spells for any given day, however any spells used in this manner would be permanently removed from their spell book.  A pretty drastic circumstance but a possibility in extreme situations.

Something else worth bearing in mind.  Any spell books or scrolls the party discovers should probably be kept after they are used.  Blank scrolls and spell books are of value, especially when the time comes to make new ones :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:15, Fri 03 Sept 2021.
Hand of Destiny
GM, 725 posts
Fri 3 Sep 2021
at 08:17
  • msg #3

Spells, Spell Books & Scrolls etc

Reversible Spells:

A quick note regarding reversing spells i.e. Bless/Curse, Cure Light Wounds/Cause Light Wounds etc.  If a player wants to use the reverse version of the spell then that is the version they need to memorize or pray for.  e.g. You cannot Pray for Bless and then cast Curse.  Please record reversible spells as shown below:

SpellsLevelMemorized
Bless (Curse)1yes (curse)

Hand of Destiny
GM, 1526 posts
Mon 9 Jan 2023
at 08:10
  • msg #4

Spells, Spell Books & Scrolls etc

A reminder to spell casters.  When you cast an area of effect spell I will no longer accept 'at the nearest enemy' or any other vague statements that are open to interpretation.  In most cases you will have a map that can be used to specify a target or location. Please use the maps to be specific about where you are casting your spell and preferably use north/south/east/West rather than right or left etc.
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