My dm starts us at 3rd lvl to get the ball rolling, I understand at 3rd level I am able to use 6 prepared spells between rests (4 lvl 1 and 2 lvl 2), my question is are those 6 the only spells I "know" or have I accumulated more spells to choose from to ready my prepared list. If so how many? I'm unsure because at lvl 1 I have 6 lvl 1 spalls to choose from for my prepared list.
At 3rd level, you should have 10 noncantrip spells in your spellbook (6 at 1st level, and 2 for every level after that.) You have to prepare these spells before you can cast them.
At the end of each long rest, you can prepare a number of spells equal to your wizard level + your intelligence modifier. This number is probably close to 6.
Each time you cast any of these spells, you have to use up one of your four 1st level spell slots or two 2nd level spell slots. The slot has to be the same level as the spell, or higher. Some spells have an additional effect when cast at a higher level. You get your spell slots back when you finish a long rest. You can also recover some of them after a short rest using your Arcane Recovery feature.
If any of the spells in your spellbook has the ritual tag, you can cast it without having it prepared or spending a spell slot. When you cast a spell this way, the casting time increases by 10 minutes, you need to have your spellbook with you, and you have to maintain your concentration all throughout the casting.
I recommend you read the general spellcasting rules and then the Spellcasting feature of the wizard class.
Also, also, because wizards can cast ritual spells without preparing them, it wouldn't be a bad idea to learn as many ritual spells as spells can't prepare. (You can prepare a number of spells equal to your wizard level + INT mod, but you learn (at least) 2 spells per wizard level +4 so you will always have spells you can't prepare).
Thanks guys, I just wanted to make Sure before I picked to many spells to "know". Also, also, also, lol, I didn't realise I could cast ritual spells without needing them in my prepared list as long as I "know" them. The ritual tag was still confusing me. As I understand it now "ritual spells can be cast without being prepared as long as u know them but if they are in your prepared list they can be cast without the long wait time, yes?
Ritual spells take 10 minutes longer to cast than their casting time if you cast them as a ritual without needing to use a spell slot or have them prepared if you’re a wizard
If you’re in a hurry you can cast them normally using spell slots if you have them prepared.
This was definitely difficult for me at first. I understood how many spell slots I had and the number of cantrips, but overall spells I was lost. It got even more of a pain as I would learn new spells from other sources. Once I tracked it all down though I try to make sure I am aware of where my spells came from to make sure I have gotten all my spells from leveling up.
Yes, Wizard Spells are confusing, and really, most spellcasters' spells are confusing. For Wizards, the way I understand it, there are 3 determining factors affecting your spells: 1: Your spellbook; 2: your prepared spells from your spell book; 3: your spell slots
1. The spells you have in your book: In my understanding, you acquire two new spells for your book when you level up, and these need to be spells for which you have spell slots to cast. Also, you can copy spells into your book from other wizard books. My DM lets me go to magic shops in large towns or cities and sit there copying the spells for the time and money outlined in the PHB. If you can afford it, put every ritual spell in your book. Wizards can cast ritual spells that are in their books even if they are not prepared. You can have an unlimited number of wizard spells in your book, as long as they are all spells of a level that you can cast.
2. Of the spells in your book, you can prepare a number equal to your wizard level + intelligence modifier. These are the spells stored in your head that you will use slots to cast. You memorize your prepared spells when you finish a long rest.
3. As you go through the adventuring day, you spend your spell slots to cast your spells. Try to reserve spell slots for contingencies late in the adventuring day. Who knows what may happen. This can be tricky. Remember your Arcane Recovery, which allows you to recover half your wizard level in total spell slot levels after one short rest between long rests. This is a feature a lot of other spell casters don't have.
I say, a wizard needs to have a variety of spells. Have some defensive spells -- Mage Armor and Shield are essential. Blink may be the best defense. I also try to have a variety of damages I can inflict, like fire, acid, and force. And, try to be able to force targets to make a variety of saving throws. I like to keep Phantasmal Killer prepared just for the intelligence saving throw, since I think most NPC's probably don't have high intelligence (if they aren't wizards).
I hope this helps!
