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Does the time required to copy a spell into a spellbook have to be consecutive, or is that just the cumulative time required?

Can a multiclass Wizard copy any Wizard spell they find into their spellbook?Can a wizard copy prepared spells into a spellbook?Do wizards need 24 consecutive hours to write a spell in the spellbook?Can I copy prepared Cleric spells that are also on the Wizard spell list into my spellbook?Can a Wizard “reverse-engineer” a magic item to copy the spell into his spellbook?Can an Arcane Trickster copy a Wizard spell from a scroll into their “spellbook”?Can a Wizard identify the spells in another spellbook without copying them into their own?Can a wizard copy arcane spells into his spellbook from other classes?If I fail the check to copy a spell from a scroll, is the gold needed to copy the spell spent anyway?Should a wizard buy fine inks every time he want to copy spells into his spellbook?

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}

15

$begingroup$

I was unclear from the 5e PHB if the time needed to copy a spell into my spellbook needed to be consecutive (like my character sat down and just dug in), or if he could practice a little here and a little there to get it done.

Does the time required to copy a spell into a spellbook have to be consecutive, or is that just the cumulative time required?

dnd-5e class-feature wizard time

share|improve this question

edited 54 mins ago

V2Blast

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asked 7 hours ago

rookrook

762

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$endgroup$

add a comment | 

15

$begingroup$

I was unclear from the 5e PHB if the time needed to copy a spell into my spellbook needed to be consecutive (like my character sat down and just dug in), or if he could practice a little here and a little there to get it done.

Does the time required to copy a spell into a spellbook have to be consecutive, or is that just the cumulative time required?

dnd-5e class-feature wizard time

share|improve this question

edited 54 mins ago

V2Blast

28.1k5101171

asked 7 hours ago

rookrook

762

New contributor

rook is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

I was unclear from the 5e PHB if the time needed to copy a spell into my spellbook needed to be consecutive (like my character sat down and just dug in), or if he could practice a little here and a little there to get it done.

Does the time required to copy a spell into a spellbook have to be consecutive, or is that just the cumulative time required?

dnd-5e class-feature wizard time

share|improve this question

edited 54 mins ago

V2Blast

28.1k5101171

asked 7 hours ago

rookrook

762

New contributor

rook is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

$endgroup$

share|improve this question

edited 54 mins ago

V2Blast

28.1k5101171

asked 7 hours ago

rookrook

762

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rook is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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share|improve this question

edited 54 mins ago

V2Blast

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asked 7 hours ago

rookrook

762

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rook is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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edited 54 mins ago

V2Blast

28.1k5101171

edited 54 mins ago

V2Blast

28.1k5101171

asked 7 hours ago

rookrook

762

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rook is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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asked 7 hours ago

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2 Answers
2

active

oldest

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15

$begingroup$

Most likely cumulative time - but DM may decide otherwise

The rules on copying spells is listed in the PHB(emphasis mine):

Copying that spell into your spellbook involves reproducing the basic form of the spell, then deciphering the unique system of notation used by the wizard who wrote it. You must practice the spell until you understand the sounds or gestures required, then transcribe it into your spellbook using your own notation.

For each level of the spell, the process takes 2 hours and costs 50 gp. The cost represents material components you expend as you experiment with the spell to master it, as well as the fine inks you need to record it. Once you have spent this time and money, you can prepare the spell just like your other spells.

It doesn't say that is must be concurrent or consecutive, so the implication is that it's just a total time that needs to be spent and can be cumulative.

DM's alternative

However, it's still loose enough that a DM could reasonably rule that they want it to happen all at once:

Focusing on something for two hours is different than spending 10 minutes/day on something over 12 days. A DM could rule that they require this and because the language doesn't state one way or the other definitively, still be 'correct' beyond rule zero of DM's prerogative.

