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Originally posted by Bookwyrm

The Player's Handbook gives an example of a rogue gaining a level in wizard. It suggests a roleplaying aspect of learning from the party's regular wizard; that is, looking over the wizard's shoulder, asking questions, etc.

The spellbook itself is simply a moderately well-made book of blank vellum (baby calfskin) pages. This could be gained from a bookbinder in any reasonably-sized town. (Reasonable, in this case, refers to a D&D-world town just large enough for everyone not to know the habits of everyone else. If you aren't using the typical D&D setting, where literacy is common, then you need a larger town.)

The best option, if you have a wizard in the party, is to let the two characters discuss matters arcane, and then let a spellbook fall into their hands through some treasure. The spellbook would be, at the most, what the player gets free -- all cantrips from the Player's Handbook as well as three first-level spells, plus the character's Intelligence bonus in additional first-level spells. You could also have it contain fewer spells, the rest added in (at no actual cost to the players) afterwords.

If you don't have a wizard in the party, there are two things you can do. First, you could make the player have to find someone to teach his/her character. Second, if there's a sorcerer (a bard generally won't do as well here) you could have that character teach the mechanics, get the spellbook in with treasure, and with the rest (the wizard-only stuff) filled in either by a teacher, or (if the multiclassing character has a high Intelligence score) figure it out on his/her own.

I hope that helps somewhat . . . .

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Originally posted by Karesch

I would have to say, just as a side note to what bookwyrm said, I agree with his way of handling it, The only thing I personally would alter, is if your going to make the spellbook part of a treasure cashe, I can't really picture a treasure cashe holding a perfectly new, blank spellbook. I mean, the chances are far greater that the book was taken off the body of a previous wizard that the "bad guys" killed earlier, than of them robbing a general supplies or wizards shop and stealing a blank spell book... IMHO I think that the spellbook would more realisticly contain cantrips yes, 1st level spells, maybe 6-7, 2nd level spells 3-4 and 3rd level spells 1-3.
All of these spells should be put in there by the DM though, with no guidance of the PC's so they're left with "you get what you get, don't like it, buy another one when your outta the dungeon" type thing. I mean, giving a newly classed wizard access to 2nd and 3rd level spells isn't going to make any real difference, because he won't be able to cast them until he's of a high enough level anyhow. But it does give him something to look forward to when he does finally level up, so there is some benefit to him in the long run, but not alot. Just something to think about.

K

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