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My dm starts us at 3rd lvl to get the ball rolling, I understand at 3rd level I am able to use 6 prepared spells between rests (4 lvl 1 and 2 lvl 2), my question is are those 6 the only spells I "know" or have I accumulated more spells to choose from to ready my prepared list. If so how many? I'm unsure because at lvl 1 I have 6 lvl 1 spalls to choose from for my prepared list.
I'm still kinda new to all this... Help!
TC
At 3rd level, you should have 10 noncantrip spells in your spellbook (6 at 1st level, and 2 for every level after that.) You have to prepare these spells before you can cast them.
At the end of each long rest, you can prepare a number of spells equal to your wizard level + your intelligence modifier. This number is probably close to 6.
Each time you cast any of these spells, you have to use up one of your four 1st level spell slots or two 2nd level spell slots. The slot has to be the same level as the spell, or higher. Some spells have an additional effect when cast at a higher level. You get your spell slots back when you finish a long rest. You can also recover some of them after a short rest using your Arcane Recovery feature.
If any of the spells in your spellbook has the ritual tag, you can cast it without having it prepared or spending a spell slot. When you cast a spell this way, the casting time increases by 10 minutes, you need to have your spellbook with you, and you have to maintain your concentration all throughout the casting.
I recommend you read the general spellcasting rules and then the Spellcasting feature of the wizard class.
The Forum Infestation (TM)
Also, also, because wizards can cast ritual spells without preparing them, it wouldn't be a bad idea to learn as many ritual spells as spells can't prepare. (You can prepare a number of spells equal to your wizard level + INT mod, but you learn (at least) 2 spells per wizard level +4 so you will always have spells you can't prepare).
Thanks guys, I just wanted to make Sure before I picked to many spells to "know". Also, also, also, lol, I didn't realise I could cast ritual spells without needing them in my prepared list as long as I "know" them. The ritual tag was still confusing me. As I understand it now "ritual spells can be cast without being prepared as long as u know them but if they are in your prepared list they can be cast without the long wait time, yes?
TC
Ritual spells take 10 minutes longer to cast than their casting time if you cast them as a ritual without needing to use a spell slot or have them prepared if you’re a wizard
If you’re in a hurry you can cast them normally using spell slots if you have them prepared.
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This was definitely difficult for me at first. I understood how many spell slots I had and the number of cantrips, but overall spells I was lost. It got even more of a pain as I would learn new spells from other sources. Once I tracked it all down though I try to make sure I am aware of where my spells came from to make sure I have gotten all my spells from leveling up.
Yes, Wizard Spells are confusing, and really, most spellcasters' spells are confusing. For Wizards, the way I understand it, there are 3 determining factors affecting your spells: 1: Your spellbook; 2: your prepared spells from your spell book; 3: your spell slots
1. The spells you have in your book: In my understanding, you acquire two new spells for your book when you level up, and these need to be spells for which you have spell slots to cast. Also, you can copy spells into your book from other wizard books. My DM lets me go to magic shops in large towns or cities and sit there copying the spells for the time and money outlined in the PHB. If you can afford it, put every ritual spell in your book. Wizards can cast ritual spells that are in their books even if they are not prepared. You can have an unlimited number of wizard spells in your book, as long as they are all spells of a level that you can cast.
2. Of the spells in your book, you can prepare a number equal to your wizard level + intelligence modifier. These are the spells stored in your head that you will use slots to cast. You memorize your prepared spells when you finish a long rest.
3. As you go through the adventuring day, you spend your spell slots to cast your spells. Try to reserve spell slots for contingencies late in the adventuring day. Who knows what may happen. This can be tricky. Remember your Arcane Recovery, which allows you to recover half your wizard level in total spell slot levels after one short rest between long rests. This is a feature a lot of other spell casters don't have.
I say, a wizard needs to have a variety of spells. Have some defensive spells -- Mage Armor and Shield are essential. Blink may be the best defense. I also try to have a variety of damages I can inflict, like fire, acid, and force. And, try to be able to force targets to make a variety of saving throws. I like to keep Phantasmal Killer prepared just for the intelligence saving throw, since I think most NPC's probably don't have high intelligence (if they aren't wizards).
I hope this helps!