This breaks down for higher level spells

The problem with forcing consecutive is when you get to higher level spells. A 9th level spell will take 18 hours to copy. That's an entire day spent doing nothing but copying. While that is possible, it's more probable that the time required can be split it up.

share|improve this answer

edited 7 hours ago

answered 7 hours ago

NautArchNautArch

63.5k9231422

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @Rubiksmoose True - made some adjustments.
  $endgroup$
  – NautArch
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  An 18 hour marathon to get in a 9th level spell does not seem that unreal to me...a medical or law student would probably laugh. Especially considering how infrequently you're likely to be copying one.
  $endgroup$
  – user3067860
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @user3067860 Maybe, but that really is assuming no eating, resting, or any other activity. I've got who went through med/law school and they did those things (maybe less on resting, but def eating.) But I guess ou could introduce exhaustion mechanics :)
  $endgroup$
  – NautArch
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  I still don't think you would even need exhaustion mechanics, an 18 hour fast (essentially a one day fast) isn't that hard (done it before), and your wizard would have gotten plenty of incremental practice copying lower level spells...the only time I see it making a difference is if you find a spell somewhere in the wilderness and want to copy it on the fly, your DM could rule that you do really need to stop a whole day in one place while the wizard copies, rather than incrementally doing a few hours every evening.
  $endgroup$
  – user3067860
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

-3

$begingroup$

I'd argue Consecutive

I can't find a rule determining this, so I'm going to go off of what consensus in the books and my own opinion.

Most things that have a duration are meant to be consecutive. Things like long rests or casting spells have specific situations where they can be interrupted and must be tried again.

So personally I'd rule and have ruled that scribing spells has to be consecutive. Not to mention that tracking 2 hours "here and there" is can be annoying and will significantly lenghten the time passed before you have a new spell.

At my table

We've mainly used this ruling, simply because we don't want to track the 2 hours or say In 3 days you learn X. This doesn't really give us a problem since we can always find these 2 hours. Traveling on a cart, just before rest, or after. It hasn't happened often that we were so desperate to learn a spell that we needed to track it like that, just so it'd be ready for the BBEG. This may be an entirely different matter if you have high stakes based on a ticking clock.

share|improve this answer

edited 7 hours ago

answered 7 hours ago

SlimeBoltSlimeBolt

66619

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Analogues are a great source for interpretation, but can you reference the language in a couple to show why their rules should be interpolated into this one?
  $endgroup$
  – Benjamin Olson
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  6
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  So scribing a 9th-level spell would require an 18-hour scribing marathon?
  $endgroup$
  – Ryan Thompson
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  See Ryan's comment, but your answer is only assuming 2 hoursfor copying a 1st level spell. DO you always use 2 hours no matter the level or has it only been 1st level spells at your table so far?
  $endgroup$
  – NautArch
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  What about crafting other items, like a spyglass, for example? Must those hours also be consecutive?
  $endgroup$
  – goodguy5
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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15

$begingroup$

Most likely cumulative time - but DM may decide otherwise

The rules on copying spells is listed in the PHB(emphasis mine):

Copying that spell into your spellbook involves reproducing the basic form of the spell, then deciphering the unique system of notation used by the wizard who wrote it. You must practice the spell until you understand the sounds or gestures required, then transcribe it into your spellbook using your own notation.

For each level of the spell, the process takes 2 hours and costs 50 gp. The cost represents material components you expend as you experiment with the spell to master it, as well as the fine inks you need to record it. Once you have spent this time and money, you can prepare the spell just like your other spells.

It doesn't say that is must be concurrent or consecutive, so the implication is that it's just a total time that needs to be spent and can be cumulative.

DM's alternative

However, it's still loose enough that a DM could reasonably rule that they want it to happen all at once:

Focusing on something for two hours is different than spending 10 minutes/day on something over 12 days. A DM could rule that they require this and because the language doesn't state one way or the other definitively, still be 'correct' beyond rule zero of DM's prerogative.

This breaks down for higher level spells

The problem with forcing consecutive is when you get to higher level spells. A 9th level spell will take 18 hours to copy. That's an entire day spent doing nothing but copying. While that is possible, it's more probable that the time required can be split it up.

share|improve this answer

edited 7 hours ago

answered 7 hours ago

NautArchNautArch

63.5k9231422

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @Rubiksmoose True - made some adjustments.
  $endgroup$
  – NautArch
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  An 18 hour marathon to get in a 9th level spell does not seem that unreal to me...a medical or law student would probably laugh. Especially considering how infrequently you're likely to be copying one.
  $endgroup$
  – user3067860
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @user3067860 Maybe, but that really is assuming no eating, resting, or any other activity. I've got who went through med/law school and they did those things (maybe less on resting, but def eating.) But I guess ou could introduce exhaustion mechanics :)
  $endgroup$
  – NautArch
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  I still don't think you would even need exhaustion mechanics, an 18 hour fast (essentially a one day fast) isn't that hard (done it before), and your wizard would have gotten plenty of incremental practice copying lower level spells...the only time I see it making a difference is if you find a spell somewhere in the wilderness and want to copy it on the fly, your DM could rule that you do really need to stop a whole day in one place while the wizard copies, rather than incrementally doing a few hours every evening.
  $endgroup$
  – user3067860
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

