Don't they have to be in some language, otherwise you would never be able to decipher a spellbook if the wizard in question is not around to translate?
I always figured a spellbook is like a textbook. It has complicated diagrams and concenpts, but is still written in a language. An English spekaer can read the text of a textbook written in English, but wouldn't necessarily understand the material. On the other hand, a textbook written in mandarin would be completely unintelligible to a even an expert in the topic who only read the latin alphabet.
How do you rule these? What happens if two wizards who don't sdhare a common language want to trade spells?
Related question - How obvious is it that a spellbook is a spellbook, instead of a mundane book?
Spells are recorded in uniques system of notation in a way that any wizards can decipher. Spellbook come in a variety of shape or form but the principle core remains the same, its notations that other wizards can recognize as spells.
Copying a Spell into the Book. When you find a wizard spell of 1st level or higher, you can add it to your spellbook if it is of a spell level you can prepare and if you can spare the time to decipher and copy it. Copying a spell into your spellbook involves reproducing the basic form of the spell, then deciphering the unique system of notation used by the wizard who wrote it. You must practice the spell until you understand the sounds or gestures required, then transcribe it into your spellbook using your own notation. For each level of the spell, the process takes 2 hours and costs 50 gp. 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. Once you have spent this time and money, you can prepare the spell just like your other spells
Essentially, as the Plaguescarred posted, they're in the wizardly equivalent of mathematical notation. Not all of them do it the same, but Wizards can figure out the notation of other Wizards.
Edit: I assume the notation is how one can tell what is a Spellbook, but the notation may be innately magical itself. If your DM, pick your poison for the explanation.
The spellbook of a traveling wizard probably has notes in his favored language, to help with his work in understanding or developing new spells, but the spellbook of a wizard who has a tower, would likely be cleaner because he has plenty of desk space for those notes and doesn't need to clutter up his spellbook.
I always imagine a lot of weird diagrams, drawings and equations. Some sketches would be recognizable but most would be visualizations of things that you can't actually see, like how we have drawings of atoms, or cold fronts.
But the language isn't important, really. The concepts they're dealing with are better expressed in abstraction. Even things like magic words are conceptualized as phonetic expressions rather than linguistic ones -- it's not about the meaning, but the sound -- so I'd imagine verbal components and activation words are written phonetically somehow in a way that transcends language.
I've been thinking about making knowledge of Draconic or at least the magical aspect of it into a prerequisite for becoming a wizard and for writing the mechanics parts of spell scrolls.
Under Dragonborn Traits we read that: "You can speak, read, and write Common and Draconic. Draconic is thought to be one of the oldest languages and is often used in the study of magic. The language sounds harsh to most other creatures and includes numerous hard consonants and sibilants."
I'm also considering that druids might write the mechanics parts of their spell scrolls in druidic but that these scrolls might not provide the kind of reference needed by wizards for the spells to be added to their spellbooks.
Perhaps clerics might write some of their scrolls in or with the incorporation of a language like celestial.
All scrolls would have a ready to be read in under 6 seconds section in a form accessible to a wider range of spellcasters.
My bards have "spell books" for learning new spells that are literally written in musical notation.
However, you could consider there is a universal magic user's cantrip that renders arcane script legible, and this is the first lesson required to move beyond apprentice magic user.
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Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
I was thinking about a spellcaster that has the Ritual Caster Feat. My Bards use musical notation to record these spells.
That's awesome. RAW you'd still need to use magical notation but your "unique system of notation" could certainly be flavoured with even a symphony of further notations.
Wizard (class notes)
YOUR SPELLBOOK
The spells that you add to your spellbook as you gain levels reflect the arcane research you conduct on your own, as well as intellectual breakthroughs you have had about the nature of the multiverse. You might find other spells during your adventures. You could discover a spell recorded on a scroll in an evil wizard’s chest, for example, or in a dusty tome in an ancient library.
Copying a Spell into the Book. When you find a wizard spell of 1st level or higher, you can add it to your spellbook if it is of a spell level you can prepare and if you can spare the time to decipher and copy it.
Copying that spell into your spellbook involves reproducing the basic form of the spell, then deciphering the unique system of notation used by the wizard who wrote it. You must practice the spell until you understand the sounds or gestures required, then transcribe it into your spellbook using your own notation.
For each level of the spell, the process takes 2 hours and costs 50 gp. 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. Once you have spent this time and money, you can prepare the spell just like your other spells.
