Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Traygin Jan 10, 2015 21:22:26	How to you deal with a wizard’s spell acquisition when they gain levels? That is to say when a wizard reaches 3rd level for example, do you allow them to automatically pick which 2nd level spell they want or do you make them ether research it first by spending time any money to do so, or through training trough a mentor or wizards guild etc… before they can cast the new level of spells. It may be covered somewhere in the PHB which I must have missed or it could be in the DMG which I have not finished reading yet. What I don’t care for is when a wizard reaches a level where they get a new level of spell and they are in the middle of dungeon run so to speak and suddenly they have this new spell they can cast. In past games I have played in, we used to use a house rule that for most player class’s you had to train before you got the new skill or spell etc… Or in the wizard’s case, in their down time between adventures, the player can state to the DM that their character is researching a certain spell, so that when they reach 3rd level for example they will gain this spell.
#2 Ninja_Ferret Jan 10, 2015 21:31:24	I view it as the mage in down times practices some spells trying out new tricks to get new spells. And when they level up they kinda get the hang of something new. Meaning doing research as they adventure. They should get new spells as they level. In the Wizard section of the PHB is how they aquire new spells. The book says the automatically get X amount of spells. if you wanna change some stuff you can.
(Reply to #2) Traygin	Ninja_Ferret wrote:
#4 Llenlleawg Jan 11, 2015 2:18:22	I don't see why the wizard in this regard should be treated any differently than any other class. That is, every class gets something when it gains a level. For the wizard, this includes the knowledge of new spells. This is no harder to justify in the game world than, say, a fighter learning a new combat technique, a rogue a new skill, a bard a new magical song, a warlock wresting a new incantation from his diabolical patron, a monk unlocking a new mystery of ki, etc.   The question, I suppose, would be how you handle levelling up for any class. Do you generall give experience after each encounter, right then and there, and then allow the PCs to level up, right then and there? If so, I wouldn't make the wizard's life any more difficult than for anyone else! On the other hand, you might record the experience for each encounter, but only reward the experience to the players when they finish at least that part of the adventure/delve/whatever and get to a relatively safe place (home base, town/city, etc.). Then, just presume that all the in between time, apart from other things the player does in downtime, includes doing whatever is necessary for acquiring the new level.   In short, don't make this any harder on players!
#5 TheNovaLord Jan 11, 2015 5:22:04	Yeah, just assume all classes practise when they get the chance
#6 draegn Jan 11, 2015 6:00:24	Either independent research to develope a spell formula that suits the need, or finding someone/lost scroll  formula to teach a spell that is similar to what is wished to be learned.
#7 Devils-Advocate Jan 11, 2015 7:53:13	It depends on the campaign, but I often like to include the PCs individual improvement as part of the campaign. Arcane Mages may discover the incantations and hand signals for a new spell while adventuring, but need to spend their downtime thoroughly researching the spell, or taping into their magical bloodline, or convening with their patron, before they can actually cast it. Divine Mages may earn the favor of their dieties on their quests, but need to spend their downtime engaging in their particular rituals to strengthen their connection with the divine before they can call on them for more miracles. Martial characters may learn new techniques in the field, but need to spend time refining them in training environment before it's safe enough to put them to use in actual combat. Basically just various in-game justifications for the between-session level up.
#8 AaronOfBarbaria Jan 11, 2015 9:10:05	The two spells gained when increasing in level are entirely up to the player to select, though I do offer suggestions if the player is having difficulty deciding.   I don't make anyone else jump through hoops to get their class features when leveling up, so I see no need to do that to the wizard.   I do, however, strictly enforce the time, cost, and availability (specifically lack there of) for the other ways in which a wizard could add spells to their spellbook - getting most, or all, of the spells in the game for even a particular level of spell should be time consuming and costly work.   In former editions I had one additional ruling on this, which was that wish was specifically not available to select as a learned spell by leveling up, but with the new version of the wish spell not being as powerful as former version I no longer feel there is cause for such restriction.
#9 Archon007 Jan 11, 2015 14:27:14	I'm in the camp of thought that a wizard is already trying to learn new and different spells so when they level they have figured out, completed, researched, etc the new spells the gain access to.
#10 vanquish3000 Jan 11, 2015 17:36:49	I have them be able to learn any spell from their school of magic as they level up with no disagreement. But they have to find or buy books of other schools to learn those spells.
(Reply to #10) Traygin	vanquish3000 wrote: