Spell research? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Spell research?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Thaenok
May 15, 2015 20:03:22 Okay I know they don't exist in the core books but is there a new down time activity in the campaign/ story path( or whatever it is called now) books like Rise of Tiamat or Princes of Elemental Evil where you can research wizard spells? I know you "research" two every level but why can't you do it during downtime to. Wouldn't that be feasible since clerics get all of theirs? I love 5th edition but this is a glaring hole to me. Honestly the only flaw I saw. Why cant they research anymore? If a new cleric/druid/paladin spell comes out, they get to be updated automatically but the master of the arcane doesn't? I'm really confused about this one and couldn't find anything about it online. How was this topic never brought up? Anyhow, does anyone know anything if you can or not?
#2
Captain_Kobold
May 16, 2015 2:00:56
Check with your DM. They might allow you to research a spell as a downtime option.

The spells you get as you level are probably long-term projects that you've been working on, and manage to complete as your understanding and knowledge of the world increases.

If you get hold of scrolls, or another wizard's spellbook (either with their permission or not) you can gain more spells that way as well. Have you tried using social skills to make contacts and deals with other wizards?

Wizards are "masters of the arcane" specifically because they aren't automatically granted spells. Think of it like the difference in answering a question between someone who is an expert on a subject and someone with access to the internet. The connected person can get an answer on many different subjects, but they're just reading out an answer provided by something else. The expert can't answer questions on such a range, but he not only knows some answers, he also knows why they are right, and a lot of the background around them.

Depending on the DM, Divine classes may or may not get immediate access to spells that come out in new supplements. Some may require downtime research or similar to gain access for example.

#3
SterlingRat
May 16, 2015 4:07:39 From the OP, I assume this is about Adventure League... which means that is Season 1, there was only one or two instances where spells could be learned outside of the two per level. That was an issue, they know it and they addressed it in season 2 with the Cloaks and the Zhent faction providing access to scrolls. It may not help in a home game, but in a home game the DM is free to add whatever they want.
#4
Thaenok
May 16, 2015 5:16:31 Season 1 and season 2? Not sure what you mean there but I am not referring to learning via scroll or spell book from another mage. That part I understand. I am referring to spell research as in a wizard's ability to learn different spell formulas to increase his arcane knowledge by batting down the hatches and staying clunkered up for a bit in his dank tower to find the secrets of that spell he didn't find or saw another cast. You only get so many picks per level and sometimes you just want that one last effect. I understand a sorcerer having to choose carefully but the wizard needs his freedom and versatility in my opinion.
#5
SterlingRat
May 16, 2015 14:09:37 Sorry... just use the rules for creating magic items to create scrolls, then use the trade rules for trading magic items of equivalent rarity. That will tell you how long the Research takes and how much the research costs. as an example, creating a scroll of a first level spell you already know costs 4 downtime days and 100 gp. Then it costs 4 downtime days to trade that for a different first level scroll. Total "research" cost... 8 days, 100 gp. ** note that I am away from my books at the moment, so some of my numbers may be off. I am just saying that there are rules that can give you a baseline.
#6
SterlingRat
May 16, 2015 14:23:06 The reference to "season one and two" are about the Adventure League, where creating magic items is not allowed, so we were not allowed to do that. We had to find the spells out in the wild.
#7
Thaenok
May 16, 2015 14:37:10 Ah. I think I see. Use item creation and trade rules to simulate spell research. Well, it isn't an official rule but I guess it does give the same effect. I do hope we get official rulings on this in the future though. The season thing is Adventure League eh? I'm guessing that is a descendant of Living Greyhawk or some such. That's cool. I do my own campaign setups but I am glad such official interlocking campaign programs exist. It really helps some find groups and play. Awesomeness incarnate.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Thaenok May 15, 2015 20:03:22	Okay I know they don't exist in the core books but is there a new down time activity in the campaign/ story path( or whatever it is called now) books like Rise of Tiamat or Princes of Elemental Evil where you can research wizard spells? I know you "research" two every level but why can't you do it during downtime to. Wouldn't that be feasible since clerics get all of theirs? I love 5th edition but this is a glaring hole to me. Honestly the only flaw I saw. Why cant they research anymore? If a new cleric/druid/paladin spell comes out, they get to be updated automatically but the master of the arcane doesn't? I'm really confused about this one and couldn't find anything about it online. How was this topic never brought up? Anyhow, does anyone know anything if you can or not?
#2 Captain_Kobold May 16, 2015 2:00:56	Check with your DM. They might allow you to research a spell as a downtime option. The spells you get as you level are probably long-term projects that you've been working on, and manage to complete as your understanding and knowledge of the world increases. If you get hold of scrolls, or another wizard's spellbook (either with their permission or not) you can gain more spells that way as well. Have you tried using social skills to make contacts and deals with other wizards? Wizards are "masters of the arcane" specifically because they aren't automatically granted spells. Think of it like the difference in answering a question between someone who is an expert on a subject and someone with access to the internet. The connected person can get an answer on many different subjects, but they're just reading out an answer provided by something else. The expert can't answer questions on such a range, but he not only knows some answers, he also knows *why* they are right, and a lot of the background around them. Depending on the DM, Divine classes may or may not get immediate access to spells that come out in new supplements. Some may require downtime research or similar to gain access for example.
#3 SterlingRat May 16, 2015 4:07:39	From the OP, I assume this is about Adventure League... which means that is Season 1, there was only one or two instances where spells could be learned outside of the two per level. That was an issue, they know it and they addressed it in season 2 with the Cloaks and the Zhent faction providing access to scrolls. It may not help in a home game, but in a home game the DM is free to add whatever they want.
#4 Thaenok May 16, 2015 5:16:31	Season 1 and season 2? Not sure what you mean there but I am not referring to learning via scroll or spell book from another mage. That part I understand. I am referring to spell research as in a wizard's ability to learn different spell formulas to increase his arcane knowledge by batting down the hatches and staying clunkered up for a bit in his dank tower to find the secrets of that spell he didn't find or saw another cast. You only get so many picks per level and sometimes you just want that one last effect. I understand a sorcerer having to choose carefully but the wizard needs his freedom and versatility in my opinion.
#5 SterlingRat May 16, 2015 14:09:37	Sorry... just use the rules for creating magic items to create scrolls, then use the trade rules for trading magic items of equivalent rarity. That will tell you how long the Research takes and how much the research costs. as an example, creating a scroll of a first level spell you already know costs 4 downtime days and 100 gp. Then it costs 4 downtime days to trade that for a different first level scroll. Total "research" cost... 8 days, 100 gp. ** note that I am away from my books at the moment, so some of my numbers may be off. I am just saying that there are rules that can give you a baseline.
#6 SterlingRat May 16, 2015 14:23:06	The reference to "season one and two" are about the Adventure League, where creating magic items is not allowed, so we were not allowed to do that. We had to find the spells out in the wild.
#7 Thaenok May 16, 2015 14:37:10	Ah. I think I see. Use item creation and trade rules to simulate spell research. Well, it isn't an official rule but I guess it does give the same effect. I do hope we get official rulings on this in the future though. The season thing is Adventure League eh? I'm guessing that is a descendant of Living Greyhawk or some such. That's cool. I do my own campaign setups but I am glad such official interlocking campaign programs exist. It really helps some find groups and play. Awesomeness incarnate.