Replacing the Book. You can copy a spell from your own spellbook into another book—for example, if you want to make a backup copy of your spellbook. This is just like copying a new spell into your spellbook, but faster and easier, since you understand your own notation and already know how to cast the spell. You need spend only 1 hour and 10 gp for each level of the copied spell.
If you lose your spellbook, you can use the same procedure to transcribe the spells that you have prepared into a new spellbook. Filling out the remainder of your spellbook requires you to find new spells to do so, as normal. For this reason, many wizards keep backup spellbooks in a safe place.
The Book’s Appearance. Your spellbook is a unique compilation of spells, with its own decorative flourishes and margin notes. It might be a plain, functional leather volume that you received as a gift from your master, a finely bound gilt-edged tome you found in an ancient library, or even a loose collection of notes scrounged together after you lost your previous spellbook in a mishap.
I would like to know how a Ritual Book is substantially different from a Spellbook.
Do you assert that a player could read a Ritual Book and thereby have some chance at casting a ritual spell, but be unable to do the same spell from a spellbook?
I don't see this notation as anything other than a Ritual Book contains only spells that are able to be cast as rituals. It doesn't make the nature of the book substantively different from a spellbook in this regard.
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Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
I'd say that a ritual book was a type of spellbook as per "These spells are written in a ritual book". Personally, I'd also say that if a Wizard had access to a ritual book the wizard would be able to copy the spells as normal.
I would like to know how a Ritual Book is substantially different from a Spellbook.
Do you assert that a player could read a Ritual Book and thereby have some chance at casting a ritual spell, but be unable to do the same spell from a spellbook?
I don't see this notation as anything other than a Ritual Book contains only spells that are able to be cast as rituals. It doesn't make the nature of the book substantively different from a spellbook in this regard.
It is different in the sense that they're different named game element that serve different purposes. Spellbooks are essential to wizards, which are used to record wizard spells you know that can also be cast as a ritual if it has the ritual tag and you have the spell in your spellbook. You don’t even need to have the spell prepared. When you find a wizard spell of 1st level or higher, you can also add it to your spellbook. You can copy a spell from your own spellbook into another spellbook as well. If you lose your spellbook, you can use the same procedure to transcribe the spells that you have prepared into a new spellbook.
As for ritual book used by Ritual Casters, it contains spells that you can cast as rituals as well, which you must have in hand while casting one of them, while a spellbook you don't have to. Also the ritual spells are not wizard spells necessarily, they can also be bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer or warlock.
Where they become more similar is when 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.
Where the opposite might not be possible. If you're a wizard with a spellbook, and find a ritual book containing non-wizard spells, you will not be able to copy them in your spellbook.
Because ritual book and spellbook are two different things mechanically speaking.
I would like to know how a Ritual Book is substantially different from a Spellbook.
Do you assert that a player could read a Ritual Book and thereby have some chance at casting a ritual spell, but be unable to do the same spell from a spellbook?
I don't see this notation as anything other than a Ritual Book contains only spells that are able to be cast as rituals. It doesn't make the nature of the book substantively different from a spellbook in this regard.
It is different in the sense that they're different named game element that serve different purposes. Spellbooks are essential to wizards, which are used to record wizard spells you know that can also be cast as a ritual if it has the ritual tag and you have the spell in your spellbook. You don’t even need to have the spell prepared. When you find a wizard spell of 1st level or higher, you can also add it to your spellbook. You can copy a spell from your own spellbook into another spellbook as well. If you lose your spellbook, you can use the same procedure to transcribe the spells that you have prepared into a new spellbook.
As for ritual book used by Ritual Casters, it contains spells that you can cast as rituals as well, which you must have in hand while casting one of them, while a spellbook you don't have to. Also the ritual spells are not wizard spells necessarily, they can also be bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer or warlock.
Where they become more similar is when 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.
Where the opposite might not be possible. If you're a wizard with a spellbook, and find a ritual book containing non-wizard spells, you will not be able to copy them in your spellbook.
Because ritual book and spellbook are two different things mechanically speaking.
We don't know whether the difference is in the ritual book or the ritual caster.
If a non-wizard character had the ritual caster feat then, yes, they can only cast the ritual from the book. If that character then became a wizard, could they then prepare the spell from their ritual book? The content of RAW does not tell us. Personally, I don't see a reason to say they couldn't. Others may rule differently.
You have quoted many rules that are not germane to the question.
What language are spellbooks written in?
