I a newbie DM running Saltmarsh and I am trying to figure out spellbooks. For instance, a spellbook is found and has dancing lights, comprehend languages, Tenser's floating disk, and shatter. Can anyone cast these spells or only wizards able to use these spells? The party has a sorcerer who learns spells differently so I assume that they cannot use the spells.
My understanding of spellbooks is that they're considered to be "instructions" for the specific wizard who wrote them. Other wizards can transcribe such spells into their own spellbook, but the process has time and cost associated to it (time to decode the "instructions" of the wizard who wrote the spell down and the cost of materials to practice it). But I believe it's just arcane magic users who can learn spells from spellbooks (so Arcane trickster rogues can, as can multiclass wizards or characters with the magic initiate (wizard) feat). But, I'm pretty new to the game as well, so I could be wrong :)
Only wizards can copy spells into their spellbook, and cantrips can't be learned through this method, since they're at-will. An arcane trickster can't learn spells through this manner, nor can a sorcerer or a character with magic initiate in wizard, since neither of those classes actually have spellbooks, but characters who put even a single level in wizard as a class can. You can only copy spells into your spellbook if you have the available wizard spell slots to cast them
Only wizards can copy spells into their spellbook, and cantrips can't be learned through this method, since they're at-will. An arcane trickster can't learn spells through this manner, nor can a sorcerer or a character with magic initiate in wizard, since neither of those classes actually have spellbooks, but characters who put even a single level in wizard as a class can. You can only copy spells into your spellbook if you have the available wizard spell slots to cast them
The only exception is characters who have the Ritual Caster feat, as they can copy ritual spells (and ONLY ritual spells) from their chosen spell list into their ritual book if they find them out in the world.
Only wizards can copy spells into their spellbook, and cantrips can't be learned through this method, since they're at-will. An arcane trickster can't learn spells through this manner, nor can a sorcerer or a character with magic initiate in wizard, since neither of those classes actually have spellbooks, but characters who put even a single level in wizard as a class can. You can only copy spells into your spellbook if you have the available wizard spell slots to cast them
The only exception is characters who have the Ritual Caster feat, as they can copy ritual spells (and ONLY ritual spells) from their chosen spell list into their ritual book if they find them out in the world.
Exactly this. Any spell that has the ritual tag [R] and is from the chosen spell list can be copied into a Ritual Book. A lot of players forget that and assume they can copy any ritual spell, but it has to be from a specific list. Of the spells you listed, Floating Disk and Comprehend Languages are eligible to be learned as rituals.
If you come across a spell in written form, such as a magical spell scroll or a wizard's spellbook, you might be able to add it to your ritual book. The spell must be on the spell list for the class you chose, the spell's level can be no higher than half your level (rounded up), and it must have the ritual tag. The process of copying the spell into your ritual book takes 2 hours per level of the spell, and costs 50 gp per level. The cost represents material components you expend as you experiment with the spell to master it, as well as the fine inks you need to record it.
Also, the sorcerer details page straight-up says that spellbooks are useless to sorcerers. But spellbooks and ritual books, though a minor distiction, are different things.
One more somewhat rare exception. A Warlock that chooses the Pact of the Tome, then grabs up the Book of Ancient Secrets invocation can also choose to copy any spell with a ritual tag.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I a newbie DM running Saltmarsh and I am trying to figure out spellbooks. For instance, a spellbook is found and has dancing lights, comprehend languages, Tenser's floating disk, and shatter. Can anyone cast these spells or only wizards able to use these spells? The party has a sorcerer who learns spells differently so I assume that they cannot use the spells.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
My understanding of spellbooks is that they're considered to be "instructions" for the specific wizard who wrote them. Other wizards can transcribe such spells into their own spellbook, but the process has time and cost associated to it (time to decode the "instructions" of the wizard who wrote the spell down and the cost of materials to practice it). But I believe it's just arcane magic users who can learn spells from spellbooks (so Arcane trickster rogues can, as can multiclass wizards or characters with the magic initiate (wizard) feat). But, I'm pretty new to the game as well, so I could be wrong :)
Only wizards can copy spells into their spellbook, and cantrips can't be learned through this method, since they're at-will. An arcane trickster can't learn spells through this manner, nor can a sorcerer or a character with magic initiate in wizard, since neither of those classes actually have spellbooks, but characters who put even a single level in wizard as a class can. You can only copy spells into your spellbook if you have the available wizard spell slots to cast them
Thanks, for that. I assumed that was how it worked.
Much appreciated.
The only exception is characters who have the Ritual Caster feat, as they can copy ritual spells (and ONLY ritual spells) from their chosen spell list into their ritual book if they find them out in the world.
Exactly this. Any spell that has the ritual tag [R] and is from the chosen spell list can be copied into a Ritual Book. A lot of players forget that and assume they can copy any ritual spell, but it has to be from a specific list. Of the spells you listed, Floating Disk and Comprehend Languages are eligible to be learned as rituals.
If you come across a spell in written form, such as a magical spell scroll or a wizard's spellbook, you might be able to add it to your ritual book. The spell must be on the spell list for the class you chose, the spell's level can be no higher than half your level (rounded up), and it must have the ritual tag. The process of copying the spell into your ritual book takes 2 hours per level of the spell, and costs 50 gp per level. The cost represents material components you expend as you experiment with the spell to master it, as well as the fine inks you need to record it.
Also, the sorcerer details page straight-up says that spellbooks are useless to sorcerers. But spellbooks and ritual books, though a minor distiction, are different things.
Thanks, everyone. It helps a lot.
One more somewhat rare exception. A Warlock that chooses the Pact of the Tome, then grabs up the Book of Ancient Secrets invocation can also choose to copy any spell with a ritual tag.