15

$begingroup$

Most likely cumulative time - but DM may decide otherwise

The rules on copying spells is listed in the PHB(emphasis mine):

Copying that spell into your spellbook involves reproducing the basic form of the spell, then deciphering the unique system of notation used by the wizard who wrote it. You must practice the spell until you understand the sounds or gestures required, then transcribe it into your spellbook using your own notation.

For each level of the spell, the process takes 2 hours and costs 50 gp. The cost represents material components you expend as you experiment with the spell to master it, as well as the fine inks you need to record it. Once you have spent this time and money, you can prepare the spell just like your other spells.

It doesn't say that is must be concurrent or consecutive, so the implication is that it's just a total time that needs to be spent and can be cumulative.

DM's alternative

However, it's still loose enough that a DM could reasonably rule that they want it to happen all at once:

Focusing on something for two hours is different than spending 10 minutes/day on something over 12 days. A DM could rule that they require this and because the language doesn't state one way or the other definitively, still be 'correct' beyond rule zero of DM's prerogative.

This breaks down for higher level spells

The problem with forcing consecutive is when you get to higher level spells. A 9th level spell will take 18 hours to copy. That's an entire day spent doing nothing but copying. While that is possible, it's more probable that the time required can be split it up.

share|improve this answer

edited 7 hours ago

answered 7 hours ago

NautArchNautArch

63.5k9231422

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @Rubiksmoose True - made some adjustments.
  $endgroup$
  – NautArch
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  An 18 hour marathon to get in a 9th level spell does not seem that unreal to me...a medical or law student would probably laugh. Especially considering how infrequently you're likely to be copying one.
  $endgroup$
  – user3067860
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @user3067860 Maybe, but that really is assuming no eating, resting, or any other activity. I've got who went through med/law school and they did those things (maybe less on resting, but def eating.) But I guess ou could introduce exhaustion mechanics :)
  $endgroup$
  – NautArch
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  I still don't think you would even need exhaustion mechanics, an 18 hour fast (essentially a one day fast) isn't that hard (done it before), and your wizard would have gotten plenty of incremental practice copying lower level spells...the only time I see it making a difference is if you find a spell somewhere in the wilderness and want to copy it on the fly, your DM could rule that you do really need to stop a whole day in one place while the wizard copies, rather than incrementally doing a few hours every evening.
  $endgroup$
  – user3067860
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

Most likely cumulative time - but DM may decide otherwise

The rules on copying spells is listed in the PHB(emphasis mine):

Copying that spell into your spellbook involves reproducing the basic form of the spell, then deciphering the unique system of notation used by the wizard who wrote it. You must practice the spell until you understand the sounds or gestures required, then transcribe it into your spellbook using your own notation.

For each level of the spell, the process takes 2 hours and costs 50 gp. The cost represents material components you expend as you experiment with the spell to master it, as well as the fine inks you need to record it. Once you have spent this time and money, you can prepare the spell just like your other spells.

It doesn't say that is must be concurrent or consecutive, so the implication is that it's just a total time that needs to be spent and can be cumulative.

DM's alternative

However, it's still loose enough that a DM could reasonably rule that they want it to happen all at once:

Focusing on something for two hours is different than spending 10 minutes/day on something over 12 days. A DM could rule that they require this and because the language doesn't state one way or the other definitively, still be 'correct' beyond rule zero of DM's prerogative.

This breaks down for higher level spells

The problem with forcing consecutive is when you get to higher level spells. A 9th level spell will take 18 hours to copy. That's an entire day spent doing nothing but copying. While that is possible, it's more probable that the time required can be split it up.

share|improve this answer

edited 7 hours ago

answered 7 hours ago

NautArchNautArch

63.5k9231422

$endgroup$

share|improve this answer

edited 7 hours ago

answered 7 hours ago

NautArchNautArch

63.5k9231422

answered 7 hours ago

NautArchNautArch

63.5k9231422

answered 7 hours ago

NautArchNautArch

63.5k9231422

-3

$begingroup$

I'd argue Consecutive

I can't find a rule determining this, so I'm going to go off of what consensus in the books and my own opinion.