The only rule i quoted was in post #2 and there no direct info on language specifically, but the feature doesn't prevent one from reading other wizards' spellbook.
I've been thinking about making knowledge of Draconic or at least the magical aspect of it into a prerequisite for becoming a wizard and for writing the mechanics parts of spell scrolls.
Under Dragonborn Traits we read that: "You can speak, read, and write Common and Draconic. Draconic is thought to be one of the oldest languages and is often used in the study of magic. The language sounds harsh to most other creatures and includes numerous hard consonants and sibilants."
I'm also considering that druids might write the mechanics parts of their spell scrolls in druidic but that these scrolls might not provide the kind of reference needed by wizards for the spells to be added to their spellbooks.
Perhaps clerics might write some of their scrolls in or with the incorporation of a language like celestial.
All scrolls would have a ready to be read in under 6 seconds section in a form accessible to a wider range of spellcasters.
I'd imagine though there'd be more to it than that. It might be like asking what language are maths books written in. Yes, there's language but there's also a whole load of maths.
I would like to know how a Ritual Book is substantially different from a Spellbook.
Do you assert that a player could read a Ritual Book and thereby have some chance at casting a ritual spell, but be unable to do the same spell from a spellbook?
I don't see this notation as anything other than a Ritual Book contains only spells that are able to be cast as rituals. It doesn't make the nature of the book substantively different from a spellbook in this regard.
It is different in the sense that they're different named game element that serve different purposes. Spellbooks are essential to wizards, which are used to record wizard spells you know that can also be cast as a ritual if it has the ritual tag and you have the spell in your spellbook. You don’t even need to have the spell prepared. When you find a wizard spell of 1st level or higher, you can also add it to your spellbook. You can copy a spell from your own spellbook into another spellbook as well. If you lose your spellbook, you can use the same procedure to transcribe the spells that you have prepared into a new spellbook.
As for ritual book used by Ritual Casters, it contains spells that you can cast as rituals as well, which you must have in hand while casting one of them, while a spellbook you don't have to. Also the ritual spells are not wizard spells necessarily, they can also be bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer or warlock.
Where they become more similar is when 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.
Where the opposite might not be possible. If you're a wizard with a spellbook, and find a ritual book containing non-wizard spells, you will not be able to copy them in your spellbook.
Because ritual book and spellbook are two different things mechanically speaking.
We don't know whether the difference is in the ritual book or the ritual caster.
If a non-wizard character had the ritual caster feat then, yes, they can only cast the ritual from the book. If that character then became a wizard, could they then prepare the spell from their ritual book? The content of RAW does not tell us. Personally, I don't see a reason to say they couldn't. Others may rule differently.
Where is a ritual book referred to other than in Ritual Caster?
If a Ritual Caster multiclass Wizard, he'd have a ritual book, which he use to cast whatever rituals it contains while in hands, and a spellbook, which he can prepare spells from and cast ritual without even preparing them or needing the book in hand. He could also copy wizard spells contain in his ritual book into his spellbook in order to cast it normally as well.
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Don't they have to be in some language, otherwise you would never be able to decipher a spellbook if the wizard in question is not around to translate?
I always figured a spellbook is like a textbook. It has complicated diagrams and concenpts, but is still written in a language. An English spekaer can read the text of a textbook written in English, but wouldn't necessarily understand the material. On the other hand, a textbook written in mandarin would be completely unintelligible to a even an expert in the topic who only read the latin alphabet.
How do you rule these? What happens if two wizards who don't sdhare a common language want to trade spells?
Related question - How obvious is it that a spellbook is a spellbook, instead of a mundane book?
Spells are recorded in uniques system of notation in a way that any wizards can decipher. Spellbook come in a variety of shape or form but the principle core remains the same, its notations that other wizards can recognize as spells.
Essentially, as the Plaguescarred posted, they're in the wizardly equivalent of mathematical notation. Not all of them do it the same, but Wizards can figure out the notation of other Wizards.
Edit: I assume the notation is how one can tell what is a Spellbook, but the notation may be innately magical itself. If your DM, pick your poison for the explanation.
I would assume a spellbook is easily recognizable to any wizards, but incomprehensible gibberish to others.
The spellbook of a traveling wizard probably has notes in his favored language, to help with his work in understanding or developing new spells, but the spellbook of a wizard who has a tower, would likely be cleaner because he has plenty of desk space for those notes and doesn't need to clutter up his spellbook.
