Spell Memorisation time

[leon]

How long does it take to memorise spells? I can' find the rules on that matter. If there aren't any, what do you use?

[makofan]

I just use "overnight" with the rough idea that it takes 3-4 hours (high level MUs memorize more spells but are quicker at each spell)

[aldarron]

<Shrug> How long does it take you to memorize the back of your morning cereal box? If you really have to have some gamey formula for such a thing, how about something like 2 Turns minus Intelligence + spell level.

[cooper]

1st edition: 10 min per spell level per spell. Levels 1-4 require 4 hours of rest before rememorization 5+ require 8 hours? I think is the rule.

[leon]

Nov 18, 2010 16:35:37 GMT -6 cooper said:

1st edition: 10 min per spell level per spell. Levels 1-4 require 4 hours of rest before rememorization 5+ require 8 hours? I think is the rule.

Actually, 15 minutes. That's the rule I normally use but I was wondering if D&D had another one. I recently checked the Lamentations of the Flaming Princess RPG, which has a pretty good and easy to implement rule (because counting total spell levels to memorise is rather bothersome): You spend a number of hours equal to the maximum spell level you memorise. So if you memorise up to 2nd level spells, you spend 2 hours, if it's 3rd 3 hours and so forth.

[talysman]

Nov 18, 2010 18:37:45 GMT -6 leon said:

Nov 18, 2010 16:35:37 GMT -6 cooper said:

1st edition: 10 min per spell level per spell. Levels 1-4 require 4 hours of rest before rememorization 5+ require 8 hours? I think is the rule.

Actually, 15 minutes. That's the rule I normally use but I was wondering if D&D had another one. I recently checked the Lamentations of the Flaming Princess RPG, which has a pretty good and easy to implement rule (because counting total spell levels to memorise is rather bothersome): You spend a number of hours equal to the maximum spell level you memorise. So if you memorise up to 2nd level spells, you spend 2 hours, if it's 3rd 3 hours and so forth.

I came up with something similar to that, but with times doubling instead of increasing linearly:

• 1st level = 15 minutes
  
• 2nd level = 30 minutes
  
• 3rd level = 1 hour
  
• 4th level = 2 hours
  
• 5th level = 4 hours
  
• 6th level = 1 day
  

The original rules, of course, don't have prep times, because they just assume you only prepare spells once a week, back in town, when you have plenty of time.

[aldarron]

Nov 18, 2010 18:46:41 GMT -6 talysman said:

Nov 18, 2010 18:37:45 GMT -6 leon said:

Actually, 15 minutes. That's the rule I normally use but I was wondering if D&D had another one. I recently checked the Lamentations of the Flaming Princess RPG, which has a pretty good and easy to implement rule (because counting total spell levels to memorise is rather bothersome): You spend a number of hours equal to the maximum spell level you memorise. So if you memorise up to 2nd level spells, you spend 2 hours, if it's 3rd 3 hours and so forth.

I came up with something similar to that, but with times doubling instead of increasing linearly:

• 1st level = 15 minutes
  
• 2nd level = 30 minutes
  
• 3rd level = 1 hour
  
• 4th level = 2 hours
  
• 5th level = 4 hours
  
• 6th level = 1 day
  

The original rules, of course, don't have prep times, because they just assume you only prepare spells once a week, back in town, when you have plenty of time.

Unless I'm misreading something (wouldn't be the first time) no spell stays in memory more than 24 hrs. So those memorization times don't fit.

The OD&D rules tie two things to learning spells, both bearing on the mental state of the magic user: that is:

1) how well they are able to concentrate
2) thier intelligence.

Level of the spell relates to being able to master it, but I see no reason why that would make it so much longer to prepare or take up to a whole day. Personally, I think its better to not put much credence in a one size fits all formula but instead let the game circumstances suggest a reasonable length of time.

[waysoftheearth]

My "rule" is very simple. It takes one hour of study for any spell caster to memorise his/her spell repertoire regardless of how many or how few spells that may be.

It works out beautifully in play with no fuss. The main reason for this is that I have yet to encounter any scenario in actual play where more detail was required... but when I do I'll come up with something that seems appropriate at the time.

