Spellbooks

This system was extrapolated from rules available in the core books and UA. We judge UA's system to unpleasant; the system on this page is used instead.

All spellbooks must be clearly detailed on the character sheet, including which spells are in which books. Spellbooks of any kind which are to be brought on an expedition must be declared by the player before departure.

Type	Spells	Cost	Enc (cn)	Notes
Standard	Unlimited, of one level only	Free, 1,000 gp for replacements or backups	300
Auxiliary	48 points of mixed level (see below)	1,000 gp	300
Travelling	20 points of mixed level (see below)	500 gp	150	Saves at -2

Standard spellbooks

Classes that keep spellbooks obtain and maintain one spellbook per level of spells available to them. The initial costs of these books and the maintenence thereof is included in upkeep and need not be tracked.

Auxiliary spellbooks

Auxiliary spellbooks contain 48 “points” worth of spells of mixed level, unlike standard spellbooks which can only contain spells of a single level.

1st-3rd level spells cost 2 points, 4th-6th level spells cost 3 points, and 7th-9th level spells cost 6 points. Are otherwise identical to standard spellbooks.

Travelling spellbooks

Travelling spellbooks are akin to auxiliary spellbooks, except they cost and weigh half as much, hold only 20 points of spells, and save at -2.

Adding spells

Costs 100 gp in materials and 1 day per spell level. For example, a 3rd level spell costs 300 gp and 3 days. The to-know check can be made before paying these costs.1) Magic ink for scrolls and regular copying of spells into spell books must be created by the scriber via a secret formula unique to them. The special ink used for the write spell has a chance to be purchasable from a local apothecary or alchemist. Write, therefore, is the only way a magic-user can add a spell to their spellbook via ink created by someone else. A simple base can be created by the character from berries, mushrooms, and the like. The remaining ingredients may vary based on class. For example, a cleric may use components of some religious significance, druids may use rare herbs and roots, magic-users might employ blood or crushed gems, and illusionists may use mushrooms or eyeballs, to list some examples. Also used may be items collected during recent activity, such as secretions, herbs, bone, organs, tails, wings, digits, hair, flowers, bark, fruits, insects, minerals, scales, dust, skin, fangs, claws, and so on. The actual acquisition of these ingredients is abstracted away for the purpose of the game, but as with spell components the DM may rule that your character is in no position to get what they need (e.g. in the middle of a desert).

The spell gained by a magic-user on level-up costs nothing2) The cost is included in upkeep. , not even time. The spell is researched and developed over the course of the magic-user's former level, and is complete upon level advancement. Therefore, no additional time is required – it happens behind the scenes.

Copying spells from spellbook to spellbook

Same costs in gold and time as adding spells: 100 gp in materials and 1 day per spell level. For example, a 3rd level spell costs 300 gp and 3 days.

Value

See Selling Treasure.

Sharing

Spellbooks can never be shared between characters. Also remember that all spell trades must be equivalent and fair between PCs, and trades of spells between PCs and NPCs will always favor the NPC.