Most things that have a duration are meant to be consecutive. Things like long rests or casting spells have specific situations where they can be interrupted and must be tried again.

So personally I'd rule and have ruled that scribing spells has to be consecutive. Not to mention that tracking 2 hours "here and there" is can be annoying and will significantly lenghten the time passed before you have a new spell.

At my table

We've mainly used this ruling, simply because we don't want to track the 2 hours or say In 3 days you learn X. This doesn't really give us a problem since we can always find these 2 hours. Traveling on a cart, just before rest, or after. It hasn't happened often that we were so desperate to learn a spell that we needed to track it like that, just so it'd be ready for the BBEG. This may be an entirely different matter if you have high stakes based on a ticking clock.

share|improve this answer

edited 7 hours ago

answered 7 hours ago

SlimeBoltSlimeBolt

66619

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Analogues are a great source for interpretation, but can you reference the language in a couple to show why their rules should be interpolated into this one?
  $endgroup$
  – Benjamin Olson
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  6
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  So scribing a 9th-level spell would require an 18-hour scribing marathon?
  $endgroup$
  – Ryan Thompson
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  See Ryan's comment, but your answer is only assuming 2 hoursfor copying a 1st level spell. DO you always use 2 hours no matter the level or has it only been 1st level spells at your table so far?
  $endgroup$
  – NautArch
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  What about crafting other items, like a spyglass, for example? Must those hours also be consecutive?
  $endgroup$
  – goodguy5
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

-3

$begingroup$

I'd argue Consecutive

I can't find a rule determining this, so I'm going to go off of what consensus in the books and my own opinion.

Most things that have a duration are meant to be consecutive. Things like long rests or casting spells have specific situations where they can be interrupted and must be tried again.

So personally I'd rule and have ruled that scribing spells has to be consecutive. Not to mention that tracking 2 hours "here and there" is can be annoying and will significantly lenghten the time passed before you have a new spell.

At my table

We've mainly used this ruling, simply because we don't want to track the 2 hours or say In 3 days you learn X. This doesn't really give us a problem since we can always find these 2 hours. Traveling on a cart, just before rest, or after. It hasn't happened often that we were so desperate to learn a spell that we needed to track it like that, just so it'd be ready for the BBEG. This may be an entirely different matter if you have high stakes based on a ticking clock.

share|improve this answer

edited 7 hours ago

answered 7 hours ago

SlimeBoltSlimeBolt

66619

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Analogues are a great source for interpretation, but can you reference the language in a couple to show why their rules should be interpolated into this one?
  $endgroup$
  – Benjamin Olson
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  6
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  So scribing a 9th-level spell would require an 18-hour scribing marathon?
  $endgroup$
  – Ryan Thompson
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  See Ryan's comment, but your answer is only assuming 2 hoursfor copying a 1st level spell. DO you always use 2 hours no matter the level or has it only been 1st level spells at your table so far?
  $endgroup$
  – NautArch
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  What about crafting other items, like a spyglass, for example? Must those hours also be consecutive?
  $endgroup$
  – goodguy5
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

I'd argue Consecutive

I can't find a rule determining this, so I'm going to go off of what consensus in the books and my own opinion.

Most things that have a duration are meant to be consecutive. Things like long rests or casting spells have specific situations where they can be interrupted and must be tried again.

So personally I'd rule and have ruled that scribing spells has to be consecutive. Not to mention that tracking 2 hours "here and there" is can be annoying and will significantly lenghten the time passed before you have a new spell.

At my table

We've mainly used this ruling, simply because we don't want to track the 2 hours or say In 3 days you learn X. This doesn't really give us a problem since we can always find these 2 hours. Traveling on a cart, just before rest, or after. It hasn't happened often that we were so desperate to learn a spell that we needed to track it like that, just so it'd be ready for the BBEG. This may be an entirely different matter if you have high stakes based on a ticking clock.

share|improve this answer

edited 7 hours ago

answered 7 hours ago

SlimeBoltSlimeBolt

66619

$endgroup$

share|improve this answer

edited 7 hours ago

answered 7 hours ago

SlimeBoltSlimeBolt

66619

answered 7 hours ago

SlimeBoltSlimeBolt

66619

answered 7 hours ago

SlimeBoltSlimeBolt

66619