[talysman]

Nov 18, 2010 19:43:16 GMT -6 aldarron said:

Nov 18, 2010 18:46:41 GMT -6 talysman said:

I came up with something similar to that, but with times doubling instead of increasing linearly:

• 1st level = 15 minutes
  
• 2nd level = 30 minutes
  
• 3rd level = 1 hour
  
• 4th level = 2 hours
  
• 5th level = 4 hours
  
• 6th level = 1 day
  

The original rules, of course, don't have prep times, because they just assume you only prepare spells once a week, back in town, when you have plenty of time.

Unless I'm misreading something (wouldn't be the first time) no spell stays in memory more than 24 hrs. So those memorization times don't fit.

The OD&D rules tie two things to learning spells, both bearing on the mental state of the magic user: that is:

1) how well they are able to concentrate
2) thier intelligence.

Level of the spell relates to being able to master it, but I see no reason why that would make it so much longer to prepare or take up to a whole day. Personally, I think its better to not put much credence in a one size fits all formula but instead let the game circumstances suggest a reasonable length of time.

I take it you're basing the 24-hour comment on this quote from page 16 : "The number in each column opposite each applicable character indicates the number of spells of each level that can be used (remembered during any single adventure) by that character. Spells are listed and explained later. A spell used once may not be reused in the same day." I've wondered about what a possible strict, literal interpretation of that quote might mean, myself, but I don't think it means that M-Us forget spells after 24 hours.

The formula approach, of course, comes from AD&D, which starts with a 15 minute prep time for 1st level spells and increases the time for each additional spell level; it doesn't rise as quickly as my suggestion, but it's on a per spell basis, instead of all spells up to the given level. I wanted memorization times that varied with maximum level of spell memorized because it combines the simplicity of not adding up individual spells with a restriction that will prevent renewing very high level spells while in the dungeon or on the trail, but still keep an M-U on an extended adventure viable.

In contrast, I think the Supplement I Intelligence table is more trouble than its worth, so learning new spells is just a matter of spell research. No minimum or maximum spells per level.

[coffee]

Nov 18, 2010 21:50:40 GMT -6 waysoftheearth said:

My "rule" is very simple. It takes one hour of study for any spell caster to memorise his/her spell repertoire regardless of how many or how few spells that may be.

It works out beautifully in play with no fuss. The main reason for this is that I have yet to encounter any scenario in actual play where more detail was required... but when I do I'll come up with something that seems appropriate at the time.

This, I like.

There are already enough bothersome fetters attached to the poor, hard-working Magic User, in my opinion...


Have an exalt for this.

[leon]

Nov 18, 2010 21:50:40 GMT -6 waysoftheearth said:

My "rule" is very simple. It takes one hour of study for any spell caster to memorise his/her spell repertoire regardless of how many or how few spells that may be.

It works out beautifully in play with no fuss. The main reason for this is that I have yet to encounter any scenario in actual play where more detail was required... but when I do I'll come up with something that seems appropriate at the time.

Yeah, that's the Basic D&D way which removes any, perhaps unnecessary, complications. The AD&D and BD&D create two different kind of spellcasters though. In AD&D a higher level spellcaster would be extremely wary of unleashing his arsenal, since it would take him a long time (even days) to rememorise his spells, while in Basic he would have no such qualms and release his nukes with impunity. He would simply replenish them during breakfast the next morning.

But in the spirit of KISS, this is probably a very good approach.

By the way, Mr. Holmes says that it takes at least a whole day to rememorise your spells (even if you have one first level spell). Ouch!

[aldarron]

Nov 19, 2010 0:31:16 GMT -6 talysman said:

I take it you're basing the 24-hour comment on this quote from page 16 : "The number in each column opposite each applicable character indicates the number of spells of each level that can be used (remembered during any single adventure) by that character. Spells are listed and explained later. A spell used once may not be reused in the same day." I've wondered about what a possible strict, literal interpretation of that quote might mean, myself, but I don't think it means that M-Us forget spells after 24 hours.

Yep, that's the one, where the idea came from anyway. Then again I seem to have always had the understanding that spells had to be "memorized" anew each day, at least I don't remember playing it any other way. FWIW, The idea seems to be supported in some unpublished draft material for this passage from the D&D draft. "The number in each column indicates the number of spells of that level that can be "cast" in a 24 hour period..... Because of the effects of "cold iron" on magic, a Magic-User dressed in plate mail will be unable to have a spell of any kind or level be successful, although it will cost him a spell for that 24 period."