I always imagine a lot of weird diagrams, drawings and equations. Some sketches would be recognizable but most would be visualizations of things that you can't actually see, like how we have drawings of atoms, or cold fronts.
But the language isn't important, really. The concepts they're dealing with are better expressed in abstraction. Even things like magic words are conceptualized as phonetic expressions rather than linguistic ones -- it's not about the meaning, but the sound -- so I'd imagine verbal components and activation words are written phonetically somehow in a way that transcends language.
I've been thinking about making knowledge of Draconic or at least the magical aspect of it into a prerequisite for becoming a wizard and for writing the mechanics parts of spell scrolls.
Under Dragonborn Traits we read that: "You can speak, read, and write Common and Draconic. Draconic is thought to be one of the oldest languages and is often used in the study of magic. The language sounds harsh to most other creatures and includes numerous hard consonants and sibilants."
I'm also considering that druids might write the mechanics parts of their spell scrolls in druidic but that these scrolls might not provide the kind of reference needed by wizards for the spells to be added to their spellbooks.
Perhaps clerics might write some of their scrolls in or with the incorporation of a language like celestial.
All scrolls would have a ready to be read in under 6 seconds section in a form accessible to a wider range of spellcasters.
My bards have "spell books" for learning new spells that are literally written in musical notation.
However, you could consider there is a universal magic user's cantrip that renders arcane script legible, and this is the first lesson required to move beyond apprentice magic user.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
Only Wizards use spellbooks. Other classes with the Spellcasting feature know spells without absolutely having to record them somewhere specifically.
I was thinking about a spellcaster that has the Ritual Caster Feat. My Bards use musical notation to record these spells.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
That's awesome. RAW you'd still need to use magical notation but your "unique system of notation" could certainly be flavoured with even a symphony of further notations.
Wizard (class notes)
Arcannese
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Epic Boons on DDB
Ritual Casters have ritual book, which is not the same as a spellbook.
I would like to know how a Ritual Book is substantially different from a Spellbook.
Do you assert that a player could read a Ritual Book and thereby have some chance at casting a ritual spell, but be unable to do the same spell from a spellbook?
I don't see this notation as anything other than a Ritual Book contains only spells that are able to be cast as rituals. It doesn't make the nature of the book substantively different from a spellbook in this regard.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
I'd say that a ritual book was a type of spellbook as per "These spells are written in a ritual book". Personally, I'd also say that if a Wizard had access to a ritual book the wizard would be able to copy the spells as normal.
It is different in the sense that they're different named game element that serve different purposes. Spellbooks are essential to wizards, which are used to record wizard spells you know that can also be cast as a ritual if it has the ritual tag and you have the spell in your spellbook. You don’t even need to have the spell prepared. When you find a wizard spell of 1st level or higher, you can also add it to your spellbook. You can copy a spell from your own spellbook into another spellbook as well. If you lose your spellbook, you can use the same procedure to transcribe the spells that you have prepared into a new spellbook.
As for ritual book used by Ritual Casters, it contains spells that you can cast as rituals as well, which you must have in hand while casting one of them, while a spellbook you don't have to. Also the ritual spells are not wizard spells necessarily, they can also be bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer or warlock.
Where they become more similar is when 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.
Where the opposite might not be possible. If you're a wizard with a spellbook, and find a ritual book containing non-wizard spells, you will not be able to copy them in your spellbook.
Because ritual book and spellbook are two different things mechanically speaking.
We don't know whether the difference is in the ritual book or the ritual caster.
If a non-wizard character had the ritual caster feat then, yes, they can only cast the ritual from the book. If that character then became a wizard, could they then prepare the spell from their ritual book? The content of RAW does not tell us. Personally, I don't see a reason to say they couldn't. Others may rule differently.
You have quoted many rules that are not germane to the question.
What language are spellbooks written in?
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
The only rule i quoted was in post #2 and there no direct info on language specifically, but the feature doesn't prevent one from reading other wizards' spellbook.
My best guess is something akin to Draconic.
I'd imagine though there'd be more to it than that. It might be like asking what language are maths books written in. Yes, there's language but there's also a whole load of maths.
Where is a ritual book referred to other than in Ritual Caster?
If a Ritual Caster multiclass Wizard, he'd have a ritual book, which he use to cast whatever rituals it contains while in hands, and a spellbook, which he can prepare spells from and cast ritual without even preparing them or needing the book in hand. He could also copy wizard spells contain in his ritual book into his spellbook in order to cast it normally as well.