Can a Cleric Research a spell? How would that be done? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Can a Cleric Research a spell? How would that be done? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Red_Rabbit
08-12-06, 01:57 AM Title says it all just wondering really. Lets avoid stupid Divine Metamagic feat stuff cause it doesn't matter in this thread!

The Rabbit
cwslyclgh
08-12-06, 01:59 AM if the DM allows the cleric to research a spell then yes it can be done... as to how that would be the same way that any other characer researches a new spell. (clerics have no reason to research existing spells because they all ready have access to all of the spells on thier class list).
Red_Rabbit
08-12-06, 02:03 AM This is pretty much for making a new cleric spell. Since everyone can think of a spell they'd like to have but not in a book.

The Rabbit
Broken vacuum
08-12-06, 02:48 AM Yes, clerics can research new spells, it is provided for in the rules:

Independent Research: A divine spellcaster also can research a spell independently, much as an arcane spellcaster can. Only the creator of such a spell can prepare and cast it, unless he decides to share it with others.

As with any new spell, they are subject to DM approval.

This part of the rules also makes for an alternative RAW way of introducing cleric spells from supplemental material in the game. You can treat the spells from the book as either spells that do not exist yet, so that the character has to research them, or as spells that have been independently researched by others, so the character has to convince clerics that do know it to share it. Doing a favour for the clergy of Ficoliac the Self-Immolator might persuade them to teach the character Ficoliac's Elemental Assault (Energy Vortex from the Spell Compendium), or something like that.

Apart from being a nice adventure hook, closely guarded spells makes for a more believable world in my opinion. Secrets to "earn" and "guard" has been a rather popular method for strengthening hierarchical structures throughout history. Generally, it helps people regard themselves as important.
cwslyclgh
08-12-06, 03:13 AM I have always enjoyed spell research as well... although I find that the current ruleset is somehwhat vague in how it is actually done.
Seeker95
08-12-06, 09:39 AM I find that the current ruleset is somehwhat vague in how it is actually done.Thankfully so. How it is conducted in my game is different from how it is conducted in my DM's game. And in my game arcane research is conducted differently than divine. In my DM's game, it is the same for the two.

That it can be done, with the guidelines providing time and money parameters, is enough for any DM to implement. How they implement it is part of what being a DM is all about.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Red_Rabbit 08-12-06, 01:57 AM	Title says it all just wondering really. Lets avoid stupid Divine Metamagic feat stuff cause it doesn't matter in this thread! The Rabbit
cwslyclgh 08-12-06, 01:59 AM	if the DM allows the cleric to research a spell then yes it can be done... as to how that would be the same way that any other characer researches a new spell. (clerics have no reason to research existing spells because they all ready have access to all of the spells on thier class list).
Red_Rabbit 08-12-06, 02:03 AM	This is pretty much for making a new cleric spell. Since everyone can think of a spell they'd like to have but not in a book. The Rabbit
Broken vacuum 08-12-06, 02:48 AM	Yes, clerics can research new spells, it is provided for in the rules: Independent Research: A divine spellcaster also can research a spell independently, much as an arcane spellcaster can. Only the creator of such a spell can prepare and cast it, unless he decides to share it with others. As with any new spell, they are subject to DM approval. This part of the rules also makes for an alternative RAW way of introducing cleric spells from supplemental material in the game. You can treat the spells from the book as either spells that do not exist yet, so that the character has to research them, or as spells that have been independently researched by others, so the character has to convince clerics that do know it to share it. Doing a favour for the clergy of Ficoliac the Self-Immolator might persuade them to teach the character Ficoliac's Elemental Assault (Energy Vortex from the Spell Compendium), or something like that. Apart from being a nice adventure hook, closely guarded spells makes for a more believable world in my opinion. Secrets to "earn" and "guard" has been a rather popular method for strengthening hierarchical structures throughout history. Generally, it helps people regard themselves as important.
cwslyclgh 08-12-06, 03:13 AM	I have always enjoyed spell research as well... although I find that the current ruleset is somehwhat vague in how it is actually done.
Seeker95 08-12-06, 09:39 AM	I find that the current ruleset is somehwhat vague in how it is actually done.Thankfully so. How it is conducted in my game is different from how it is conducted in my DM's game. And in my game arcane research is conducted differently than divine. In my DM's game, it is the same for the two. That it can be done, with the guidelines providing time and money parameters, is enough for any DM to implement. How they implement it is part of what being a DM is all about.