My DM has given me 3 spellbooks

[maximus25]

We killed a necromancer and I took his spellbooks. He says I get to fill them with spells, 100 pages but no spell of more than 5th level.

One of them is full of Transmutation spells, one of conjuration and one of Necromancy. I have access to all Pathfinder spells and the Spell compendium from 3.5.

I'm currently a 2nd level Wizard focused in conjuration. Already in my spellbook is Color Spray, Lesser Orb of Acid, Nerveskitter, Benign Transposition, Snapdragon Fireworks, Mage Armor, Silent Image, and Alarm.

So, what should I put in these books?

[Diarmuid]

I'm confused. So you get to choose what was in the spellbooks you acquired from an enemy spellcaster?

[maximus25]

I'm confused. So you get to choose what was in the spellbooks you acquired from an enemy spellcaster?

Yep. My DM doesn't want to deal with filling them himself so he's letting me.

[Hecuba]

How do you want to play your Wizard?

Summoning?
BFC/action denial?
Buffing?
Blasting?


You likely want some of each of these, but how much?

[maximus25]

How do you want to play your Wizard?

Summoning?
BFC/action denial?
Buffing?
Blasting?


You likely want some of each of these, but how much?

Heavy on Battlefield control, then Buffing, with a splash of summoning and blasting. In this DM's world Summoning spells don't work below 4th level spells.

[dascarletm]

I suggest looking at these lists for spells, and add those.
http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=394.0

[CIDE]

Do Pathfinder rules for spellbooks work like 3.5's? And which rules are you using since you have both PF and 3.5 spells available to you?

Now, are you forced to follow the idea that it was a Wizard's book? So basically you can't have all of the books of nothing but level 3-5 spells, right? Basically, can you skip the pages filled with cantrips and such?

[maximus25]

Do Pathfinder rules for spellbooks work like 3.5's? And which rules are you using since you have both PF and 3.5 spells available to you?

Now, are you forced to follow the idea that it was a Wizard's book? So basically you can't have all of the books of nothing but level 3-5 spells, right? Basically, can you skip the pages filled with cantrips and such?

I'm pretty sure they're the same. If there are two spells of the same name (Grease, Polymorph, etc.) we take the one from Pathfinder. If a spell is 3.5 only I can port it over to Pathfinder.

I think I can skip the pages filled with cantrips, since there are 3 books.

[Coidzor]

We killed a necromancer and I took his spellbooks. He says I get to fill them with spells, 100 pages but no spell of more than 5th level.

One of them is full of Transmutation spells, one of conjuration and one of Necromancy. I have access to all Pathfinder spells and the Spell compendium from 3.5.

I'm currently a 2nd level Wizard focused in conjuration. Already in my spellbook is Color Spray, Lesser Orb of Acid, Nerveskitter, Benign Transposition, Snapdragon Fireworks, Mage Armor, Silent Image, and Alarm.

So, what should I put in these books?

Hoo Boy. That's going to be fun. Have you checked to make sure you can't just put in all 5th level and down spells of those three schools into them from the sources you have to work with?

[maximus25]

Hoo Boy. That's going to be fun. Have you checked to make sure you can't just put in all 5th level and down spells of those three schools into them from the sources you have to work with?

Yes, he said I can put whatever spells I want in as long as the total pages used is 100 or less.

[CIDE]

So...start at 5th level spells and work your way down. I don't think your DM realized what exactly he just did.

[Coidzor]

Yes, he said I can put whatever spells I want in as long as the total pages used is 100 or less.

Not quite what I was asking, but I'm AFB so I'd only have the PF SRD to go off of, and that wouldn't exactly be an exact count.

[maximus25]

So...start at 5th level spells and work your way down. I don't think your DM realized what exactly he just did.

Start at 5th level when I can only cast 1st level spells? Also I don't quite know which spells to grab, which is why I need recommendations.

[NoACWarrior]

This is a great situation, its like you were handed 30k free gold!

I'd look up the spells which "f***ing kill people" which I find to also have useful save or suck spells for BFC and encounter solving.

But then again, you may not be in a combat orientated campaign.

[Coidzor]

Start at 5th level when I can only cast 1st level spells? Also I don't quite know which spells to grab, which is why I need recommendations.

Ahh. Well, Transmutation and Conjuration are the best schools even in Pathfinder last I checked, so you want to know what you want to grab from those schools if you don't know already for any others, especially since you're focused on Conjuration. A variety of wall spells for all occasions(and any ability to turn them into other sorts of walls) is always good.

Treantmonk's Guide (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/extras/community-creations/treatmonks-lab/test) isn't up to date, but it's a start on the Pathfinder side.

On the 3.5 side... Here's some of his thoughts on Necromancy (http://community.wizards.com/forum/previous-editions-character-optimization/threads/1169811), Conjuration (http://community.wizards.com/forum/previous-editions-character-optimization/threads/1184126), & Transmutation (http://community.wizards.com/forum/previous-editions-character-optimization/threads/1174396). Should have the sources listed, and there should be a fair number of Spell Compendium spells.

Logicninja's guide to Batman Wizards (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?104002-3-5e-The-Logic-Ninja-s-Guide-to-Wizards-Being-Batman) also has a section for Spell Compendium.

The Spell Compendium especially should just be chock-full of delicious battlefield control spells for Conjuration. Unfortunately I'm AFB or I'd be making more active suggestions there.

[Jack_Simth]

Yes, he said I can put whatever spells I want in as long as the total pages used is 100 or less.

I suspect you didn't quite get what Coidzor meant. There's 10 Pathfinder Necromancy spells of 5th level. That's only 50 pages. There's 9 4th level spells. That's another 36, for a total of 86 pages. There's a lot more 3rd, 2nd, and 1st level Necromancy spells, so you'll run out quickly after that.

You've got a LOT of spells to fill. Don't worry too much about it. Find a Decent filter (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/tools/spell-list-filters/sorcerer-wizard-spell-list-filter) that'll let you pick school, class, and spell level, and possibly source as well (do an online search for one for 3.5; I'm sure there's an index somewhere that is OK by the forum rules... I'm having trouble finding one, though...), and go through and snag every spell that catches your eye. The reason to start at 5th level spells is long-term planning; in Pathfinder, high-level spells are progressively more expensive than the low-level ones.

[maximus25]

Ahh. Well, Transmutation and Conjuration are the best schools even in Pathfinder last I checked, so you want to know what you want to grab from those schools if you don't know already for any others, especially since you're focused on Conjuration. A variety of wall spells for all occasions(and any ability to turn them into other sorts of walls) is always good.

Treantmonk's Guide (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/extras/community-creations/treatmonks-lab/test) isn't up to date, but it's a start on the Pathfinder side.

On the 3.5 side... Here's some of his thoughts on Necromancy (http://community.wizards.com/forum/previous-editions-character-optimization/threads/1169811), Conjuration (http://community.wizards.com/forum/previous-editions-character-optimization/threads/1184126), & Transmutation (http://community.wizards.com/forum/previous-editions-character-optimization/threads/1174396). Should have the sources listed, and there should be a fair number of Spell Compendium spells.

Logicninja's guide to Batman Wizards (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?104002-3-5e-The-Logic-Ninja-s-Guide-to-Wizards-Being-Batman) also has a section for Spell Compendium.

The Spell Compendium especially should just be chock-full of delicious battlefield control spells for Conjuration. Unfortunately I'm AFB or I'd be making more active suggestions there.
Thanks for the suggestions.


I suspect you didn't quite get what Coidzor meant. There's 10 Pathfinder Necromancy spells of 5th level. That's only 50 pages. There's 9 4th level spells. That's another 36, for a total of 86 pages. There's a lot more 3rd, 2nd, and 1st level Necromancy spells, so you'll run out quickly after that.

You've got a LOT of spells to fill. Don't worry too much about it. Find a Decent filter (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/tools/spell-list-filters/sorcerer-wizard-spell-list-filter) that'll let you pick school, class, and spell level, and possibly source as well (do an online search for one for 3.5; I'm sure there's an index somewhere that is OK by the forum rules... I'm having trouble finding one, though...), and go through and snag every spell that catches your eye. The reason to start at 5th level spells is long-term planning; in Pathfinder, high-level spells are progressively more expensive than the low-level ones.

Ah, I see what you're saying. Yes, I can do that.

[GilesTheCleric]

Here on the forums one member has created The Spell Book, which should have every spell in it. I'm sorry that my copy doesn't seem to include his or her username. Regardless, it's not sortable. I've got my own resource, which has 2800/3300 spells (wip) and is very sortable. PM me if you would find that worthwhile. All of these are 3.5 references; PF is pretty well-supported on the web.

[QuackParker]

Only fair way to do it, in my estimation, is to forgo optimization and fill those bad boys with Necromancy spells. Also seems questionable every page would be filled...

[Coidzor]

So, what all did you end up going with?


Only fair way to do it, in my estimation, is to forgo optimization and fill those bad boys with Necromancy spells. Also seems questionable every page would be filled...

With those sources available a level 9 wizard would be able to, with time, afford to fill many spellbooks if they so desired.

It'd still be likely that there'd be a few blank pages, but not a whole lot, given the sort of Wizardly OCD that would tend to lead to having separate spellbooks by school.

[Spore]

Use those to quicken the process: http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/ultimateMagic/magic/spellbooks.html

[Hamste]

I'd say find the spells you actually want, get some situational ones that you may use but probably won't use and then choose spells that you might use just for lols before you eventually sell them.