Clerics researching new spells.

[Clistenes]

A strict interpretation of the rules would mean that a cleric wishing to develop a new spell of his own creation should spend a week per spell level working on it, and during all those days he/she couldn't do any other work.

That is quite a turn off for good clerics, since each time they want to research a 9th level spell they have to leave their flock unattended for more than two months, so...

Would you allow a cleric to fulfill their normal duties (advising their flock, casting Remove Disease, Remove Blindness/Deafness, Cure spells, Lesser Restoration, blessing crops...etc.) while doing their research (for example, spending 8 hours researching and 4 hours tending their church)?

If not, what about reducing the hours of daily research to 4 hours?

If not, would you allow him/her to research and tend his/her flock in alternate days?.

[Invader]

I feel like you're confusing "cleric" with "preacher". There are tons of roles D&D clerics fill in the fantasy setting and I'd say that most don't actually involve having or taking care of any kind of congregation.

That being said, I think that's more of a fluff rule than anything and I think it'd be perfectly reasonable for a cleric to be able to conduct the duties you described if it falls in his wheelhouse as well as developing a new spell.

[silverwolfer]

Clerics are "granted" abilties they do not "make " them

[Invader]

Clerics are "granted" abilties they do not "make " them

Just say it requires 8 hours a day of quiet meditation and contemplation with your deity to request a new spell.

[Gamer Girl]

Would you allow a cleric to fulfill their normal duties (advising their flock, casting Remove Disease, Remove Blindness/Deafness, Cure spells, Lesser Restoration, blessing crops...etc.) while doing their research (for example, spending 8 hours researching and 4 hours tending their church)?


No. But it would be rare for The Lone Cleric to have this problem. Say Father Joe wants to make a new spell. He simply goes on sabbatical and makes his spell while Father Fred, **** and Harry take care of the church.

[mattie_p]

Clerics are "granted" abilties they do not "make " them

I believe you are mistaken (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicOverview/divineSpells.htm#newDivineSpells), silverwolfer.


Independent Research
A divine spellcaster also can research a spell independently, much as an arcane spellcaster can. Only the creator of such a spell can prepare and cast it, unless he decides to share it with others.

[lunar2]

most spell research would probably be done by either scholars or adventuring clerics, not by priests. that said, a single church likely has more than 1 priest, unless it is in a very small village. and a very small village probably doesn't have the resources for spell research, anyway.

@Clerics not making abilities. this is true, but they have to learn how to pray for the new spell. that is what they make, the formula for the new prayer.

[Vaern]

The way I interpret divine spellcasting is that the deity grants clerics the divine power necessary to cast their spells, but it's up to the cleric to shape that power in a meaningful way to create a desired spell effect. That's just me, though.

As far as I can tell, the rules for creating a new spell don't specify how much time you must spend researching each day, nor does it say that researching the spell consumes spells each day like creating a magic item. It most likely assumes that there is a long enough downtime between adventures that these factors won't be a problem. I would say that you can perform your usual cleric-y duties as normal and devote your free time to research without penalty, so long as the DM isn't actively trying to screw you over.