Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 AndrewJO Aug 30, 2014 16:43:37	I'm a newbie (obviously) and am having trouble understanding the difference between knowing a spell and having a spell prepared. Also, while I'm asking about spells, if I'm using a lvl 1 spell in a lvl 2 spell slot, do I record the spell on my character sheet as a lvl 2 spell, or do I just keep it in a lvl 1 spell slot and expend one of my lvl 2 spell slots for the day?
#2 Thoughts_My_Aim Aug 30, 2014 16:46:41	Are you familiar with old editions? If so you have some unlearning to do.   Spells "known" is a list of all the spells your character knows and is able to cast. For some (like Clerics) this is every spell on your class list, for other, (Like Sorcerers) it's a subset.   Spells "prepared" is a list of the spells you have prepared for that day. Not all spellcasting classes prepare spells, some can cast any spell they know.   Finally spells are never prepared in specific slots. They are only prepared. If you prepare Magic Missile then you can use a level one slot to cast it at level one or a level two slot to cast it at level two or, crucially, you can do both. You no longer have to prepare multiple copies of a spell.   Does that help?
#3 AradonTemplar Aug 30, 2014 16:55:03	If you cast a 1st level spell using a 2nd level spell slot, it counts as a 2nd level spell for anything that cares about spell level. You'll mark that you've used one of your 2nd level slots, but you don't need to move anything around. That spell is still a 1st level spell in your spell list (the spells you know/can cast), so it should be written under your 1st level category, but you mark that you've used a 2nd level slot.   Depending on what class you're casting with, we could give you clearer answers. For example, Paladins 'know' and can cast every spell on the Paladin spell list. They simply prepare the ones they want for the day (as described in the Paladin spell section), and then when they want to cast a spell, they mark the spell slot they've used off their character sheet. I would write down every paladin spell that I have access to under the appropriate level in the Spells character sheet, since they are all the spells I know.   Wizards, on the other hand, only know a certain number of spells (six 1st level spells at level 1, I believe, as well as a few cantrips) rather than their whole spell list. They learn more spells as they level up. At the beginning of each day, they prepare a certain number of spells from the list of spells that they know. After that, it's like a Paladin: you cast a spell by marking off the spell level from your sheet. Doesn't matter what level the spell is, just what spell slot you're using up.
#4 mellored Aug 30, 2014 17:13:05	Known spells: You own a gun, but you arn't neccicaraly carring it.   Prepared spells: You have these gun, on you, ready to use.   Spell Slots: Ammunition.  Put it in the gun and fire it off.  You can use better quality ammuntion in lower quality guns, usually to increase effect.  But higher quality guns won't work with low quality ammunition.
(Reply to #2) AndrewJO	Thoughts_My_Aim wrote:
#6 Devils-Advocate Aug 30, 2014 17:43:24	Others have explained it pretty well, but to clarify:   Class Spell List = the list of all the spells your character is capable of learning.   Known Spells = the spells your character has learned, chosen from your Class Spell List (or in some cases, just the whole list) as you gain levels.   Prepared Spells = the spells your character is capable of casting *today*, chosen from your Known Spells each day. (Some classes, like the Warlock, don't need to prepare spells, and can simply cast any spell they know.)   Spell Slot = the resource you expend to cast spells. When you cast a spell, you must use up a Spell Slot of the spell's level or higher. Some spells have more powerful effects when cast using a slot higher than their spell level. You regain all expended spell slots at the start of the next day (or, in the Warlock's case, after resting for at least an hour).
(Reply to #6) AndrewJO	Devils-Advocate wrote:
#8 RedSiegfried Aug 30, 2014 18:15:01	AndrewJO wrote:
#9 Sorxores Aug 30, 2014 18:35:30	AndrewJO wrote:
#10 Devils-Advocate Aug 30, 2014 19:23:00	AndrewJO wrote: