Granted, it is known already that wizards cannot access their 2 free spells per level until they take a long rest given the nature of how they prepare spells. However since you don't prepare cantrips and they don't go in your spellbook (at least mechanically), when does a wizard gain a cantrip; before or after the first long rest after leveling up?
I would rule that you get it whenever you complete the level up. I envision a "EUREKA" moment where all the research they are supposed to have been doing finally works.
They get it when they level up. In my experience we usually level up between adventures/sessions so it's a non-issue.
DMs can change this however they want, but by default you get everything for your next level when you gain that level: new spells, new slots, additional uses of limited use features, max HP. The only things that don't change is current HP and prepared spells (cantrips are not prepared).
Yep - characters gain all the updates/benefits from leveling up when they level up.
However, when they level up is completely up to the DM. It is pretty common for a DM to require a long rest as part of the leveling up process. A DM can say a character has earned enough XP or milestones to progess to the next level but then make that contingent on a long rest or being out of a dungeon or whatever the DM prefers. Keep in mind that it is up to the DM to inform the players that they will level up before, during, or after a rest - so the DM may just let them know after the long rest that they leveled up.
In general there are somethings I provide to PC when leveling up during an active adventure (like HP and stat increases but not feats) and others that I say you have to take some time to work out all the basic "know how" of the incite you have gained from the last level. In the case of cantrips I would rule during the last level you have expanded your level of understanding and after spending some time you learn a new cantrip. How Long? Well I would say a very short time since it is a cantrip and rule 5-10 min (depends on campaign and setting rules and vibe I want to project in the setting).
I might also ask my players or GM how they want to deal with it and point out that maybe enemies might be bound by the same ruling.
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Granted, it is known already that wizards cannot access their 2 free spells per level until they take a long rest given the nature of how they prepare spells. However since you don't prepare cantrips and they don't go in your spellbook (at least mechanically), when does a wizard gain a cantrip; before or after the first long rest after leveling up?
I would rule that you get it whenever you complete the level up. I envision a "EUREKA" moment where all the research they are supposed to have been doing finally works.
They get it when they level up. In my experience we usually level up between adventures/sessions so it's a non-issue.
DMs can change this however they want, but by default you get everything for your next level when you gain that level: new spells, new slots, additional uses of limited use features, max HP. The only things that don't change is current HP and prepared spells (cantrips are not prepared).
You gain anything new when you level up.
You level up when the DM determine it (milestone or XP)
Yep - characters gain all the updates/benefits from leveling up when they level up.
However, when they level up is completely up to the DM. It is pretty common for a DM to require a long rest as part of the leveling up process. A DM can say a character has earned enough XP or milestones to progess to the next level but then make that contingent on a long rest or being out of a dungeon or whatever the DM prefers. Keep in mind that it is up to the DM to inform the players that they will level up before, during, or after a rest - so the DM may just let them know after the long rest that they leveled up.
In general there are somethings I provide to PC when leveling up during an active adventure (like HP and stat increases but not feats) and others that I say you have to take some time to work out all the basic "know how" of the incite you have gained from the last level. In the case of cantrips I would rule during the last level you have expanded your level of understanding and after spending some time you learn a new cantrip. How Long? Well I would say a very short time since it is a cantrip and rule 5-10 min (depends on campaign and setting rules and vibe I want to project in the setting).
I might also ask my players or GM how they want to deal with it and point out that maybe enemies might be bound by the same ruling.